Health Careers Resources

Easy-to-access information

There are several great resources in print and online to help you find out more about pursuing a future in a health-related field. We have gathered useful links for staying on track for graduation, researching careers and more.

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Health career exploration links

Researching your future

The internet is a great tool to help you find out more information about health careers. But sometimes it can be hard to find good, reliable links to help in your research. Below is a list of website that we recommend you check out.

Explore Health Careers - information about various healthcare careers including job outlook and academic requirements

About Health Careers - general information about a wide variety of health career topics

Wisconsin Health Careers (AHEC) - information on healthcare careers and the Wisconsin educational institutions that offer the various programs

Standardized testing information

So many acronyms, so little time

You may recognize some of the acronyms below as tests you could have to take in order to get in to a professional school. Below you can see what type of test it is, information about style of the test and how it is scored.

MCAT

MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

Standardized, multiple-choice exam.
Designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and reasoning skills.
Assesses knowledge of science concepts and principles important to the study of medicine.
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (118-132), Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (118-132), Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (118-132), Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (118-132).
MCAT/GPA applicants and Acceptees to US M.D Granting Medical Schools 2020-2021 through 2022-2023 (aggregated) -Updated 10/27/2022
Learn more on the AAMC website.

PCAT

PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test)

Standardized, multiple-choice exam.
Measures general academic ability and scientific knowledge for pharmacy.
Writing, Biological Processes, Chemical Processes, Critical Reading, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Scored from 200-600 with averages between 340-460.
Learn more about the PCAT.

DAT

DAT (Dental Admission Test)

Standardized, multiple-choice exam.
Designed to measure general academic ability, science comprehension, and perceptual ability.
Survey of natural sciences, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning.
Scored from 1-30 with 17 being average.
Academic Average (AA) and Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) scored separately.
Learn more about the DAT.

OAT

OAT (Optometry Admission Test)

Standardized, multiple-choice exam.
Designed to measure general academic ability and comprehension of scientific information.
Survey of the natural sciences, reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning.
Scored from 200-400 with 300 being average.
Learn more about the OAT.

GRE

GRE (Graduate Record Exam)

Standardized, multiple-choice exam.
Designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, and writing skills.
Verbal Reasoning (130-170), Quantitative Reasoning(130-170), and Analytical Writing(0-6).
Learn more about the GRE.

Entrance Exam Preparatory Resources

Links to the tests and their fee waiver programs:

Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
- DAT Fee Waivers (Reduction in exam cost only, no preparatory materials.)
- Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) – Most other graduate-level programs
  - GRE Fee Reduction Program (Reduction in exam cost only, no preparatory materials.)
- Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) – Also used by schools of podiatry
  - AAMC Fee Assistance Program (If you are eligible, you receive test prep resources in addition to a reduction in the cost of the exam.)
- Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)
  - OAT Partial Fee Waiver (on page 12) (Reduction in exam cost only, no preparatory materials.)
- Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
  - No fee waiver program.

Test prep companies: Check their websites for free resources!*

*The Health Careers Center is not endorsing any of these programs - only providing a list of resources available.

Centralized Application Services and Instructions for Applying

A wealth of knowledge at your disposal

Before you go out and buy that expensive book on how to study for a certain exam, come check out what we have to offer in the Health Careers Center. We are always growing our collection of materials for you to study and learn from. Plus, many of our items are available for check-out. View the list of print resources we have in the center and stop by to see what we've added to our collection recently.