Alternatives To Medical School: Best Alternative Careers To Medicine 2022

Obtaining a degree in medicine is no doubt one of the most popular choices for students in the department of sciences. The desire of most pre-college students is to go to medical school however, it might interest you to know that you can make your dream of becoming a medical personnel a reality without attending a medical school.

In case you’re wondering what to do instead of medical school. The good news is there are other medicine-related and relevant programs that are cheaper and with less admission competition.

In this article, you will learn about some top alternatives to medicine including how to begin a career in medical school-related programs and some other useful tips.

Why Medical Schools Alternatives

#1. High Tuition Cost

Most pupils wish to go for a medical degree but unfortunately, they are not able to due to the fact that all over the world medical programs are always the most expensive compared to other majors. Due to this reason most students are unable to pay for tuition hence do not accept offers for admission even when offered. However, this is not the case for medical school alternatives as the tuition fee for most of the programs are moderate and affordable.

#2. Increased Rate of Competition

The rate at which students opt for medical school is quite massive hence, the chances of a person gaining admission to study medicine is very slim. This is not the case for medical school alternatives, by choosing any of its alternatives you can be assured that as long as you meet the requirements you will be admitted.

#3. Global Recognition

Related medical school programs have global recognition just like medical school does. Although they might not be quite famous like medical schools that do not dispute the fact that people are not aware or do not seek such skills.

#4. Have Basic Medical School Knowledge

An advantage of going for the alternative to medical school is that you get to also know some fundamental basic things about medicine due to the fact that they are related. If you like you can do a self-study follow up on the already gained knowledge about medicine and take professional medicine-related exams.

#5. Easy Career Switch

With the basic knowledge already acquired about medical school, you can easily switch careers if you want to and will not find it difficult to cope.  Unlike a person with no foundational knowledge about the program, you already have some knowledge, and switching your career to medicine and going to a medical school would be quite easy for you.

Before applying to any medical-related course, you need to learn about the standard Medical School Requirements

Top 15 Alternative Careers To Medicine

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Midwifery
• Paramedic
• Podiatry
• Optometry
• Physiotherapy
• Pharmacology
• Neurology
• Pathology
• Urology
• Veterinary doctor
• Dentistry
• Naturopathy
• Audiology

#1. Oncology

Degree Duration: 3 years
Qualification: B.Sc

Oncology is one of the medicine-related degrees in the world. oncology deals with researching, identifying, and providing adequate treatment for cancer. There are many methods cancer can be treated and this is the primary responsibility of an oncologist- to fight cancer.

Before a person is awarded this degree, the person would have gone through a series of training and also be taught the practical application of how to apply what has been learned.

#2. Dermatology

Degree Duration: 4 years
Qualification: B.Sc

Another alternative to medicine is being a Dermatologist. Dermatology is the intense study and understanding of the skin and its possible disease and infection and proffering solutions to these abnormalities in the skin. There are no ae roup or limit a Dermatologist tends to, as long as a person has a skin-related problem, a dermatologist will see you. they are also commonly known as skin doctors.

#3. Midwifery

Degree Duration: 3 years
Qualification: B.Sc, BA, or B Mid

Midwifery is a popular similar medical degree other than medicine. The degree is concerned with preparing students for a career in helping women that are pregnant prior to the time of their delivery. The duty of a midwife, however, doesn’t end here the midwife also shows support during and after the baby has been given birth to and even cares for the babies as well.

#4. Paramedic

Degree Duration: 3 years
Qualification: B.Sc

An alternative to being a doctor is being a paramedic, you get to also save lives as well. Paramedics are concerned with providing care and treatment in a professional way to people who have been involved in accidents, or to people in health emergency situation or other health crises.

One of the major qualities of a paramedic is the ability to remain calm and make quick decisions.

#5. Podiatry

Degree Duration: 3 years
Qualification: B.Sc

Podiatry is one of the many other options besides medical school. A podiatrist is responsible for treating any complications or conditions as regards the feet and lower limbs. As a podiatrist, it is expected of you to be able to treat health-related issues that pertain to having a negative effect on the foot. some of these health issues include Arthritis, Heart and blood disorder, diabetes, etc.

Earning a degree in Podiatry, after going through the academy study and multiple on-site training, you would be able to be better prepared to face challenges as it regards the foot.

#6. Optometry

Degree Duration: 3 to 4 years
Qualification: The length and content will either earn you a B.Sc, MOptom or BOpto

Optometry is one of the best careers for doctors leaving medicine. An optometrist is a health care professional that is solely specialized in a health issue that relates to the human visual system. Having earned a degree and also relevant practical knowledge in optometry some of your duties include treating a range of common conditions of the eye, prescribing glasses as well as contact lenses, and doing other aid that relates to keeping the eye healthy.

#7. Physiotherapy

Degree Duration: 3 years
Qualification: B.Sc

Physiotherapy is another of the many alternatives to going to medical school. A person that has gone through intense training in Physiotherapy is regarded as a physiotherapist. The job of a physiotherapist involves treating patients who are suffering from physical illness or injury. they actually treat after conducting a thorough assessment of the injury and also give advice in order for the treatment administered to work best.

Some of the conditions they treat are muscle strains, spinal joint issues, difficulty in respiration, and a long list of others.

#8. Pharmacology

Degree Duration: 7 to 8 years
Qualification: B.Sc

Pharmacology is listed as one of the top careers after medical school. The term pharmacology deals mainly with the study of drugs and how they affect the human body. Drugs in this context could be medicine, Agricultural compounds, food additives and many others.

Going for a degree to becoming a pharmacist, you will definitely study the effect drugs have on cells, tissues, and molecules within the body as well as the toxic effects of these drugs when abused.

#9. Neurology

Degree Duration: 4 years
Qualification: B.Sc

One of the top options besides med school is Neurology. Having a degree in Neurology means you have been taught and even have practical knowledge and understanding of the human brain and nervous system. Neurology tends to patients with brain-related diseases and sicknesses such as headaches, tremors, seizures, and a list of many other brain-related problems.

#10. Pathology

Degree Duration: 5 years
Qualification: B.Sc

The Pathology program is among the best alternative to medical school. Furthermore, the program involves the identification, analysis, and thorough understanding disease process. Pathologists bring to light the mystery of how diseases arise and develop using a wide range of methods that range from microbiology to molecular biology.

There are two major areas of pathology which are clinical and anatomical. following the fact that pathology is quite wide, in getting a degree in pathology you are required to specialize in either the anatomical or clinical aspect. However, by choice, you might choose to venture into both.

#11. Urology

Degree Duration: 4 years
Qualification: B.Sc

In the list for alternative options to medical school is Urology. Students going for a degree in Urology will be taken through different phases of training and tutoring in order to be qualified to be regarded as professionals in the field.

Urology is the study of the male and female urinary tract(Kidney, Urethra, Urethra e.t.c) and it also deals with the reproductive system of men.

#12. Veterinary Doctor

Degree Duration: 4 years
Qualification: B.Sc

Being a Veterinary doctor is also one of the good alternatives to going to medical school. A Veterinary doctor is concerned with the diagnosing, prevention, and treatment of animals in general. It involves everything that concerns animal rearing, breeding, and even husbandry. Going for a degree in Veterinary, you would be taught all that concerns animals’ health and understanding animals.

#13. Dentistry

Degree Duration: 5 years
Qualification: BDS

Dentistry is a top option for doctors from the list of careers after medical school they can venture into.  For students also, Dentistry is has become one of the most sought-after expertise all over the world. A dentist is a person that specializes in the examination, treatment, and taking care of animals.

#14. Naturopathy

Degree Duration: 3 years
Qualification: B.Sc

Naturopathy is a distinguishing program among the alternative careers to medicine. A student with a degree in Naturopathy is concerned with using traditional or natural remedies to assist the body in healing itself. The practice cuts across many therapies which include Herbs, Yoga, Acupuncture, exercise, and many others.

#15. Audiology

Degree Duration: 4 years
Qualification: B.Sc

An audiology degree looks to understand the science behind how people hear and maintain their balance. Audiology which is one of the best alternatives to medical school can be taken as a degree at any higher education institution. A student going for this degree will be taught how to identify, assess and treat a number of health issues related to hearing.

Types of Medical Degrees UK

• Standard Entry Medicine
• Medicine with a preliminary year
• Graduate entry medicine
• Medicine with a gateway year

Alternative routes to medicine UK

• Biomedical Science.
• Pharmacology.
• Pharmacy & Physiotherapy.
• Optometry, Ophthalmics & Orthoptics.
• Chemistry, Biology, or Natural Sciences.
• Psychology.

Courses related to medicine and surgery

• Physiology
• Medical Laboratory Science
• Biochemistry
• Human nutrition and dietetics
• Dentistry and dental surgery
• Microbiology
• Anatomy

Highest paying non clinical physician jobs

• Pharmaceutical industry and consultant
• Hospital administrator
• Senior medical writer
• Health educator
• Healthcare organization director

Conclusion

Medical school is not the only way to save lives as there are many other medical-related careers you can look into. However, if you have an extreme passion for studying medicine or becoming a doctor then you should stick to your dream.

Would you like to know about jobs in Florida? if Yes, then you should read our article on Highest Paying Jobs In Florida: Salaries And Job Prospect

Frequently Asked Questions

References

• target Careers– Alternative to a medical degree
• MD Education– Alternative medical careers
• worldscholarship -Best alternatives to medical school

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