Maybe you’ve always dreamed of stitching up wounds, setting bones, and saving lives, but the thought of spending 11 years in medical school makes your head swim. Or maybe you want to have a hands on role in treating patients, but you don’t want the responsibility (or the headaches or the hours or the schedule) of being a doctor. Have no fear-below are some great medical careers that will allow you to help people and practice medicine without devoting a decade of your life to school.
Physician Assistant
Education Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree plus 2 years at an accredited physician program (6 years total)
This is the one the fastest-growing fields in health care, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 39% growth through 2018. Working under the direction of a physician, physician assistants provide a wide range or primary care services, from examining patients to casting broken bones to prescribing medications. Internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine and emergency medicine are just a few of the fields they work in.
Registered Nurse
Education Requirements: A two-year Associate’s degree, three-year nursing diploma, or four-year Bachelor’s degree
Registered nurses are in demand, so if you’re looking for a career in the medical field, this is a great option. Nurses work directly with doctors to admit patients, diagnose diseases, provide treatment, and formulate follow-up and aftercare plans. Best of all, there are many ways to start this career path depending on your personal, financial and educational goals.
Paramedic
Education Requirements: a high school diploma and a diploma/certification from a formal emergency medical technician training program
Paramedic careers are the stuff that TV dramas are made of. They’re the first ones to respond to a 911 call, a natural disaster, or any other trauma situation. Paramedics provide life-saving diagnoses and treatment on the way to the hospital, ranging from endotracheal intubations to emergency childbirths.
For more information, visit this career profiles page.
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3 Medical Careers to Explore (If You Don’t Want to Go to Med School)
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