5 Types of Medical Degrees To Consider for Your Career

A medical degree can offer many satisfying and lucrative career opportunities. Students may consider several types of medical degrees that each offers a variety of benefits and leads to different potential career paths. Understanding the main medical degrees available can help you make more informed educational and professional choices. 

In this article, we define these degrees, list five examples of medical degrees and share potential career paths for people with them.

What is a medical degree?

A medical degree is an educational designation that demonstrates the completion of an accredited program in medicine. Earning a medical degree shows a prospective employer that you understand the technical and practical knowledge associated with a medical career path. Completing the required education and training can qualify you for various positions in the health care industry.

Read more: Entry Requirements for Medical School

5 types of medical degrees

Here are five common types of medical degrees that you can consider:

1. Doctor of medicine

After completing medical school, you can earn a doctor of medicine (MD) degree. Before a student can enter into an MD program, they typically need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Another entry requirement is a satisfactory score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). 

Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:

• Degree requirements: Four years of medical school

• Other training: Three to eight years of clinical training post-degree

• Potential career paths: Physician, medical researcher or consultant

Related: Types of Doctors: 25 Medical Doctor Specialties in High Demand

2. Bachelor of science in nursing

If you get a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN), you can work as a registered nurse. Registered nurses, or RNs, provide basic patient care, such as taking and recording vitals and administering medications. They work alongside other medical professionals, including physicians, in hospitals, health care clinics, care facilities and other locations. 

Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:

• Degree requirements: Four years on average

• Other training: On-the-job training after graduation or specialized certifications

• Potential career paths: Psychiatric nurse, triage nurse, staff nurse, pediatric nurse or nurse midwife

Related: What Does a Registered Nurse Do?

3. Master of Science in physician assistant studies

If you're interested in working as a physician assistant, you can pursue a master of science in physician assistant studies degree. A physician assistant, or PA, directly assists a physician by providing patient care and handling other clinical and administrative duties. This master’s program requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Working as a PA may also require the passing of the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). 

Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:

• Degree requirements: Three years on average

• Other training: Specialty training in the chosen medical specialty 

• Potential career paths: Physician assistant, medical researcher or clinical adviser 

Related: Learn About Being a Physician Assistant

4. Doctor of osteopathic medicine

A doctor of osteopathic medicine, or DO, is similar to an MD degree and allows you to work as  a physician. Doctors of osteopathic medicine typically focus on a more holistic treatment approach when working with patients. The requirements for a DO program are similar to those of an MD program and include a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a satisfactory score on the MCAT.

Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:

• Degree requirements: Four years of medical school

• Other training: Three to eight years of clinical residency training

• Potential career paths: Physician, clinical educator or medical researcher

Related: 19 Doctor Careers To Pursue

5. Doctor of dental medicine

A doctor of dental medicine, or DDM, allows you to become a practicing dentist. A DDM program is similar to an MD or DO program, requiring at least a bachelor's degree and a satisfactory score on an admission test called the Dental Aptitude Test.

Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:

• Degree requirements: Four years on average

• Other training: Three to eight years of clinical training

• Potential career paths: Dentist, endodontist, orthodontist or dental health specialist

Related: 12 Types of Dentists (Plus Salaries and Career Requirements)

Skills taught in medical programs

Medical degrees can teach prospective health care professionals many useful skills in the industry, including:

Medical terminology

In the health care industry, employees use standardized language with terms derived from Latin. Since health care professionals often come from different backgrounds, cultures and countries, it's important that those working together can easily understand one another. While earning a medical degree, students learn the standard medical terminology for parts of the body and its functions, operations and medical procedures, illnesses and diseases and other health conditions.

Medical ethics

Medical ethics codes dictate how health care professionals interact with patients and other professionals in the field. These codes also dictate how health care professionals manage and protect private patient information. Ethics includes adhering to health care laws, practicing proper hygiene, displaying moral behavior when interacting with patients and maintaining a standard of honesty and quality in care.

Ethics codes differ across the health care industry but can include basic tenets like:

• Autonomy: Health care providers facilitate a patient's ability to make their own decisions regarding their health and the care they receive. Autonomy means that the decision process is free from additional influence from health care providers outside of normal medical advice or guidance.

• Justice: This tenet of an ethics code ensures that health care professionals maintain justice in their field, uphold existing legal regulations and stay current on the latest advancements in health care laws and news.

• Non-maleficence and beneficence: This tenet places the responsibility of goodwill on health care professionals. They must operate with an understanding that their goal is to help patients and others involved in the patients' care.

Related: 26 Medical Careers You Can Pursue With a Master's Degree

Technical skills

Depending on the specific medical degree you're pursuing, you may learn technical skills, such as:

• Providing basic patient care

• Taking vital signs

• Performing medical procedures

• Cleaning and sanitizing utensils, rooms and medical equipment

• Using health care software

• Protecting and storing patient information

Compassion and empathy

Compassion and empathy help health care professionals understand, communicate and relate to their patients to provide more personalized care. Compassion refers to offering sympathetic care to patients when they’re going through challenging times, while empathy allows a health care provider to understand what the patient is experiencing while they’re undergoing an exam or treatment. During a medical degree program, students can learn more about the importance of demonstrating empathy and compassion in every health care role.

5 jobs for people with medical degrees

With a medical degree, there are many job options available to you. Here are five appealing jobs in the medical field to consider. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click the salary link.

1. Physical therapist

National average salary: $73,489 per year

Primary duties: Physical therapists help patients recovering from injuries or operations to regain physical movement and coordination. They create recovery plans for patients and communicate needs to families and the patient's primary care physician. Physical therapists typically work full time in private health care practices, short- and long-term recovery facilities and hospitals.

Read more: Learn About Being a Physical Therapist

2. Surgical technician

National average salary: $80,315 per year

Primary duties: Surgical technicians help prepare surgical rooms for operations by sanitizing equipment and surfaces, setting up equipment and monitors, testing equipment, replacing parts or changing malfunctioning equipment and assisting the surgeon during procedures. Surgical technicians typically work full time in a hospital or outpatient surgical facility setting.

Read more: Learn About Being a Surgical Technician

3. Registered nurse

National average salary: $89,377 per year

Primary duties: Registered nurses provide care to patients in long-term care facilities, hospitals, health care clinics, mental health centers and nursing homes. Registered nurses collect and record vital signs, administer medications, provide emotional support to patients and communicate with families and other medical professionals about patients' needs.

Read more: Learn About Being a Registered Nurse (RN)

4. Cardiac nurse

National average salary: $98,049 per year

Primary duties: Cardiac nurses assist patients receiving care for their heart and lungs. They care for them during and after operations, which may include taking and monitoring vital signs, advising patients and families and providing medication. Cardiac nurses typically work full time in hospitals or outpatient recovery facilities.

5. Physician

National average salary: $195,251 per year

Primary duties: Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, prescribe medications and counsel patients on treatment options and preventive care. A physician can choose an area of specialty to focus on, such as cardiology, general surgery, pathology or sports medicine. Some physicians focus on a particular part of the body, while others focus on a patient population. Physicians typically work full time in hospitals, long-term care facilities or private health care practices.

Read more: Learn About Being a Physician