Many schools and colleges in the Richmond area offer degrees, training and certification programs for careers in the medical field. Some programs are available through four-year universities; others, through career schools and local hospitals.

Students can enroll in everything from stand-alone courses to Ph.D. programs. Areas of study available in Richmond include nursing, radiography, dental assisting, pharmacy technician, respiratory therapy, paramedics, administration, disaster science, rehabilitation, esthetics, surgical technology and massage therapy.

Following is a list of schools that offer training and degrees:

Nursing degrees, certifications

Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing: diploma program toward RN licensure. Requirements: high school diploma (GPA 2.5) or GED; completion of biology, college-prep chemistry and algebra I classes; recommendations and transcripts. Info: Cathy Churcher, 627-5300; mrmcnursingschool.org.

Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging: programs in radiography, CT, MRI, mammography and bone densitometry. Info: imagingschool.org; 627-5408.

Chesterfield Technical Center: certificate in practical nursing. Requirements: rising seniors; for adults, U.S. high school diploma or GED; pre-entrance exam scores and references. Info: Sandra Foote, Sandra_foote@ccpsnet.net; 68-6160.

Henrico County - St. Mary's Hospital School of Practical Nursing: certificate program in practical nursing and certified nurse's aide program. Requirements: rising seniors; for adults, high school diploma or GED; aptitude test, recommendations and transcripts. Info: Tammy Williams, henrico.k12.va.us/adulteducation; 652-3823.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College (downtown): associate degree in applied science leads to eligibility to take the RN licensure exam; one-year certificate program in practical nursing leads to eligibility to take the LPN licensure exam. Requirements: high-school graduate with algebra, biology and chemistry, or GED, college placement test and NET test. Also health-care technician certificate (nurse's aide/home health aide). Info: Nancy O'Donnell, Reynolds.edu; 523-5476.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Richmond Public School: nurse's aide certificates and dental aide I and II. Requirements: nurse's aide: dual enrollment at Richmond Technical Center, and open to adults. Dental Aide I and II: dual enrollment for high school juniors and seniors. Info: nurse's aide, Denise Boice at 523-5771; Dental Aide I and II, high school guidance counselors; JSRCC Nursing Program, P.O. Box 85622, Richmond, 23285; Reynolds.edu

John Tyler Community College: associate degree in applied science program in nursing. Students successfully completing either the traditional daytime nursing program or the LPN/paramedic-to-RN transition program are qualified to take the RN licensing exam. Admission is competitive. Requirements: minimum GPA of 2.5; must achieve a certain score on a nursing pre-admission exam. Info: Linda Fears, 622-8700, or JTCC counseling, 706-5224; jtcc.edu.

Old Dominion University: bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing; bachelor's degree in health science; RN-to-BSN program available online. Offers five master's programs: nurse leader, nurse educator, family nurse practitioner, women's health nurse practitioner and nurse midwifery. Nurse leader and nurse educator are available online. Classes broadcast to JSRCC (Parham Road) and JTCC (Chester). Info: ODU at JSR, 371-3228, Marena Hill-Bartos; JT, 796-4463, Ann Sorensen, odu.edu/oduhome/distance.shtml.

Southside Regional Medical Center Professional Schools: registered nurse, registered radiologic technologist, and ultrasonography programs. School of Nursing offers five-semester, hospital-based diploma program for RN licensure. LPN-to-RN bridge program is available; both nursing tracts are online. School of Radiation Sciences offers a two-year program leading to registered radiologic technologist designation. Info: Tonia Little, 862-5800; srmcnursing.org or srmconline.com.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees; also accelerated BS and accelerated MS programs (BS/MS) for non-nursing college graduates, RN-to-MS program; and post-MS certificate programs. Info: Office of Enrollment & Student Services, VCU, 828-5171 or (800) 828-9451; nursing.vcu.edu.

Virginia State University: associate degree in nursing. Info: Dr. Karen Faison, Dept. of Nursing, Petersburg; 524-6722; vsu.edu.

College-level offerings

JSRCC, School of Nursing and Allied Health: certificate/degree programs for health records coding, dental assistant, dental lab technician, opticianry, respiratory therapy, nursing (LPN and RN), LPN-to-RN transition course, medical lab technologist, pharmacy technician and emergency medical technologist (basic, intermediate and paramedic programs). Online paramedic, dental laboratory, opticianry and medical laboratory courses available. Info: 523-5375; reynolds.edu.

JTCC: weekend associate degree program in nursing to transition from LPN/paramedic to RN. Professional courses in phlebotomy and CPR offered. EMS program prepares students for EMT-Basic, enhanced or intermediate-level certification. Info: Peggy Vorous, 706-5239, pvorous@jtcc.edu, or Joanne Wallin, 706-5169,jwallin@.jtcc.edu; jtcc.edu.

Mary Baldwin College in Richmond Adult Degree Program: Bachelor of Arts in health-care administration. Info: 282-9111, mbc.edu/adp/richmond.

The University of Phoenix: offers flexible ground and online programs. Earn fully accredited associate, bachelor's or master's degrees in nursing, health care administration, human services and psychology. Info: 281-3900; phoenix.edu.

University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies: online bachelor's degree completion program in emergency services management with majors in emergency services management, business continuity or homeland defense. Also online master's degree in disaster science. With Gatlin Educational Services, UR's Continuing Studies also offers non-credit educational opportunities in heath-care-related subjects. Info: UR School of Continuing Studies, scs.richmond.edu; 289-8133.

VCU's School of Allied Health Professions: At the VCU Medical Center, bachelor's-degree programs include clinical laboratory sciences and radiation sciences; master's degree programs include clinical laboratory sciences, gerontology, health administration, nurse anesthesia, occupational therapy, patient counseling and rehabilitation counseling. Clinical doctorate programs are available in occupational therapy, physical therapy and nurse anesthesia. Three graduate certificate programs, two traditional Ph.D. programs and one interdisciplinary, distance-learning Ph.D. program are offered. Info: Monica White, sahp.vcu.edu; 828-7247.

Career schoolsAmerican Institute of Massage: accredited by COMTA; 600-hour therapeutic massage program. Info: Joseph Schibner, 290-0980; aimva.com.

Beta Tech (South Side): associate degrees in occupational science offered in three areas: medical assisting management; medical assisting (clinical focus); and massage therapy. Diploma program in practical nursing. Info: 330-0111; betatech.edu.

Beta Tech (West End): training in practical nursing and medical assisting; includes training and job placement, day and evening classes. Info: 672-2300; betatech.edu.

Bryant & Stratton College: associate degrees in medical assisting and medical administrative assisting; professional skills courses and diploma courses in medical transcription, medical billing and dental assisting. Info: 745-2444; bryantstratton.edu.

Central Michigan University: Master of Science, concentration in health-service administration. Info: Ann Tolson, cmuoffcampus.com, 327-9330.

Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics: programs in basic esthetician/skincare specialist, master and medical esthetician. Advanced training: laser hair removal and IPL photorejuvenation, microdermabrasion, chemical exfoliation and peels, and lymphatic drainage massage. Info: 908-3223, iame-edu.com.

Institute of Massage Therapies: training in massage therapy. Info: instofmassagether.com; 673-3344.

Medical Careers College: training for practical nursing, medical assistant (leading to degree), medical administration and a degree for massage therapy at South Side location. At West End location, training for medical assistant, medical administration and practical nursing. Info: careers.edu, South Side: 521-0400. West End: 521-5999.

Richmond Academy of Massage: training in massage therapy. Info: Richmond Medical Park, 282-5003.

RSHT: associate degrees in surgical technology, medical assisting and radiologic technology. Diploma programs in practical nursing, massage therapy, pharmacy technician, medical billing and coding. Programs vary by campus. Info: Richmond Main Campus: 288-1000; Chester Branch: 751-9191; rsht.edu.

Virginia Career Institute: programs at its Richmond campus for medical assistant, medical office specialist, surgical technology and massage therapy. Info: 323-1020; virginiacareerinstitute.edu.

Virginia School of Dental Assisting: 10-week diploma program for dental assisting, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Info: 323-6323.