Updated at: 10-04-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

You should be aware that there are several respectable 2-year medical degrees out there. There are a wide variety of paths open to you if you want to work in healthcare and make a difference in people’s lives.

Careers in the health and wellness industry have expanded far beyond the traditional roles of doctors and nurses as a result of the public’s growing interest in these fields.

Health care providers can now choose to focus on a specific age range or medical condition, from prenatal care to end-of-life services.

There are many well-paying 2-year medical degrees available, both online and at traditional universities.

Furthermore, they offer numerous chances to learn and practice incorporating research and statistical data into existing clinical expertise. You can also improve your education by gaining access to free PDF versions of medical textbooks.

Internships, rotations, and volunteer work are all examples of hands-on care that many of these programs require. To be able to focus on your studies without worrying about money, it’s also important to know how to get a degree for free.

The highest-paying and most-popular 2-year medical degrees are covered here.

2 Years Medical Degrees That Pay Well

2 years medical degrees that pay well

MRI technologist

Professional medical personnel known as MRI technologists are responsible for carrying out these scans. They typically find employment in oncology clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities specializing in radiology. MRI technologists are responsible for educating patients about their procedures, helping them find comfortable positions, administering contrast agents as needed, monitoring patient safety, and operating MRI machines.

Pharmacy technician

Pharmacy technician

Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacists to ensure the safe and timely distribution of medications to patients. They are qualified for work in any pharmacy setting, from hospitals to grocery stores to corner shops. Technicians also speak with patients and doctors to clarify prescriptions and questions, submit claims to insurance companies, and collect payments from clients.

Veterinary assistant

Assistants in veterinary medicine primarily aid veterinarians and veterinary technicians in their care of animals. Animal caretakers’ responsibilities may include admitting and discharging patients, transporting them to examination rooms, setting up appointments, feeding them, prepping them for surgery, and assisting with restraints.

Medical registrar

Medical registrars work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, urgent care centers, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers, performing a variety of administrative tasks. They are responsible for the reception of patients, the completion of admission paperwork, the entry of patient data into electronic medical records, and the duplication of relevant documentation such as identification and insurance cards.

Respiratory therapist

A respiratory therapist is a medical professional who helps people who have trouble breathing. Patients are evaluated, tests are run, treatment plans are formulated in collaboration with physicians and other providers, patients are instructed in the proper use of breathing machines such as ventilators, and their progress is monitored. Critical situations, such as cardiac arrests and near-drownings, are also within the scope of practice for respiratory therapists. The National Board for Respiratory Care grants licenses to respiratory therapists in the majority of states.

Nuclear Medicine Technology Degree

Nuclear Medicine Technology Degree

Earn a high salary, get started in the medical field right away, and study for this nuclear medicine technology degree in as little as two years. Injecting radioactive materials into patients and operating scanning equipment loaded with radiation and radiopharmaceuticals are just two of the many skills taught in a two-year nuclear medicine technology program.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy (PHTH) is a subfield of medicine concerned with optimizing health and functioning. This professional helps people stay mobile and prevents them from developing movement disorders. They see clients and patients of all ages every day. They conduct analyses to identify problems and potential problems, which are then resolved. This highest-paying profession, which requires only a two-year medical degree, is plagued by issues such as mobility impairment, chronic pain, and diminished functional independence for its practitioners.

Health Information Management

In less than 2 years, you can finish the requirements for an associate degree in health information management. Safeguarding electronic patient records is the responsibility of the healthcare provider. Coding and digitizing patient records requires experts who can also manage the process. Those interested in science, business, and IT can all find rewarding niches in the health information management field. This is a dynamic and expanding industry with plenty of room for professional development.

Medical Billing and Coding

Professionals in the field of medical coding can find employment in a wide range of settings, from hospitals and clinics to long-term care facilities and consulting firms to government agencies and health insurance providers. There is a growing need for health information professionals to manage the transition to electronic patient records, as well as specialists who can code and digitize patient records. These professionals are often referred to as health information technicians or medical coders.

Healthcare Administration

Healthcare Administration

If you ever decide you want to advance your career by earning a bachelor’s degree in health administration, this degree will set you up for success. Jobs in healthcare administration are also plentiful and in high demand. Employment opportunities as an administrative support specialist, administrative coordinator, medical secretary, or patient service representative are all within reach with an associate degree in healthcare administration. You’ll be in charge of making sure things run smoothly in the day-to-day operations of a business, such as hiring, scheduling, dealing with patients, or keeping track of supplies.

Surgeon Technology Degree

Before, during, and after surgery, the Surgical Technologist assists the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurse in caring for the patient.

Surgical technologists help set up the operating room by arranging the necessary instruments and equipment. Throughout the operation, technologists provide the surgeons and their assistants with instruments and other sterile supplies.

This 2-year medical degree program gets you ready for one of the health care industry’s hottest jobs: surgical tech. There are many different types of facilities that employ surgical technologists, from hospitals to surgery departments to obstetric departments to outpatient surgical clinics.

Dental Hygienist Degree

Oral diseases can be identified and treated by dental hygienists. People seek their services because they want to keep their mouths, teeth, and gums in good condition.

Consider becoming a dental hygienist if you want a high-paying medical job that requires only two years of schooling. In addition, many excellent dental schools have surprisingly low entry requirements, making it possible to become a dentist quickly.

Graduates of the program will have the knowledge and abilities necessary to sit for the General Dental Council (GDC) registration exam and become certified dental hygienists.

Psychology Degree

You can earn a good living with a degree in psychology in just two years. Those with a genuine desire to aid others would do well to consider this line of work.

The two-year bachelor’s degree programs make it possible for students to further their education and careers in psychology in a way that is both flexible and affordable.

All facets of human behavior will be covered, allowing students to develop in all areas, including speaking, writing, listening, reading, analyzing, researching, applying, and teaching.

In this course, you will learn about the many different branches of psychology, including addiction theory, health psychology, human sexuality, social psychology, cognitive science, statistics, personality theory, applied ethics, and the study of human growth and change across the lifespan.

Audiology Degree

Audiology Degree

Professionals in the audiology field who are interested in advancing their careers and staying abreast of developments in medicine and technology will find that a master’s degree program can be completed in just two years.

It is the goal of this two-year medical degree program to produce leaders and scholars who are well-versed in both the fundamentals and the cutting edge of their field.

The curriculum includes instruction in areas such as ethics, leadership, and professionalism; neuroscience and neuroimaging; pathologies of the auditory and vestibular systems; pharmacology and ototoxicity; genetics and hearing loss; implantable devices; international healthcare and audiology; and pediatric audiology.

Clinical Laboratory Management Degree

Current medical laboratory scientists who wish to advance their careers to managerial positions are the target audience for the two-year Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Management program. This high-paying, quick-to-complete healthcare degree is required for taking the Diplomate in Laboratory Management Exam and offers a lot of flexibility and convenience.

Scientific and technical writing, healthcare finance, healthcare informatics, laboratory management principles, evidence-based research & applied statistics, method comparison & process validation, and compliance & regulatory issues are all studied.

Students in this program learn how to ensure a safe, ethical, and productive laboratory environment through exercises in communication and decision making, human resource management, leadership development, test analysis and implementation, problem identification, and data interpretation.

Cardiovascular technologist and technician

Although a four-year bachelor’s degree is not required to enter the healthcare industry, some of the highest-paying jobs go to cardiovascular technologists and technicians and diagnostic medical sonographers.

They create images or conduct tests with specialized imaging equipment to aid in the evaluation and diagnosis of medical disorders. They could work closely with surgeons and doctors before, during, and after procedures.

Cardiology technologists and medical sonographers need at least a postsecondary certificate or an associate degree to enter the workforce. It’s one of the high-paying 2-year medical programs out there. Cardiovascular and vascular technology, sonography, and other fields all offer one-year certificate programs.

The median annual salary for cardiovascular technologists and technicians is $60,940, with the maximum salary exceeding $96,790.

Skincare specialist

Skincare specialists perform procedures on the face and body to enhance appearance. They use lotions, scrubs, waxes, lasers, cleaners, and cosmetics.

To become a licensed skincare specialist, you must first complete a state-approved cosmetology or esthetician program of at least 600 hours (some states require 750 hours).

Skincare experts earn a median annual salary of $34,090. In 2022, this certification is one of the highest-paying in the medical field, with the highest-skilled practitioners earning as much as $62,000 annually.

Phlebotomy technician

This is one of the quickest medical certifications available, with some holders earning over $50,000 annually. Phlebotomists collect blood for use in diagnostics, transfusions, donations, and research, and they also educate patients on what to expect during and after the procedure.

The average annual salary for a phlebotomist is $35,510, and the top 10 percent earn more than $49,750. This makes it one of the best paying 2 year medical degrees.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy training can be completed in just two years, and graduates into rewarding careers in the healthcare industry.

Graduates of this lucrative healthcare program will be well-prepared to take the national certification exam and secure the state licenses necessary to begin working in the field as radiation therapists.

It takes physical stamina, compassion, and exceptional communication skills for this specialist to administer therapeutic radiation doses to cancer patients, analyze the data, use the equipment, collaborate with a team, and ultimately save lives.

FAQs

What is the easiest 2 year degree to get?

Online programs leading to an Associate of Arts in General Studies, Liberal Studies, or Education are the most accessible options. The degree to which you find the coursework in these online associate degree programs challenging will depend on your individual abilities and preferences as a student.

What is the shortest nursing career?

It takes as little as 54 weeks to complete the coursework for a LPN program and become eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam. Students who graduate and go on to pass the NCLEX-PN exam are qualified to work as practical nurses, providing basic care to patients under the direction of a registered nurse or doctor.

Which medical Career is Right for You?

There are a variety of medical careers available to those who have completed a two-year program. The more effort you put into your schooling, the more valuable a degree you will receive. Many business owners and industry experts will tell you that earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree will boost your salary. This article shows, however, that a two-year degree is no less valuable than a four-year one.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that most people prefer undergraduate degrees with higher income potential, there are still dozens of 2 year medical degrees that pay well and beyond.

Depending on your level of experience and the medical certificate program you choose, your annual salary can range from $25,000 to $75,000.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in the medical field are in high demand and their employment rates are rising faster than average.

You shouldn’t ignore other well-paying medical certificate programs just because the majority of applicants are seen in more popular ones like medical assistant, medical billing, dental assistant, and medical coding.