About Unusual Medical Careers

If you have interest in science and the human body, a medical career might be a choice of profession. As added bonuses, most medical careers are recession-proof, have a solid salary potential and provide interesting paths for career advancement. People most commonly think of doctors and nurses when they think of health careers, but there are several other options that you should consider.

Clinical Lab Science

Clinical lab scientists, or medical technologists, are laboratory professionals responsible for running lab tests to assist doctors in making diagnoses. You can become a lab technician with an associate's degree, but a bachelor's degree or higher will bring more responsibility and higher pay.

Medical Imaging

Sonographers and radiation technicians are trained health care professionals who operate and analyze X-rays and ultrasounds. Though these techs need only an associate's degree, if you're truly interested in X-ray technology and willing to spend at least four years in college, consider a potentially lucrative career as a medical physicist.

Advanced Practice Nursing

If you're interested in nursing but want more autonomy, think about becoming a nurse practitioner. You'll need an active registered nurse license and at least a master's degree, but depending on the state, you may be able to work as an independent practitioner, performing functions similar to a physician.

Physician's Assistance

Physician's assistants consult with and treat patients under the supervision of a licensed doctor, usually taking on patients with routine medical problems and referring complex cases to the physician. You will need prior experience in health care and a minimum of a bachelor's degree, as well as graduation from an accredited program.

Rehabilitation

Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists help people who suffered injuries to recover their ability to function in daily life. In some cases, they may work with special-needs children to help them gain needed skills. A bachelor's or master's degree is usually the minimum requirement to enter the field.

Public Health

Public health professionals work toward improving the health of a population as a whole, designing health education programs or analyzing information to identify health trends and needs. You must have a bachelor's or master's degree in public health or epidemiology to work in this field.

Research and Development

If direct patient care is not your thing, you might be more interested in working for a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company on developing drugs or medical devices. This field usually requires you to have a master's degree or ideally a doctorate in a biological or physical science.