If you want to become a public health advisor, you should be interested in healthcare and enjoy working with people. Those who work as public health advisors fill a very social position and must work together with others in order to improve and protect the health of those in their community. The path to becoming a public health advisor begins with university level studies that continue at least until a Bachelor’s degree is acquired. While it is considered an entry-level position, the position of public health advisor can only be filled by individuals with a considerable understanding of medicine and public health issues.
Public Health Advisor Job Description
Educational Requirements for Public Health Advisors
While a Bachelor’s degree is typically a requirement for fulfilling a position as a public health advisor, students can choose from several different disciplines to focus on for their degree. For example, an aspiring public health advisor may choose to complete a degree program in public health, public health education, health communication, or community health.
A Bachelor’s degree is typically the minimum requirement for a job in public health; however, candidates will have the most success if they continue their studies through the Master’s degree level. Coursework for programs that prepare students to be public health advisors should include subjects such as biology, epidemiology, behavioral psychology, public policy, and more.
Health Advisor Training
In addition to academic studies, those interested in becoming public health advisors can also build their resume by participating in internships or other training programs with federal, state, and local public health agencies within the government. They may also be able to find training opportunities with institutions such as hospitals and universities. Research is often an important part of public health procedures; therefore, those interested in becoming public health advisors who wish to acquire experience may be able to find positions as research assistants. Much of the training for working as a public health advisor is acquired on the job once an entry-level position has been found.
Necessary Skills for Health Advisors
A public health advisor needs to have a wide range of skills. Not only does an individual working in such a position need to have a through understanding of a variety of medical and healthcare issues, but he or she must also be able to function as an educator in the community. Both public speaking skills and listening skills are important for a public health advisor, and those aspiring to this type of work should cultivate these skills during their academic careers. Public health advisors may need to present findings and information to the community, so they should not be afraid of public speaking, and they should be organized and articulate.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Public Health Advisors earn an average of $41, 830 a year. The career is expected to grow 21%, between 2012 and 2022, which is much faster than expected.
Related Resource: Public Health Educator
The role of public health advisor is important to maintaining the health of a community and educating members of that community on healthcare practices they should implement and maintain to ensure optimum health. It is very fulfilling to work as a public health advisor, and those who would like to become a public health advisor will likely find their career highly rewarding once they have found a suitable position in the field of public health.