Youth Healthcare Workforce Development
We’re the Healthy Marin Youth Pathways team,
and we created this website to help you explore healthcare careers and understand how to get started. You can learn about different roles, find pathways into the field, and discover programs and opportunities available in Marin County.
Jobs in healthcare aren’t limited to just doctors and nurses. And there are many ways to get started — some can take as little as 3 months. We made this site to help you explore your options and find a path that works for you.
Whether you're just starting to explore or ready to take the next step, this is a place to help guide you.
This website is designed for youth by youth.
Featured Roles
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Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
1. Job Basics
What they do: Help patients with daily activities like bathing, eating, and moving, usually in hospitals or nursing homes.
2. Training Required
Certification: CNA certification required
Where: Community colleges, adult schools, or certified training programs
Prerequisites: Usually 18+, high school diploma or GED often required (some programs allow enrollment while finishing)
3. Time to Complete
4–12 weeks
4. Pay Range (Bay Area)
Starting: $20–$28/hour
Long-term: $30–$35/hour (with experience or hospital roles)
5. Entry Point
✔ Right after high school
✔ While still in school (some programs)
✔ No experience required
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Medical Assistant (MA)
1. Job Basics
What they do: Support doctors and nurses by taking vital signs, preparing patients, and handling basic administrative tasks.
2. Training Required
Certification: Not always required, but strongly preferred
Where: Community colleges or vocational programs
Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED typically required
3. Time to Complete
6–12 months (certificate)
Up to 2 years (associate degree optional)
4. Pay Range (Bay Area)
Starting: $22–$30/hour
Long-term: $30–$38/hour
5. Entry Point
✔ Right after high school
❌ Usually not while still in high school
✔ Entry-level friendly with training
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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
1. Job Basics
What they do: Respond to emergencies, provide basic medical care, and transport patients in ambulances.
2. Training Required
Certification: EMT certification + state license
Where: Community colleges or EMT training programs
Prerequisites: 18+, high school diploma or GED, CPR certification
3. Time to Complete
3–6 months
4. Pay Range (Bay Area)
Starting: $20–$28/hour
Long-term: $28–$35/hour
5. Entry Point
✔ Right after high school
❌ Not while still in high school
✔ No experience required
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Caregiver / Home Health Aide (HHA)
1. Job Basics
What they do: Provide in-home support like cooking, cleaning, and personal care for seniors or people with disabilities.
2. Training Required
Certification: Sometimes required (HHA certification), varies by employer
Where: On-the-job training or short certification programs
Prerequisites: Often no diploma required, but preferred by some employers
3. Time to Complete
A few days to a few weeks
4. Pay Range (Bay Area)
Starting: $18–$25/hour
Long-term: $25–$30/hour
5. Entry Point
✔ Right after high school
✔ While still in school (part-time)
✔ No experience required
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Front Desk / Patient Services Representative
1. Job Basics
What they do: Check in patients, schedule appointments, answer phones, and handle basic clinic or hospital front desk operations.
2. Training Required
Certification: Not required
Where: On-the-job training
Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED typically required
3. Time to Complete
No formal training required
4. Pay Range (Bay Area)
Starting: $20–$27/hour
Long-term: $27–$35/hour
5. Entry Point
✔ Right after high school
✔ While still in school (part-time roles possible)
✔ No experience required (customer service helps)
Explore Healthcare Opportunities in Marin County
In Marin, there are a variety of programs and opportunities that can help you explore healthcare careers, gain hands-on experience, and build skills for the future. Some programs are designed for high school students, while others offer certifications, internships, training programs, and career pathways for older youth and adults.
Not every program is available at every school in Marin or for every age group. This section was created to help you explore what opportunities already exist and find programs that may match your interests, goals, or career pathway.
Healthcare Careers & Pathways
Tips from youth who’ve gotten started:
“There are way more healthcare jobs than just doctor or nurse - look around.”
“Ask someone in the field what their job is really like.”
“Don’t be scared to take that first step.”
“Check your school for classes, programs, or internships.”
“Be ready for requirements like paperwork, vaccines, or background checks.”
“Getting exposure to healthcare opens so many opportunities.”
“Hands-on experiences help you figure out what you actually like.”
“You might find a job you didn’t even know existed.”
“Start somewhere, even if it’s not your final goal.”
“Look for programs that offer support like transportation or stipends.”
Frequently Asked Questions
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Explore the Featured Healthcare Roles and Marin Opportunities sections of this website, and talk with your School-to-Career Liaison or school counselor about healthcare career pathways, training programs, internships, volunteer opportunities, and career exploration opportunities. Many entry-level healthcare careers, such as CNA, EMT, and Medical Assistant, can be started with just a few months to a year of training.
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Clinical jobs work directly with patients. Examples include nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Medical Assistants (MAs), and doctors.
Non-clinical jobs help healthcare systems run but may not involve direct patient care every day. Examples include medical front office staff, healthcare technology, administration, billing, scheduling, and community outreach roles. Programs like Kaiser Permanente’s Launch internship program help introduce students to administrative and non-clinical healthcare career pathways.
Both are important parts of healthcare.
You can explore different healthcare career categories in the Healthcare Career Categories and Pathways section of this website.
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Several Marin County high schools offer healthcare-related classes, pathway programs, or hands-on learning opportunities. Examples include:
Terra Linda High School (Kaiser Permanente Medical Assisting pathway program)
San Marin High School (“Intro to the World of Healthcare” program)
Novato High School Medical Careers Pathway (MCP)
Students may also be able to participate in community-based programs like Dominican University and Karma Club’s Future Healers Academy.
Some programs are only available to students enrolled at specific schools, while others are open to students from across Marin County.
You can learn more in the Marin Opportunities section of this website.
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Sometimes. Some healthcare programs are only open to students enrolled at a specific high school, while others are open to students from across Marin County.
For example:
The Kaiser Permanente Medical Assisting pathway program at Terra Linda High School accepts students from multiple schools across Marin County.
Programs at San Marin High School and Novato High School’s Medical Careers Pathway (MCP) are currently only available to students enrolled at those schools.
You can learn more in the Marin Opportunities section of this website.
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A good place to start is with your School-to-Career Liaison, college and career center, or local workforce program. For example, the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay (WANB), community organizations, and adult schools may also help connect youth and transition-age youth (TAY) participants to healthcare career opportunities and training programs.
You can also explore the Marin Opportunities section of this website to learn about programs available across Marin County.
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Some students can begin exploring Medical Assistant (MA) pathways while in high school through healthcare career pathway programs and Regional Occupational Program (ROP) classes. In Marin County, the Kaiser Permanente Medical Assisting program at Terra Linda High School gives students early exposure and hands-on experience and is open to students from multiple schools across Marin County. Some programs may continue after high school to complete certification requirements. It is important to note that for some of these programs, you will need to find transportation for yourself, and some are specific to certain schools.
You can learn more in the Marin Opportunities section of this website.
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There are several Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training options connected to Marin County, including programs through College of Marin, TAM Adult School, and Canal Alliance partnerships. Some programs may offer supports like bilingual instruction, childcare stipends, transportation help, or assistance covering training costs.
You can learn more in the Marin Opportunities section of this website.
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Many Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) programs require students to be at least 18 years old by the time they complete certification, but some training programs allow students to start coursework earlier. Requirements can vary by program, so it’s always a good idea to check directly with the training provider.
You can learn more in the Marin Opportunities section of this website.
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Some healthcare training programs offer financial support, scholarships, stipends, payment plans, or help covering things like transportation, childcare, uniforms, vaccines, or certification costs. Canal Alliance and College of Marin partnership for CNA certification is a good example. Programs and supports vary, so ask each program what support may be available.
You can learn more in the Marin Opportunities section of this website.
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Before signing up, it’s good to ask:
How long does the program take?
What does it cost?
Is transportation available?
Are internships or hands-on experiences included?
Will I earn a certification?
Are there age requirements?
What support is available if I need help?
Some healthcare programs also require things like vaccines, background checks, or paperwork before participating in clinical experiences.
The Featured Healthcare Roles and Marin Opportunities sections of this website can help you compare different programs and career pathways.