If you’re interested in leading a career in medicine, now is the right time. The industry is already one of the biggest in the country, and growing faster than many others. You can feel confident in your increased job security as well as more lucrative options for advancing in your career. No matter how many years you want to commit to going to school, you can find a position that suits your goals.
But how exactly do you lead a career in medicine? That’s what this guide is all about. From choosing your path to selecting a degree program, let’s get started so you can land your dream job helping others stay happy and healthy.
Why Choose Medicine?
First, why should you pick health care as your career? While we can all agree that medicine might not be for everyone, it’s a great fit for those who have a passion for health, wellness, and helping people. Aside from knowing you’re contributing to the greater good thanks to your career, there are other exciting benefits:
- High job security
- Interesting, varied work
- Freedom to work anywhere
- Long Term learning opportunities
- High-paying salary potential
These reasons alone are enough to encourage people around the globe to start a career in medicine, but they’re not the only things you can expect. Working with others is its own reward. That’s why so many people in healthcare love what they do.
Finding a Position
There are a lot more positions in the healthcare world than most people know. From administrative and management roles to physician assistants, there’s a wide range of options to choose from all with their own benefits.
The most important thing to realize is that the higher-paid jobs also come with more education and experience requirements. That means if you want to become a surgeon, you’ll probably need to commit to at least 10 years of education.
However, there are a lot of positions in between that require significantly fewer qualifications while still providing a number of opportunities.
Think about what you can see yourself doing. Do you want to work with patients hands-on? Would you rather stay behind the scenes? Would you like to help the elderly or do you have a passion for children? There are many options and you can surely find one that fits your interests or passions.
Decide on a Program
No matter what path you choose, you’ll likely need some form of traditional education. While more advanced paths will require you to get a traditional Bachelor’s Degree from a university, this isn’t the only option. Many health care professionals start their careers with vocational programs or junior college.
This is an affordable way to begin learning without committing to student loans or a long-term program. Each year there are more and more online options available, so that is another viable path to take.
Clinical Experience
Many programs require students to get clinical experience, as well as participate in labs. This is an important way to gain an understanding of what day-to-day life is like in the medical field.
You’ll learn how to interact with patients, and how to perform basic procedures. You can work alongside real medical professionals to network, learn from them, and simulate patient interactions.
All of this is crucial to your future success. Education alone is not usually enough to land a high-paying job, so you’ll want to make the most of this clinical experience. If you’re worried you’re not getting enough hands-on time, consider volunteering in your local community to improve your resume.
Licensing
Your final step before applying for jobs is completing any exams and licensing required in your state. The most common exams in the medical field include the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).
These exams will depend on your specific specialty, as well as your education. Most programs will take steps to prepare you to take your exam, but you can also learn more here.
Online resources like the one linked let you learn and practice your skills and build your knowledge from the comfort of your own home. Once you pass your exam, you’ll officially be licensed to practice medicine, and that means it’s time to make your dream a reality.
Starting Your Career
As long as you have the right education, experience, and license, you should have no problem making an impact on hiring managers. Depending on your field, you have a lot of options.
Medical jobs are highly in demand all over the country, and your school might even have resources to help you land a real job. Starting a career in medicine is exciting, and you can feel good about helping others every day.