Professional Degree Jobs in Health Care
Are you considering pursuing a professional degree? Learn about some of the most highly specialized jobs in health care…
Professional degree jobs in health care typically require completion of a bachelor’s degree and additional education and training in a specific area of study. Additional education and training will most often include didactic instruction as well as hands on training or residency.
Professional Degree Resources…
Terminal degree titles which fall under “professional degree” in the field of health care are the Doctor of Medicine or MD, Doctor of Osteopathy or DO, Doctor of Dental Surgery or DDS, Doctor of Pharmacy or PharmD and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or DVM. There are of course attorneys working in the field of health care as well and the Juris Doctor or JD is also considered a professional degree.
With the exception of those who choose to pursue research and the JD, these professional degrees lead to jobs in patient care and interaction. Individuals who pursue the professional degree career path in health care are often compassionate, detail oriented, dedicated, driven, patient and studious.
Careers that require a professional degree in health care
| Careers | Health Care Pathway | Certification / Licensure Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Dentist (DDS) | Direct Patient Care | Licensure and certification required. Varies by state. |
| Ophthalmologist | Direct Patient Care | Completion of residency, USMLE licensing exam, and board certification is required. |
| Pathologist | Imaging and Diagnostics | Completion of residency, medical licensing exam, and board certification is required. |
| Physician | Direct Patient Care | Completion of residency, licensure, and board certification is required. |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) | Direct Patient Care | Licensure required (NAPLEX). States have various separate licensure requirements as well. |
| Geneticist | Research and Development | Certification is voluntary, but not required. |
| Veterinarian (DVM) | Direct Patient Care | Licensure required (NAVLE). State board examinations required for private clinical practice. |
The above careers each require a professional degree that will take a number of years to obtain. An excellent place to start your education is to pursue either an undergraduate degree in pre-med or another undergraduate degree that is heavily weighted in science courses. Most bachelor of science programs will help you meet the undergraduate requirements needed to take the next step in your education. Discover how you can satisfy the educational requirements of these careers by contacting schools that offer bachelor’s in science degrees in your geographic region or online.
If you haven’t come across a career that you are looking for, you may be interested in researching additional health care careers that fall under the five health care pathways, all of which require varying levels of education.