Your August Checklist for a Healthcare-Focused School Year
By Healthcare Career Central | August 2026 | Students
August is the month where summer fades and school ramps back up, and for students thinking about a future in healthcare, it is also the right time to set the pieces in place before the semester takes over. Whether you are a high school student exploring medical careers for the first time or a college student narrowing down a clinical program, the back to school healthcare planning you do now can shape the path ahead.
This checklist walks through the practical steps you can take in August to build a strong foundation for a healthcare-focused school year, from course selection to volunteer hours to conversations with the people who can help you get there. You can find more resources like this on Healthcare Career Central.
Review your course schedule with healthcare in mind
Before the first bell rings, sit down with your course schedule and check it against the prerequisites for the healthcare programs you are considering. Most nursing, respiratory therapy, and radiologic technology programs require anatomy and physiology, biology, and chemistry at a minimum. If your current schedule is missing one of those, August is the time to talk to your counselor about a swap.
College students should confirm that their planned courses align with the program admission requirements at their target school. Prerequisite mismatches are one of the most common reasons students delay their healthcare program applications by a semester or more. A quick review now saves months of frustration later.
Set up a meeting with your school counselor
Your school counselor is one of the most underused resources for healthcare career planning. They know which local programs are competitive, which schools offer early admission tracks, and what scholarship deadlines are coming up. They can also connect you with job shadowing opportunities and volunteer placements at nearby clinics and hospitals. Setting student healthcare goals with your counselor gives you a clearer sense of what Louisiana programs expect and how to get there.
For students in Central Louisiana, counselors may have relationships with hospitals in the Alexandria area and with statewide health science programs. Bring a short list of questions to your first meeting. If you are not sure what to ask, our guide on how counselors can connect students to local healthcare employers covers the specific conversation points that matter most.
If your counselor is hard to reach or your school does not have a dedicated health sciences advisor, reach out to the admissions office at a local community college or health science center directly. Most are happy to talk with prospective students about program requirements and timelines.
Map out your healthcare exploration timeline
Healthcare career exploration is not a one-day event. It is a series of small steps that build on each other over the course of the school year. Use August to sketch out what you want to accomplish each month:
- September and October: attend at least two healthcare career events or information sessions at your school or a local hospital
- November: complete a job shadow shift in at least one clinical setting
- December: research and make a short list of healthcare programs that match your interests and timeline
- January: begin any volunteer hours required by your target programs
- February through April: prepare applications, gather recommendation letters, and submit before deadlines
Write this timeline down somewhere you will actually see it. A phone reminder, a planner, or a sticky note on your mirror all work. The point is to give each month a purpose rather than letting the school year drift by without intentional progress.
Get your volunteer and shadow hours started early
Most healthcare programs in Louisiana, from nursing to surgical technology to health information management, look for evidence that applicants have spent real time in clinical environments. Volunteer hours at a hospital, clinic, or long-term care facility show admissions committees that you understand what patient care involves and that you can handle the demands of a clinical setting.
August is the right time for fall career prep in Central LA because volunteer coordinators are setting up their fall schedules and can fit you in before the rush. Reach out to hospitals in the Alexandria area, community health centers, and even your own doctor’s office to ask about student volunteer programs. Even a few hours a week adds up over the course of a semester.
If you are under 18, most facilities require parental consent and a brief orientation. Get that paperwork done now so you are ready to start as soon as the school year begins.
Check your certifications and health requirements
Many healthcare training programs and volunteer placements require current certifications before you can begin. The most common ones are:
- CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Updated immunization records, including hepatitis B series and tuberculosis screening
- A recent physical exam on file
If you need CPR certification, schedule it this month. Local fire departments, community colleges, and the American Heart Association offer courses that take a single day. If your immunization records are not up to date, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider now rather than scrambling the week before a program deadline.
For students already working with Healthcare Career Central for medical supplies, remember that keeping your own health documentation current is just as important as keeping your coursework on track. A healthcare career starts with taking care of your own health first.
Research financial aid and scholarship options
Healthcare programs can be expensive, but Louisiana has more targeted financial support than many students realize. The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance administers several programs that apply specifically to students pursuing health science degrees, including the Louisiana Go Grant and the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, known as TOPS.
Beyond state programs, professional organizations in almost every healthcare field offer scholarships. The Louisiana Nurses Foundation, the Louisiana Rural Health Association, and the American Medical Association all have scholarship programs with fall application deadlines. August is the right time to make a list of deadlines and requirements so you are not caught off guard in November.
If you are a student who receives Medicaid or other insurance coverage through an Arkansas or Louisiana program, you may also qualify for fee waivers or reduced-cost certification courses. Ask your counselor or check with your state’s department of health for details.
Build your healthcare network before you need it
Networking sounds like something you do after graduation, but for healthcare students, it starts now. Reach out to professionals in the fields you are considering. Many nurses, respiratory therapists, medical lab scientists, and health information managers are willing to answer a few questions from a student who is genuinely interested in their work.
Start with people you already know: family friends in healthcare, your own doctor’s office staff, coaches, and teachers who may have connections in the medical community. A single informational interview can give you more clarity about a career path than hours of online research.
If your school has a Health Occupations Students of America, or HOSA, chapter, August is when chapters recruit new members. HOSA offers competitions, leadership events, and clinical skill challenges that strengthen both your resume and your practical knowledge. If your school does not have a chapter, ask your counselor about starting one or joining a nearby school’s chapter as an affiliate member.
Organize your academic plan for healthcare prerequisites
Pull together a document or spreadsheet that tracks your progress on the prerequisites for your top two or three healthcare programs. Include the course name, the semester you plan to take it, and whether it has been completed. This sounds simple, but it is the kind of organization that separates students who get into competitive programs from those who miss a requirement and have to wait another year.
Your academic plan should also include any standardized test requirements. Some nursing and health science programs require the TEAS, or Test of Essential Academic Skills, while others use the HESI exam. Knowing which test your target program requires, and when the next testing date is, lets you build study time into your schedule from the beginning of the year rather than cramming at the last minute.
Putting it all together
A healthcare career does not start when you get accepted into a program. It starts with the decisions you make right now, in August, when the school year is still fresh and you have room to plan. Review your courses, meet with your counselor, line up your volunteer hours, and get your certifications in order. Each step on this checklist is small on its own, but together they form a solid foundation for a school year that moves you closer to the career you want.
If you are exploring healthcare careers in Central Louisiana, Healthcare Career Central has been part of this community for years, and we understand what students need to get started. For more on building your path in healthcare, visit Healthcare Career Central on our site. Call us at 1-888-789-6600 or visit our insurance coverage page to learn more about how we support patients and families throughout the region.
