Healthcare Career Central is Finnegan Health’s resource hub for students in Louisiana who are planning a future in healthcare. Whether you are a high school student mapping out prerequisite courses for the first time or a college student preparing to apply to a clinical program, the decisions you make during the school year matter. This page brings together the tools you need to plan your academic schedule, find volunteer and shadow hours, understand certification requirements, and connect with counselors who can guide your next steps. Use the guides below to build a school year that moves you closer to the healthcare career you want.
Plan Your Courses with Healthcare Prerequisites in Mind
zMost healthcare programs, whether in nursing, respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, or health information management, require a core set of prerequisite courses before you can apply. Anatomy and physiology, biology, and chemistry appear on nearly every admission requirement list. If your current schedule is missing one of those, the start of the school year is the right time to make a swap.
College students should confirm that planned courses match the admission requirements at their target school. Prerequisite mismatches are one of the most common reasons applications get delayed by a semester or more. A quick course audit in August saves months of frustration later.
For a month-by-month plan that covers courses, certifications, and volunteer hours, see our August checklist for a healthcare-focused school year.
Healthcare Career Programs & Summer Opportunities in Central Louisiana
Whether you are in middle school or high school, student summer opportunities healthcare programs can help you explore a future in medicine, nursing, therapy, and allied health before you ever step onto a college campus. Healthcare Career Central connects students in Central LA with summer enrichment workshops, job shadowing events, volunteer clinics, and career fairs designed to build skills and confidence. Our resource hub also tracks pre-college healthcare camps and healthcare internships for high school students across Louisiana so families can plan early. If you are ready to turn your summer break into a head start on a healthcare career, start with the four pathways below.
Talk to Your Counselor about Healthcare Goals
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.
For students in Central Louisiana, counselors may have relationships with hospitals in the Alexandria area and with statewide health science programs. Setting student healthcare goals with your counselor gives you a clearer sense of what Louisiana programs expect and how to get there.
For specific conversation points and questions to bring, see our guide on talking to your counselor about healthcare goals this fall.
Get Your Volunteer and Shadow Hours Started
Most healthcare programs in Louisiana 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 to start 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.
setting the foundation
Middle School
By starting early, students gain more opportunities to explore their interests, set goals, and develop crucial skills that will shape their academic and career journeys.
Preparing for Tomorrow
High School
Discover a wide range of tools, tips, and resources designed to help you maximize your educational journey, explore potential career paths, and pave the way for a bright future.
Explore Your Opportunities
Get Experience
From internships and apprenticeships to job shadowing and industry events, seize the chance to obtain hands-on experience with industry professionals, gain a competitive edge, and develop working knowledge for long-term success.
Navigating the Future
Preparing for College
Access essential resources and guidance to confidently prepare for the next chapter of your education.
Building Your Healthcare Resume
Whether you are applying for a summer internship at a local hospital, a volunteer position at a clinic, or a CNA program at CLTCC, you will need a student healthcare resume. The good news? You do not need paid work experience to create one that stands out. A first resume for teens Louisiana students can build should highlight your coursework, volunteer hours, shadowing experiences, and certifications like CPR or HIPAA awareness – all things you are already working on through the timeline above.
For a complete step-by-step walkthrough, read our guide: How to Create Your First Healthcare Resume (Even With No Experience). It covers every section, formatting tips, and a sample template you can copy.
Certifications and Health Requirements for Healthcare Students
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 the hepatitis B series and tuberculosis screening, and 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.
Scholarships and Financial Aid for Louisiana Healthcare Students
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.
Build Your Healthcare Network
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.
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.