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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

Doctor conducting ear exam on patient This occupational group includes chiropractors, dentists, pharmacists, physicians, surgeons, health diagnosing and treating practitioners, therapists, veterinarians, registered nurses, health technologists and technicians, and occupational health and safety specialists.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, more than basic people skills were required for 98.3 percent of healthcare practitioners and technical workers. Basic people skills were required for 1.7 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of healthcare practitioners and technical workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	45.3	54.7
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	27.2	72.8
Working around crowds	0.5	99.5
Telework routinely allowed	2.8	97.2
Supervising others	33.6	66.4
Supervisor present in immediate work area	54.5	45.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 25.1 percent of healthcare practitioners and technical workers and on-the-job training was required for 70.1 percent.

An associate's degree was required for 37.2 percent of healthcare practitioners and technical workers.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 13.2 percent of healthcare practitioners and technical workers. Another 86.3 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of healthcare practitioners and technical workers and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 39.0 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 60.3 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 75.0 percent of healthcare practitioners and technical workers and was not required for 25.0 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 25.0 percent of healthcare practitioners and technical workers. On average, workers spent 39.5 percent of the workday sitting and 60.5 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of healthcare practitioners and technical workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	25.0	75.0
Driving	9.8	90.2
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	8.8	91.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey