If the road to medical school seems too long, or you have financial constraints that prevent you from applying, you might want to consider a career that offers many of the same experiences a physician has but without the extensive (and expensive) schooling.
Weighing your options: Pros & cons of allied health careers
While the length of training should not be your only consideration when choosing a career, for many applicants, spending four years in med school, followed by three to ten more years in residency and fellowship, is simply not practical. In allied health careers, you can often diagnose and treat patients, assist in surgeries, deliver babies, and have many other amazing experiences. You start getting an income sooner than a physician does and will probably have less debt when you are done with your training.
In many allied health professions, you work side by side with physicians and are a valuable part of the healthcare team. Many companies are hiring more “mid-level providers” to fill primary care positions, so the job market is rapidly growing. If being a hands-on provider appeals to you, these careers are worth considering.
Allied health career options
If you are considering an allied health career, read on to help you decide which one is right for you. The average number of years of education for each profession is listed (though some have additional training opportunities that could extend your education). For each profession, salaries vary according to specialty, where one practices, and years of experience. All require a bachelor’s degree, while the Certified Nurse-Midwife, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees require a nursing degree or previous nursing experience.
| Career | School |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant | 2 years |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice | 2-4 years |
| Certified Nurse Anesthetist | 2-3 years |
| Certified Nurse-Midwife | 1.5 years |
| Physical Therapist | 3 years |
| Doctor of Chiropractic | 4 years |
| Doctor of Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine | 4 years |
| Master's in Acupuncture | 3 years |
| Doctor of Podiatric Medicine | 4 years |
| Doctor of Optometry | 4 years |
| Doctor of Medicine (MD)/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | 4 years |
| Naturopathic Doctor | 4 years |
Note: Some of these professions require residencies.
Physician Assistant (PA)
If the idea of being out of school and taking care of patients in two to three years sounds appealing, you might want to consider becoming a PA. You will have the option of working side by side with physicians in a hospital setting or seeing patients on your own in an outpatient clinic. You can specialize in a variety of areas (e.g., cardiovascular surgery, emergency medicine, geriatrics, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry). Many PAs feel they have the best of both worlds: practicing medicine independently and consulting with a physician on more complicated cases. It is a field for lifelong learners because much of what you learn will be gained on the job, rather than in school.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
For those with a nursing degree who would like to gain more independence, becoming a DNP could be the most logical step. As a DNP, you can see patients independently and provide basic healthcare in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Like a PA, you will have physician backup as needed but can often serve as a patient’s primary provider and manage conditions that are within your scope of care. DNPs can specialize in acute care, gerontology, emergency medicine, family health, neonatal, pediatrics, psychiatry, or women’s health.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Another nursing specialty degree is the CRNA, which allows anesthesia practice, either in a hospital or at an outpatient surgery center. CRNAs are in high demand in areas where there is a physician shortage, and they have a high degree of independence.
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
If you are a labor and delivery nurse (or are interested in women’s health) and would like to take the next step in your career, becoming a CNM allows you to do prenatal care, women’s primary care, family planning procedures, and uncomplicated deliveries, and even assist with c-sections. CNMs provide patients with an alternative to the medical model of childbirth, treating it as a normal process and seeking to reduce the amount of medical interventions that are needed. A CNM’s goal is to offer a safe and positive childbirth experience for all women. As more CNMs are working closely with ob-gyns, patients who might not have been candidates for a natural childbirth are able to have a positive and rewarding experience in a safe and medically supervised setting.
Physical Therapist (PT), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Doctor of Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine (DAOM)
If the idea of healing through touch appeals to you, becoming a PT, DC, or DAOM will allow you to work directly with patients to treat acute and chronic conditions. Each one has a unique approach to and philosophy on healing, and students often find they are more at home with one style of practice. Given the opioid crisis currently playing out across the United States, providers who treat pain with nonpharmacologic modalities are becoming increasingly covered by insurance. As these treatment modalities become more acceptable options for addressing pain, job opportunities are likely to increase further.
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
A DPM specializes in care of the feet and ankles. People often take their feet for granted until they develop a condition that affects their mobility and well-being. Podiatrists often deal with chronic health conditions, including peripheral vascular disease and diabetes. Their schooling requires an in-depth understanding of foot and ankle anatomy and physiology. They perform basic foot surgeries (bunionectomies, ingrown nail procedures, the correction of hammer toes, and the removal of osteophytes, corns, neuromas, and bone spurs). To treat more complex conditions and patients with severe illnesses, they often refer to or co-manage with an orthopedic surgeon.
Doctor of Optometry (OD)
An OD is an eye specialist who prescribes glasses and contact lenses, removes foreign bodies from the eye, and in some states, can do minor eye surgeries. As a OD, you will learn to detect and treat eye conditions before they become severe. Many times, it is an optometrist who picks up early signs of diabetes or other conditions and refers the patient to their physician for management. You can choose to work independently and see patients on your own or work closely with an ophthalmologist, where you see patients pre- and postoperatively.
Naturopathic Doctor (ND)
ND students are educated in the same basic sciences as Doctors of Medicine and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine but also study clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling. ND training has a focus on holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. Training requires a four-year graduate-level program, similar in duration to medical school, and although graduates are not required to do a residency, there are one- and two-year postgraduate programs available. There are currently five accredited naturopathic medical schools in the United States and two in Canada. These schools are represented by the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. Students apply to each naturopathic medical school independently.
Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
If you are a labor and delivery nurse (or are interested in women’s health) and would like to take the next step in your career, becoming a CNM allows you to do prenatal care, women’s primary care, family planning procedures, uncomplicated deliveries, and even assist with c-sections. CNMs provide patients with an alternative to the medical model of childbirth, treating it as a normal process and seeking to reduce the amount of medical interventions that are needed. A CNM’s goal is to offer a safe and positive childbirth experience for all women. As more CNMs are working closely with ob-gyns, patients who might not have been candidates for a natural childbirth are able to have a positive and rewarding experience in a safe and medically supervised setting.
Certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
Another nursing specialty degree is the CRNA (Certified Nurse Anesthetist), which allows anesthesia practice, either in a hospital or at an outpatient surgery center. CRNAs are in high demand in areas where there is a physician shortage, and have a high degree of independence.
Physical therapist (PT), doctor of chiropractic (DC), doctor of acupuncture/oriental medicine (DAOM)
If the idea of healing through touch appeals to you, becoming a PT, DC, or DAOM will allow you to work directly with patients to treat acute and chronic conditions. They each have a unique approach and philosophy to healing, and students often find they are more at home with one style of practice. Given the opioid crisis currently playing out across the U.S., providers who treat pain with nonpharmacologic modalities are becoming increasingly covered by insurances. As these treatment modalities become more acceptable options for pain, job opportunities are likely to increase further.
Doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM)
A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) specializes in care of the feet and ankles. People often take their feet for granted, until they develop conditions that affect their mobility and wellbeing. Podiatrists often deal with chronic health conditions, including peripheral vascular disease and diabetes. Their schooling requires an in-depth understanding of foot and ankle anatomy and physiology. They perform basic foot surgeries (bunionectomies, ingrown nails, correction of hammer toes, and removal of osteophytes, corns, neuromas, and bone spurs). To treat more complex conditions and patients with severe illnesses, they often refer to or co-manage with an orthopedic surgeon.
Doctor of optometry (OD)
A Doctor of Optometry (OD) is an eye specialist who prescribes glasses and contact lenses, removes foreign bodies from the eye, and in some states can do minor eye surgeries. As a OD, you will learn to detect and treat eye conditions before they become severe. Many times, it is an optometrist who picks up signs of diabetes or other conditions before a patient is aware of it and refers the patient to their physician for management. You can choose to work independently and see patients on your own or work closely with an ophthalmologist where you see patients pre- and postoperatively.
Allied health careers and reconsidering medicine
For individuals who have always dreamed of going to medical school, choosing to go another direction can be difficult. If you applied to med school and were not accepted, maybe you simply need a new strategy for your MCAT prep, a stronger slant on your application, or better interviewing skills. If so, . If you need to boost your GPA, consider doing a postbac or MS program. However, if you feel you have maximized all potential areas of your application, you might be ready to look at other health career options.
At this point, it often takes an objective advisor to help you make good decisions. Friends, family members, and even mentors might not see the big picture. An advisor should be honest with you about your strengths and weaknesses and tell you what is needed to improve your application. Nobody wants to hear that they aren’t likely to get accepted to medical school, but you might discover that an alternative to medical school is exactly what you were meant to pursue all along. On the other hand, you might decide to keep fighting for that med school acceptance. Either way, a big dose of self-awareness is called for.
Do you need help deciding between med school and an allied health program? Reach out to an Accepted consultant, who will guide you through the application process and help you find the best healthcare career path for you. Learn more about our services here.
Dr. Suzi Schweikert has served on the UCSD School of Medicine’s admissions committee and has mentored students in healthcare programs for more than 20 years. She holds a BA in English literature from UCLA, an MD from UCSD, and an MPH from SDSU. Want Suzi to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch with Dr. Suzi Schweikert..
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