A health research assistant provides support and assistance in conducting health-related research, collecting data, and analyzing the results of research. To become a health research assistant, you will typically need a high school education or a diploma equivalent. This level of education is suitable for some jobs, but many employers will require you to have a bachelor's degree in a science or health field. You will likely need laboratory experience as well, which you can gain while in college or through an internship.
A high school education is usually necessary when you want to become a health research assistant. While you won't have to take any specific high school classes to qualify for this job, you may benefit from paying particular attention to science and health instruction. Through classes in these subjects, you can learn important concepts and gain knowledge upon which you can build in preparation for this job. Additionally, you can prepare by taking classes that help you build analytical abilities and communication skills. If you do not finish high school, however, you can prepare for this career by earning a General Educational Development® (GED®) diploma.
After high school, you can seek further education in an effort to become a health research assistant. The amount of education you need may vary, however, depending on the company with which you apply. Many companies require applicants to have bachelor's degrees in a science or nursing field. Some employers may also hire you if you do not have a bachelor's degree but do have a registered nurse license and a significant amount of related work experience in health care.
You might also find some health research assistant jobs that do not require you to have a bachelor's degree or nursing license. For some employers, an associate's degree in a science- or health-related field will suffice, and some will also hire individuals with only high school diplomas or GEDs®. Still, many employers looking for health research assistants state a preference for hiring individuals with bachelor's degrees, and competing against applicants with additional education can prove challenging.
Some experience may also prove necessary when you want to become a health research assistant. This experience doesn't always have to come in the form of a job, however. Most employers will want to know that you are familiar with laboratory equipment and procedures, but you can gain this type of knowledge and experience in various ways. For example, as part of a bachelor's degree program, you will likely perform lab work, and this may provide suitable basic know-how for this job. You could also consider assisting a professor with his research or participating in a related internship to gain experience.
