Career Options After Pre-Med Studies: A Guide for Students

Pursuing a career in the medical field can be both rewarding and challenging. After completing your pre-medical coursework, you may find yourself at a crossroads, wondering which path to take next. This guide aims to provide you with insights into various career options available after pre-medical studies.

Becoming a Doctor (M.D./D.O.)

The most common path is going to medical school to become a licensed doctor. This involves applying to medical schools, completing 4 years of intense training, and then doing a residency program in the specialty you want.

Medical Specialties

As a doctor, you can choose from many different specialties like:

• Family Medicine (treating whole families)
• Pediatrics (treating children)
• Internal Medicine (treating adults)
• Surgery (operating on patients)
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (women’s health)
• Psychiatry (treating mental health)
• Radiology (reading x-rays and scans)

Each specialty has its own challenges, work settings, and types of patients.

Becoming a Dentist (D.D.S./D.M.D.)

If you like working on teeth and gums, you can become a dentist. Dental schools need the same pre-med courses as medical schools. After 4 years of dental school, you can be a general dentist or specialize in areas like orthodontics (braces), endodontics (root canals), or oral surgery.

Allied Health Professions

There are many healthcare jobs besides being a doctor or dentist. These often take less schooling but still let you work in healthcare.

Examples

• Physician Assistant (assists doctors)
• Nurse Practitioner (advanced nursing)
• Physical Therapist (helps with movement/pain)
• Occupational Therapist (helps with daily activities)
• Pharmacist (works with medications)
• Speech Therapist (helps with speaking/swallowing)
• Audiologist (helps with hearing)
• Lab Scientist (runs medical tests)
• X-Ray Technician (takes x-rays)

Other Options

If healthcare doesn’t seem right, your pre-med courses prepare you for other paths like:

• Research and Teaching
• Healthcare Administration
• Public Health
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Writing
• Healthcare Consulting
• Starting a Healthcare Business

The critical thinking and science skills from pre-med transfer to many fields.