Gaining Experience

Finding Healthcare Experience

Getting hands-on experience is one of the best ways to determine if a healthcare career is the right fit—or to advance in your current path. However, finding these opportunities may require effort and creativity.

There are many ways to gain valuable experience in healthcare, though some can be competitive or require persistence to access. These include internships, externships, apprenticeships, patient simulations, volunteering, and professional organizations.

Internships

Internships help students transition into a professional work environment by providing supervised, hands-on experience.

• Typically offered at or near the end of a training or academic program
• Often unpaid positions
• Allow interns to engage in a broad range of professional activities with some independence

Externships

Externships offer earlier exposure to a profession, allowing students to gain insights into healthcare careers before completing their studies.

• Usually part-time during the academic year or full-time for a short period
• Often unpaid positions
• Highly supervised with limited responsibilities compared to internships

Apprenticeships

Registered apprenticeships provide structured, paid training opportunities for employees looking to advance their careers.

• Paid positions with at least one wage increase during training
• Include both classroom instruction and on-the-job mentorship
• Training may take place at the employer’s site, a school, or online

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing allows individuals to observe professionals in action, providing a glimpse into daily responsibilities.

• Typically short-term and unpaid
• Involves following a single employee for a day to learn about their role

Important message from Baystate Health on job shadowing and observations: https://www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/volunteering-opportunities#otheropportunities

Patient Simulations

Patient simulations offer hands-on practice in a realistic, controlled environment, helping students build essential job skills.

• Available through education or training programs
• Provide an opportunity to receive feedback from instructors
• Help develop critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills

Important message from Baystate Health on job shadowing and observations: https://www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/volunteering-opportunities#otheropportunities

Volunteering

Volunteering is a flexible way to gain experience at any stage of your career while giving back to the community.

• Unpaid but valuable for skill development and networking
• Opportunities vary widely based on the organization
• Some roles are highly structured, while others offer more independent activities
• Example: The American Red Cross provides volunteer opportunities in patient care, administrative support, and emergency response

Volunteer at Baystate Health: https://www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/volunteering-opportunities 

Professional Organizations

Joining a professional organization can provide networking opportunities, career resources, and insights into industry trends.

• Open to students and professionals at any career stage
• May require a membership fee
• Offer educational events, mentorship, and job placement assistance
• Example: Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is a national organization for future healthcare professionals. The Western Massachusetts chapters offer guest speakers, job shadowing, service activities, and simulation practice.
  Additional Pathways to Experience

Additional Pathways to Experience

Certain colleges, like Elms College, offer dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to take healthcare-related college courses, giving them an academic and career head start.

If you’re interested in exploring these opportunities, start by researching local programs and contacting school counselors. Taking the initiative now can open doors to exciting and rewarding healthcare careers in the future!