Best entry level medical fields that require only Associate degrees?

[DestorDrexler]

By "Best", I mean the highest paying and the most dynamically challenging, interesting, "High" demand medical careers to get into, that only requires an Associate degree to begin working in.
I am looking at Radiation Therapist as of now, but can anybody broaden my perceptual scope on other possibilities that has excellent pay benefits and is interesting, and only requires 2 years or less worth of education?
My Long term goal is definitely to become a Doctor, working in the field that appropriate for my hearing impaired-ness (Born with profound hearing loss), perhaps treating deaf people like myself in fields such as ENT or Psychiatry.
To me, it makes the best logical sense to begin working towards an AAS that will grant me an entry level medicinal job, help me gain clinical/institutional experience, which comes later in handy for Medical School processings I would assume by practical means of common sense, and also compound interest to realize a return on my investments, to finance future medical school endeavourments.
But, after making a come-back after a 2 year lay off from college and life, I am absolutely clueless as far as the "Scope" on my "Horizons" go, as far as where to go for the best medical field other than googling around all day. I want to emphasize that I have always been fascinated by medical terminology since I was 8 or 9 years old. I have absolutely no interest in anything that is not related to the Medical field.
Can some people input ideas, as far as pointing me (and other silent spoken inquiring minds) in the right direction?
I thank you all in advance!

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[Doctor D]

Physical Therapy Assistant starting salary 30,000 - 40,000. (this would be a hard job if you are deaf, but so would being a deaf physician.)

I disagree with your plan however. There are no real advantages to do it this way. You would be better off getting a loan and going to a 4 yr. public university.

 

[Fashion2088]

Doing this is kinda tricky...Do you have family support? Do you have to work full time while you are in school? Are u just doing this to make more money during the pre med process or is it a need. If it's a need, and you have no family support and u are just looking to recieve a degree to provide you with a solid career, then nursing is the way to go. It has endless opportunities and you can almost make 6 figures...provided you work overtime lol... Graduate nurses in the tampa area can start out making $22.00 per hour at large hospitals and make up to $30 per hour private duty or for agencies... Working only 3 days per week at 12 hour shifts some nurses at my job told me they make about $50,000 annually. The ones who picked up extra shifts per week, like a day or two earned as much as $90,000 for the year...and they are just Associate's degree RN's.

Here is the thing tho, if you dont need the extra money or if you have some type of family support, dont take that route...It won't be time wasted, because you will learn a lot, but it will be a change in path that you really dont need... Another thing is, once you start making good money, people tend to get sidetracked and just get comfortable...

If u really want to be a doctor, just focus on that...

 

[TarHeelEMT]

I'm a big fan of paramedicine (obviously)

 

[DestorDrexler]

Doing this is kinda tricky...Do you have family support? Do you have to work full time while you are in school? Are u just doing this to make more money during the pre med process or is it a need. If it's a need, and you have no family support and u are just looking to recieve a degree to provide you with a solid career, then nursing is the way to go. It has endless opportunities and you can almost make 6 figures...provided you work overtime lol... Graduate nurses in the tampa area can start out making $22.00 per hour at large hospitals and make up to $30 per hour private duty or for agencies... Working only 3 days per week at 12 hour shifts some nurses at my job told me they make about $50,000 annually. The ones who picked up extra shifts per week, like a day or two earned as much as $90,000 for the year...and they are just Associate's degree RN's.

Here is the thing tho, if you dont need the extra money or if you have some type of family support, dont take that route...It won't be time wasted, because you will learn a lot, but it will be a change in path that you really dont need... Another thing is, once you start making good money, people tend to get sidetracked and just get comfortable...

If u really want to be a doctor, just focus on that...

Hey bro thanks for making these points. If you don't mind my asking, are you a nurse?
I will be able to receive 100% deaf tuiton coverage if I opt to enroll in a Texas University, which covers medical school as well. Since I do have support in tuiton, and it is not an emergency for money, my best bet would be to opt for taking the long road to becoming a doctor, by doing 4 years of pre-med, then 4 years of medical, then finally 4-7 years of residency training right? MY heart is to be a doctor, specifically treating disabled/war veteran people through psychiatric methods of treatment.
Not to overload or anything but I want to add, say if I opt to go into nursing school for the 4 year program at my local university...is that considered pre-med, or at least, partially pre-med classes by the medical school for admission criteria? Or would I have to do 4 years of specific pre-med at the university all over because nursing was a "waste" of time?

 

[Vihsadas]

Nursing is different from being a physician, and the common question you will get is "Why did you do a nursing degree if you knew that you wanted to be a doctor?"

I'd be wary about doing nursing for the purpose of becoming a doctor.

If you already have a degree, then you just need to make sure that you've completed the course requirements. In general although its different from school to school These requirements are:

2 sems of Bio
2 sems of Chem
2 sems of Org
2 sems of Physics
2 sems of English

Other classes you should consider taking because they are a requirement at some schools are:

2-4 sems of humanities (including psych)
1 sem calculus
1 sem biochemistry
1 sem statistics

 

[Fashion2088]

Hey bro thanks for making these points. If you don't mind my asking, are you a nurse?
I will be able to receive 100% deaf tuiton coverage if I opt to enroll in a Texas University, which covers medical school as well. Since I do have support in tuiton, and it is not an emergency for money, my best bet would be to opt for taking the long road to becoming a doctor, by doing 4 years of pre-med, then 4 years of medical, then finally 4-7 years of residency training right? MY heart is to be a doctor, specifically treating disabled/war veteran people through psychiatric methods of treatment.
Not to overload or anything but I want to add, say if I opt to go into nursing school for the 4 year program at my local university...is that considered pre-med, or at least, partially pre-med classes by the medical school for admission criteria? Or would I have to do 4 years of specific pre-med at the university all over because nursing was a "waste" of time?

Nursing courses and pre med courses are totally different... In order to apply to the nursing program rather it be a 2 year program or a 4 year program you must complete:
English 1 & 2
Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 2
Microbiology
Ethics
statistics
college algebra

Some schools differ tho... Im sure u already know the med school requirements... Getting a 4 year degree in nursing while taking the pre med courses will be a bit taxing on you...thats just my opinion...

To answer your question, no in not a nurse; however, in the past i thought about doing the same thing... But my story is a bit different... If u want to gain medical experience while u are in school why not volunteer at a local hospital doing sign language interpretation... Do research... Or work as a lab assistant... Just being in the medical enviroment allows you to learn more than u would think...

I work full time and go to school full time... Ive done work as a lab assistant in a microbiology lab... do work as a research assistant every summer... and work in an ER as a Patient Representative... They dont pay much but u learn a lot and meet a lot of people...

As far as what the docs think... i know people say if u major in nursing, docs will frown on it... I asked a few of them that work at my job who are on an admitting commitee for USF and they all have mixed views... Some say they prefer Biomed majors...some say they like dance and music majors...and some just dont care about the major, they care more about the students desire...

hope this helps...

 

[JRJ26]

do you have a bachelor's degree already? If you're looking for a medical job to simply help pay the bills, some 2 year programs to consider would be nursing, respiratory therapy, and paramedicine. If you are dead set on becoming a physician, think about completing a bachelor's degree in one of these programs while also completing the pre-med requirements. At my old school, there are a number of students that were nursing pre-med majors, b/c they wanted something that they could maybe work one day a week or so to have some kind of income. Yes you might have to answer the question of why you're doing a nursing degree if you want to be a physician, but you won't be at a disadvantage. There are a number of nurses that become physicians. It doesn't matter what degree you complete, as long as you do well in the courses you take, including the pre-med requirements.

So yes, if you go to nursing school, be sure to complete the pre-med requirements as well. Nursing will also add courses like anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and microbiology, and depending on the school, these can be difficult in addition to doing well in the pre-med core.

 

[Doctor D]

Hey bro thanks for making these points. If you don't mind my asking, are you a nurse?
I will be able to receive 100% deaf tuiton coverage if I opt to enroll in a Texas University, which covers medical school as well. Since I do have support in tuiton, and it is not an emergency for money, my best bet would be to opt for taking the long road to becoming a doctor, by doing 4 years of pre-med, then 4 years of medical, then finally 4-7 years of residency training right? MY heart is to be a doctor, specifically treating disabled/war veteran people through psychiatric methods of treatment.
Not to overload or anything but I want to add, say if I opt to go into nursing school for the 4 year program at my local university...is that considered pre-med, or at least, partially pre-med classes by the medical school for admission criteria? Or would I have to do 4 years of specific pre-med at the university all over because nursing was a "waste" of time?

The problem with going with nursing is that it doesnt leave alot of room for the pre reqs. Other major are much more flexible and will allow you to take extra science courses that may help you with the MCAT or if you are a science major than of coarse you will have the material you need. Nursing is very relevant to what a physician does but is not relevant to what it takes to get into med school. The getting in part is the stumbling block for most people (about 1/50 who start out premed actually become doctors.) Spend your extra time getting exposure by volunteering, shadowing, and doing research. Make sure you major in something that you enjoy. Good luck.