There is no doubt that a medical degree can elevate your social and financial status to a whole new level, but it’s not cheap and it’s not for everyone. Does that mean you cannot enter the healthcare industry without going to med school? On the contrary, there are multiple other avenues which you can use to get into the field and make a prospective career there. To help you find the best one, here are a few of the alternate ways to enter the healthcare industry that you should take a look at.
Physiotherapy
If you thought doctors were in demand, consider the fact that in the period between 2014 – 2024, the growth of job opportunities in the field of physiotherapy is expected to rise by as much as 34%, which is higher than any other job field in the entire United States! Moreover, studies have shown that all physiotherapists in the US land a job within the first six months of completing their doctoral degree.
Phlebotomy
Phlebotomy is one of those fields of the medical profession which will always be in demand because collection and storage of blood is a regular and essential part of the healthcare industry. In fact, you could complete your phlebotomy training in NH while doing some other courses on the side to further boost your resume. As a phlebotomist, the best bit is the fact that you will never want for jobs, as doesn’t matter in which state you are.
Genetic Counseling
Risks pertaining to certain hereditary conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and Huntington’s disease need to be evaluated by genetic counselors to first ascertain the chances and then counsel the concerned parties with the best options for the current patients and at-risk individuals. With an average salary of nearly $70,000, genetic counseling is quite a lucrative option for those that are in a position to complete any of the two-year programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.
Occupational Therapy
It’s a job where you help everyone from babies to adults in adjusting to new conditions and finding ways to deal with everyday activities after the patient has been diagnosed with a disease, disability or has suffered a debilitating accident. As an occupational therapist, you will be earning more than $80,000 per annum, but it does have a few prerequisites that you should consider.
- You must complete your board degree in occupational therapy first
- A Master’s or doctoral degree will also be necessary
Nursing
Finally, we come to the most common choices for people who are looking to enter the healthcare industry without a doctor’s degree. Depending on your aptitude, qualifications, and experience, you can assume any role from that of a regular registered nurse to the highly sought-after post of a nurse anesthetist. It’s not an easy career path by any means and involves a good deal of investment both in terms of time and money. If, however, you do manage to complete your degrees, the career opportunities are very impressive.
The medical field cannot be run by doctors alone because it needs specialists from other fields as well. Aside from the ones mentioned above, there are also other opportunities such as health service administrator, radiologic technologist, dental assistant and home health aide to name a few. In time, you can shine in any of these fields, but do make sure that you are ready for whatever it is that you decide to get into.
