This guide was prepared to assist new health occupations teachers in the state of Washington to conduct their courses on the secondary level. The guide helps health care practitioners to answer such questions as: (1) What are health occupations and what kinds of programs are found in secondary education? (2) What kinds of regulations affect health occupations programs in public schools? and (3) What topics should be taught, where are resources found, and how can a curriculum be developed? Since the majority of secondary health occupations programs in Washington are for training nursing assistants, many of the examples and some of the detail in this guide are aimed at the nursing assistant programs. However, the overall focus of the guide is on secondary health occupations programs in general. The guide specifies and clarifies the minimum standards for a program while suggesting possible alternatives. Topics covered in the guide include general considerations about the health occupations education program in the state, planning health occupations programs, and program content. Appendixes to the guide contain rules and regulations, resources, and an annotated bibliography. (KC)