What Are the Different Types of Medical Degrees?

<h2 id="section---TypesOfMedicalDegree">Types of Medical Degree</h2> <p>When you consider the medical field as a whole and the various areas and careers in the field, medical degrees can most easily be sorted by degree level and specialization. Degree programs related to different areas of the medical field are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels. </p> <p>Different medical-related careers require different levels and types of degrees. For example, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/How_Can_I_Become_a_Medical_Records_Technician.html">becoming a medical records technician</a> or <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Education_is_Needed_to_Become_a_Medical_Assistant.html">medical assistant</a> requires undergraduate education in different subjects than <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Sports_Medicine_How_to_Become_a_Sports_Medicine_Doctor_in_5_Steps.html">becoming a sports medicine doctor</a> or <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Psychiatric_Mental_Health_Nurse_Practitioner_Do.html">psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner</a>, which requires graduate-level education. </p> <p>While a complete list of medical degrees would be extensive, here we note some of the available areas of specialization within the medical field that offer degree and/or training programs and then explore the different levels of medical degrees. Some medical degree specialization areas include: </p> <ul><li>Nursing </li><li>Anesthesiology </li><li>Radiology </li><li>Emergency medicine </li><li>Pathology </li><li>Psychiatry </li><li>Surgery </li><li>Medical science </li></ul><h3 id="section---UndergraduateMedicalDegree">Undergraduate Medical Degree</h3> <p>Some medical fields may be entered through diploma or certificate programs, and medical undergraduate degrees are offered at the associate's and bachelor's levels. Typically, careers that have the word 'assistant' , 'technologist', or 'technician' in them require one of these lower-level medical degrees. </p> <p>Several medical certificate programs may take less than 1 year to complete. Some of these certificate programs may result in careers like: </p> <ul><li>Surgical technologist </li><li>Pharmacy technician </li><li>Medical assistant </li><li>Medical billing and coding specialist </li></ul><p>There are some careers, such as nursing, that may allow students to choose from a range of degree options. Nurses can typically become a Registered Nurse (RN) with a diploma, associate's, or bachelor's degree. At the bachelor's level students can also begin preparing for advanced medical education by entering a pre-med or other introductory program for a health-related field. </p> <h3 id="section---HighestMedicalDegree">Highest Medical Degree</h3> <p>While there are some medical degrees available at the master's level, such as a Master of Science (MS) in Medical Science or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), doctoral degree programs are the highest medical degree available. These advanced degrees typically require at least 4 years of medical/professional school and are available in different specialty areas, such as a Doctor of Optometry (OD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). </p> <p>Most people may think of a general physician when first thinking of medical degrees and there are actually 2 different types of medical degrees available for physicians and surgeons. These doctors can pursue a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. DOs are more likely to be primary care physicians and generally provide a more holistic approach to patient care. </p> <h2 id="section---MedicalCareersOverview">Medical Careers Overview</h2> <p>As discussed, there are diverse medical degree programs that lead students to a wide range of medical careers. In the table below you can explore a small sample of the different medical-related careers available, their required education, and median salaries. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Job Title</th><th>Degree Required</th><th>Annual Median Salary (2018)*</th></tr> <tr><td>Medical Assistants</td><td>Postsecondary Nondegree Award</td><td>$33,610</td></tr> <tr><td>EMTs and Paramedics</td><td>Postsecondary Nondegree Award</td><td>$34,320</td></tr> <tr><td>Respiratory Therapists</td><td>Associate's</td><td>$60,280</td></tr> <tr><td>Radiation Therapists</td><td>Associate's</td><td>$82,330</td></tr> <tr><td>Registered Nurses</td><td>Postsecondary Nondegree Award, Associate's, or Bachelor's</td><td>$71,730</td></tr> <tr><td>Medical and Health Services Managers</td><td>Bachelor's</td><td>$99,730</td></tr> <tr><td>Physician Assistants</td><td>Master's</td><td>$108,610</td></tr> <tr><td>Dentists</td><td>Doctoral or Professional Degree</td><td>$156,240</td></tr> <tr><td>Physicians and Surgeons</td><td>Doctoral or Professional Degree</td><td>Equal to or Greater than $208,000</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i></p>