Health specialties teachers instruct students in nursing, dental hygiene, physical therapy, and other clinical fields at colleges and universities. You design curricula, lead lectures and labs, and stay current with medical advances. A master's degree is required.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You teach students the theory and practice of health professions through classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical training. Your days involve preparing lesson plans, grading assignments, updating course materials to reflect new medical knowledge, and meeting with students one-on-one. You also stay informed about advances in your field and may conduct research or publish findings. Building strong relationships with students helps you mentor them through their education and into their careers.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $107,310 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all occupations, with about 27,400 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You need a master's degree in your health specialty or a related field. Most programs require a bachelor's degree first, followed by graduate study that typically takes two years or more. Many programs expect you to have clinical experience in your specialty before teaching. During your education, you will develop expertise in both your clinical field and in teaching methods, preparing you to design courses and explain complex medical concepts clearly.
Most paths to this role start with a bachelor's degree in a health field, then a master's degree focused on education or your specialty. Since the timeline and program options vary widely, Pathly can map the health specialty teacher, postsecondary path that fits you with your counselor to map out a plan that fits your background and goals.
Many health specialty teacher, postsecondarys must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to helping others learn and grow. You enjoy explaining complex ideas, listening carefully to students, and building meaningful professional relationships in an academic setting.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).