This article presents a list of medical careers with associates degree. Each job title is linked to a detailed description of the position and hiring details indicating whether the career is available for an associate degree holder, or other than an associate degree holder (generally applicable only to registered nurses).
If you’re looking for medical careers with an associates degree, there are plenty of options.
You can work as a nurse, a medical assistant, or a dental assistant. You can also do research in the field of medicine.
A career as a nurse is one of the most popular choices for graduates of associate’s degree programs in the health science fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that employment of registered nurses would grow by 19 percent from 2014 to 2024, which was much faster than average for all occupations (www.bls.gov).
As a nurse, you’ll work directly with patients and their families to assess their needs, provide treatment and care, educate them about their health conditions, monitor changes in their health status as well as those around them (such as family members), and help them understand how to manage their condition to prevent it from getting worse (or even better!). You may also be responsible for maintaining records on your patients’ progress so that they can be referred back to by other doctors if needed.
You may decide instead to become a medical assistant (MA). Medical assistants perform administrative tasks such as answering phones and keeping records but may also perform clinical duties under direct supervision from doctors or registered nurses (RNS). The BLS projected
Medical careers with associates degree
Introduction
The healthcare industry is a vital field for employment opportunities. So much so, that there are plenty of careers in the medical field with an associate’s degree and without any prior experience. Here are some of the best healthcare career options you can pursue with an associates degree:
Medical records technician
If you’re interested in working in the medical field and want to get your foot in the door, a medical records technician job is a great option. Medical records technicians are responsible for keeping track of patient information such as their vital statistics and insurance information. They also have to deal with patients’ correspondence with doctors, hospitals or health care providers.
It takes an average of two years to earn an associate’s degree in Medical Records Technology at most community colleges or vocational schools. The curriculum includes classes like anatomy and physiology, transcription techniques, computer applications, medical terminology, healthcare ethics and law enforcement fundamentals (to help them understand HIPAA).
A typical day at work might look like this:
- Start by reviewing lab results from physicians before entering them into the database so they can be accessed easily if needed later on during treatment.
- Filing patient charts based on date of birth (or other identifiers) so that it’s easy for doctors/nurses/other staff members needing access later on when treating patients.* Scanning documents such as X-rays into digital format so they can’t get lost over time and stay accessible for future reference should there ever be any questions about past tests performed.* Transcribing audio recordings onto printed transcripts using specialized software programs designed specifically for this task.* Entering demographic data into electronic databases so that it’s available instantly whenever someone needs it (for example when scheduling appointments).
Physical therapy aide
One of the most common physical therapy careers is a physical therapy aide, who assists licensed healthcare professionals in providing patient care. Physical therapy aides may help patients with activities of daily living or dressing and bathing. They also may be involved in transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs, moving equipment around the room, or arranging hospital rooms for patients’ comfort.
Physical therapy aides typically work under direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist; however they do not perform any sort of diagnosis or treatment on their own. Their role is limited to helping patients with mobility tasks that are necessary before they can begin rehabilitation exercises aimed at improving their physical functioning and overall health.
Physical therapists earn an average salary of $70,000 per year and have seen employment growth at rates ranging from 16-19% over the past decade (27). The job market is expected to continue growing at these rates through 2026 as well due to an aging population (28).
Radiologic technologist
- Associate or bachelor’s degree
- Operate x-ray machines to create images of internal organs, bones, and tissues.
- Median salary (2018): $60,070
- Expected job openings (2016-2026): 12%
Sonographer
Sonography is an excellent profession for those who like advanced technology and a flexible schedule. Sonographers use ultrasound to examine internal organs, blood vessels and other body parts. They are also trained to take measurements based on their findings. A sonographer may work in an outpatient clinic or hospital setting, but the majority of them work in private practices or outpatient clinics where they can choose their own hours. The average salary for a sonographer with an associates degree is $54,184 annually, according to PayScale data from May 2017; however it should be noted that this figure does not include benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans or paid time off (PTO). The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment growth at about 19 percent between 2016-2026—much faster than average across all industries—which means there will be plenty of opportunities available for those who want to enter this field!
Surgical technologist
If you enjoy helping people, are good with your hands and like to work with a team, surgical technology might be the right choice for you.
Surgeons rely on surgical technologists to help them provide quality care while ensuring the safety of their patients. The role of a surgical technologist can vary from one facility to another—some may perform administrative duties in addition to assisting with surgeries—but generally speaking, they prepare patients for surgery by checking vital signs (such as heart rate and blood pressure), preparing equipment or instruments for use during an operation, and keeping track of supplies needed during procedures.
Surgical technologists usually have at least an associate’s degree; however, some may have completed some college courses before entering this field as well. Most programs require coursework in areas such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology (study of medicines), medical terminology, ethics/law/regulations and patient care technologies such as ventilators or fluid pumps. Some programs also offer clinical rotations where students gain real-world experience working in hospitals while still earning credits toward graduation
This is a great list of medical careeers with associates degrees.
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Insurance Specialist
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
Conclusion
If you want to work in the medical field but don’t want to spend four years or more in school, consider a career that will only require you to have an associate’s degree. This is a great option for those who are looking for jobs with little investment of time and money. There are many positions available! It just depends on what type of work environment suits your personality best.
