For the profession of teachers and nurses we need well-trained, highly qualified employees with a sense of vocation. Aim: A comparative analysis of motivation in the choice of career among professional nursing students and teacher-students. Methods: This analysis was done in Hungary among professional nursing students and students participating in teacher training. In this sample 783 students were analysed. Results: In the choice of career of nurses and teachers the primary motivation is of altruistic nature and also the human characteristics of the chosen career. According to genders in the case of female interviewed people we got a higher value than in the case of males in connection with "Helping people". It is more typical in the case of professional nursing students to choose the career as early as in their childhood. Choosing the career at a later age is typical for those who are teacher-students. Conclusion: As a consequence of our rapid economic changes or because of the dissatisfaction caused by career, we have to face the fact that the qualification obtained at a young age will not last till the end of life, the majority of people are forced to change their jobs several times during their lives. In harmonizing the demands of the labour market and education, those people who take part in education and professional training have a favoured role.