Deciding whether you should start your career with a bachelor’s degree or by securing an apprenticeship has never been harder. With the new healthcare rules and regulations, many people are trying to decide which route is best, medical careers with a bachelor’s degree or medical careers with an apprenticeship. If you’re trying to figure out whether going for a bachelor’s degree or starting out as an apprentice is your best option, here are some of the things you need to consider before making a final decision.
There are many different medical careers you can pursue with just a bachelor’s degree.
If you have a strong interest in the health care field, but don’t want to spend the time and money on getting your Master’s or Ph.D., there are plenty of options for you.
Here are some of the most common jobs held by people with bachelor’s degrees:
-Research Scientist: Research scientists study diseases and how they affect people. They do this by conducting experiments and analyzing the results. In order to become a research scientist, you’ll need to go through a graduate program first. This can take anywhere from three to six years depending on where you go, so it’s not something that can be done quickly.
-Medical Technologist: Medical technologists perform laboratory tests on biological samples like blood and urine, looking for signs of disease or infection. They also assist physicians with their diagnoses by interpreting test results and communicating them back to patients’ doctors. This job requires at least an associate’s degree or certificate from an accredited school before starting work as well
Medical careers with a bachelor’s degree
Introduction
Have you heard the news? There’s a shortage of nurses, radiographers and therapists in the UK. According to NHS statistics, there are around 15,000 unfilled nursing vacancies across the UK, while The Royal College of Radiologists estimates that the country will need 26% more clinical radiographers by 2020. That’s on top of an estimated increase in demand for radiology services of between 10-25% over the next 5 years. We expect that many thousands more therapists and other allied health professionals are also required to fill current gaps. In this article we’re going to look at some of the excellent medical careers you can enjoy with a bachelor’s degree…
Athletic Trainer
Athletic trainers work with a variety of people of all ages, including athletes and patients. Their role involves preventing injuries and treating injured patients to improve their overall health. They evaluate patients’ health and fitness, then develop a treatment plan that may include training or rehabilitation programs. Athletic trainers are also responsible for educating their team members on proper techniques to avoid injury.
In addition to working in the field of sports medicine, athletic trainers can also find employment in hospitals or clinics as part of a rehabilitation team; some athletic trainers specialize in working with injured military veterans or disabled athletes who want to continue competing at an elite level despite having physical limitations due to brain injuries or other factors beyond their control.
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians work in hospitals, as well as in private practice. They assist physicians and surgeons by performing tests to examine heart function.
They also use imaging devices such as echocardiograms and electrocardiogram monitors to help doctors diagnose diseases in patients. To do this, they may prepare patients for tests or maintain equipment used during testing.
Cardiovascular technicians need an associate degree from a community college or hospital training program, while cardiovascular technologists require a two-year associate’s degree plus certification by the American Society of Echocardiography or American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Chiropractor
A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who focuses on the spine and its connection to the nervous system.
A chiropractor can expect to make an average of $90,000 per year. This is higher than what most other medical professionals make, but it’s not quite as high as other health-related careers like dentists or doctors.
People who want to become a chiropractor will often need a bachelor’s degree in the subject before they go on to earn their doctorate. Chiropractors generally have strong qualities of compassion, intuition and creativity—all traits that are helpful when dealing with patients’ pain management needs. In addition, since many people don’t know what exactly makes up this type of medicine (and therefore may be reluctant/skeptical about seeing one), having those traits can help put patients at ease during their appointments!
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists are responsible for providing oral health care to patients. They clean teeth, examine patients’ mouths and gums, and provide preventative dental care. Some dental hygienists work in private practice, while others work in public clinics or hospital settings.
Dental hygienist training programs typically take two years to complete; however, it may be possible to earn a certificate as well as a degree within four years if you already have an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in another field such as chemistry or biology. In addition to coursework required by your program of study, you’ll need to fulfill requirements set by individual states such as passing written and practical exams on topics like anatomy and physiology before earning certification from the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBCDE). The NBCDE exam consists of three sections: Patient Care Management; Clinical Decision-Making; Basic Sciences; Clinical Management & Professionalism. You can find more information about specific state requirements here [link].
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Diagnostic medical sonographers are responsible for taking x-rays and other images of the body to help doctors diagnose injuries or illnesses. They may also perform ultrasounds, which create a visual image of the inside of the body using sound waves. This can be done on a pregnant woman’s stomach to monitor the baby’s health or on patients with heart disease that have abnormal blood flow in their vessels.
Sonographers make sure that these images are clear, then create reports based on them. After graduation from an associate degree program to become certified in diagnostic medical sonography, graduates work under doctors’ supervision in hospitals and clinics. The median salary for radiologic technologists was $56,740 in 2016 according to statistics from O*NET OnLine (a database produced by the U.S.).
Health Educator
If you’re interested in the health field, a bachelor’s degree may be all that you need to become a health educator. Health educators work with people at risk of disease and injury, teaching them how to lead healthier lives. Many employers prefer candidates who have an associate’s or master’s degree in public health or a related field, but it is possible that your bachelor’s degree could earn you your first job as a health educator.
Health educators typically need:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; some employers will accept other relevant degrees (such as nursing and nutrition) for entry-level positions.
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Medical Laboratory Scientists perform a variety of tests, such as those that identify certain viruses or bacteria in the blood, to help doctors diagnose disease. They also use high-tech equipment to analyze samples of body fluids, tissues and cells for signs of infection or other conditions.
Lab technicians are responsible for analyzing specimens in a clinical setting. The job requires completing an accredited degree program in medical technology or laboratory science, which typically takes between two and four years. There are many professional certification programs available through organizations like the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and American Medical Technologists (AMT).
Nuclear Medicine Technologist and Technician
Nuclear medicine technologist and technician:
- Nuclear medicine technologists and technicians perform medical imaging procedures using radioactive isotopes or radioisotope-labeled drugs. They use a variety of equipment to produce images, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, computed tomography (CT) scanners, gamma cameras and positron emission tomography (PET) scanners.
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nuclear medicine technologists earned an average wage of $70,790 per year in 2012. The BLS projects employment growth for these professionals at 19% from 2012-2022.*
- Related job titles include radiologic technologist and radiographer.*
- Duties may include:
- Preparing patients for examination by administering contrast agents into veins or arteries;
- Taking X-rays;
- Administering radioactive drugs or scanning with radioisotopes;
- Monitoring patient’s heart rate during treatment;
- Documenting test results as required by state law.*
Occupational Therapist Assistant and Aide
An occupational therapist assistant and aide is a healthcare professional who helps people with physical, mental and developmental disabilities. These professionals can help clients improve their everyday life by developing new skills or learning to use different adaptive tools such as wheelchairs, walkers, braces and prosthetics. Occupational therapists also provide support for clients in their homes by providing them with information on how to do things that may be difficult due to their health conditions. In addition to working directly with patients, occupational therapy assistants spend time researching ways they can help patients improve their lives through new technologies or other methods of treatment.
Optometrist
An optometrist is a technician who diagnoses, treats and manages eye diseases and vision disorders by providing comprehensive eye exams. Duties include performing eye exams, prescribing eyeglasses or contact lenses and determining whether additional medical care may be needed.
The average salary for an optometrist was approximately $122,000 as of May 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The field is expected to grow by 24 percent from 2016 through 2026, which is much faster than average for all occupations—a rate that’s due in part to advancements in technology allowing doctors to diagnose more difficult cases and perform surgery on patients who have previously experienced little relief from their symptoms (source: BLS).
There are several options for people who have a bachelor’s degree in medicine.
With a bachelor’s degree in medicine, you can help people live healthier lives and work with people who are ill. You might assist health care professionals or even become one yourself.
You can work in a variety of settings and with different types of patients: from hospitals to private practices, from community centers to clinics.
You may be working directly with patients or within an organization that supports them, such as research labs, insurance companies or government agencies.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a medical career without the medical school, an associate’s degree could be right for you. Of course, it’s important to make sure that any school you attend is accredited and recognized by your state’s Board of Nursing.
