Learn about medical professions you could pursue  

Learn about the different paths you can take in the medical field and how to make your chosen one a reality.

Allopathic Medicine
Chiropractic
Dentistry
Naturopathic Medicine
Nutrition and Dietetics
Occupational Therapy
Optometry
Osteopathic Medicine
Paramedic
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Podiatry
Public Health
Veterinary Medicine 

Allopathic Medicine (MD)

Examine patients and obtain medical histories, and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests.

Counsel patients about illness, injuries, health conditions, and preventive health care. You will be licensed to practice in your trained specialty, such as:

  • Internal Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry

Education

Medical school is a four-year program, leading to a doctoral degree. After medical school, you must apply for—and gain acceptance to—a residency program to train in a specialty area. Depending on the specialty, residency programs may last two to five years or more.

Premedical Coursework

Most medical schools require the following courses for admission:

  • Biology with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Physics with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111 and PHY 112 with labs
     
  • Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • Organic Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs
     

Check with individual schools for more specific information.

Admissions Committees Considerations

The admissions committees consider the following when deciding to admit you to their program:

  • cumulative and science grade point average
  • course loads per term
  • number of advanced courses
  • score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), typically taken the spring or summer after the junior year
  • letters of recommendation, both from individuals and from the Premedical Professions Committee   
  • clinical experience, through volunteer or paid positions
  • community service and other extracurricular activities
  • your interview

Application Process

Medical schools participate in the Association of American Medical Colleges application service.

More Information

Find more information with these links:

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Chiropractic

Chiropractors focus on the body’s ability to heal without drugs or surgery. 

Chiropractic care treats:

  • Backaches
  • Sciatica
  • Whiplash
  • Disc Problems
  • Functional disorders involving organs and internal glands

You will diagnose abnormalities in the musculoskeletal relationships of the vertebrae, and then manipulate or adjust all articulations of the body. This reduces or minimizes the effects of acute trauma or chronic biomechanical instability, and helps the nervous system function optimally.

Education

The Chiropractic curriculum is four years long, leading to a Doctor of Chiropractic degree (DC).

Pre-Chiropractic coursework

Common requirements for chiropractic programs are included below. Read more:

  • Biology with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Physics with lab (one year)
    • course equivalents: PHY 111 and PHY 112 with labs
     
  • English (one year)
    • course equivalents: ENG 105 and ENG 205
     
  • Humanities and Social Science (15 credits)
    • Course equivalents: HUM, PSY, SOC, POS, ANT courses
     
  • Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • Organic Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with lab
     
  • Psychology (one semester)
    • Course equivalent: PSY 101
     

Requirements may vary, so check individual schools for specific information.

More Information

Look at the Association of Chiropractic Colleges for more detailed information on chiropractic programs.

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Dentistry

Dentists treat people—not just teeth and mouths.

You’ll interact with people of all ages, cultures, and personalities. You might even be the first health care professional to recognize and identify a wide variety of diseases, ranging from hypertension to cancer. You will also:

  • diagnose and treat problems affecting the teeth, gingival tissue, tongue, lips and jaws
  • improve patients' appearance by using a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures
  • perform trauma surgery, implants, tissue grafts, and laser surgery
  • teach good habits for good health by educating patients, as well as the general public, on oral health and disease prevention

Education

The length of educational training beyond high school is generally 8 years, including (a) a bachelor's degree, and (b) four years of dental school. Some dental schools consider individuals without a bachelor's degree, if they have completed a minimum of two years of full-time college study. However, preference is given to candidates who have a college degree by the time they enter dental school.

Pre-Dental Coursework

 

Most dental schools require the following courses for admission:

  • Biology with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Physics with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111 and PHY 112 with labs
     
  • Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • Organic Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with CHM 235 lab
     

Any courses that help develop dexterity of the hand are recommended. An example would be sculpture (ART 181). Check with individual schools for specific information.

Entrance Exam

Dental schools in the United States require applicants to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT).

Applying to Dental Schools

Most dental schools participate in the centralized application service through the American Dental Education Association.

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Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is the art, science, and practice of diagnosing and treating people and preventing disease naturally. 

You will combine modern science with ancient healing wisdom to benefit each individual patient. You will identify diseases, with the understanding that it is dynamic.  

The scope of a naturopathic practice varies from state to state, depending on current law. A naturopath may diagnose and treat patients for both acute and chronic conditions.

Treatment may include, but is not limited to:

  • Nutrition
  • Botanical medicine
  • Naturopathic Manipulative Therapy (NMT)
  • Acupuncture
  • Homeopathy
  • Mind-body
  • Natural childbirth
  • Minor surgery
  • Natural and synthetic prescriptions

Education

You will study the basic sciences, similar to conventional medical school. This includes:

  • laboratory diagnosis
  • psychological assessment and counseling
  • clinical and physical diagnosis
  • natural and pharmacological therapies

Even if you do little or no prescribing, it is crucial to have knowledge of pharmacology and pharmaceuticals, because you will see many patients who use them.

Pre-Naturopathic Coursework

Most naturopathic medical schools require the following courses for admission:

  • Biology with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Physics with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111 and PHY 112 with labs
     
  • Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • organic chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with CHM 235 lab
     
  • Math
    • Course equivalents: MAT 125
     
  • Psychology     
    • Course equivalents: PSY 101 or PSY 240
     

Licensure

The following links provide in-depth information on licensure:

More Information

Read more information on naturopathic medicine:

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Nutrition and Dietetics

As a Registered Dietician (RD), you will:

  • evaluate client diets
  • develop nutritional therapy care plans
  • provide nutritional instruction
  • monitor results to ensure optimal nutrition for disease and disease prevention

You’ll work as part of a team with physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and case managers.

Treat health problems such as:

  • high blood pressure
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • cancer
  • trauma
  • geriatrics
  • neonatal and pediatric growth-related concerns
  • obstetrics
  • multiple organ dysfunction
  • malnutrition
  • eating disorders
  • sports nutrition

Specialties

Clinical Dietitians

Provide medical nutrition therapy for patients in acute care and long-term care institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes. You may specialize as part of a trauma team in areas such as intensive care.

Community Dietitians

Counsel individuals on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote good health. Provide instruction on grocery shopping and food preparation.

Management Dietitians

Oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in places such as:

  • health care facilities
  • cafeterias
  • prisons
  • schools
Consultant Dietitians

You will: 

  • work under contract with health care facilities or in private practice
  • perform nutrition screening
  • offer advice on weight loss and cholesterol reduction

Education

A bachelor’s degree in dietetics or food and nutrition, plus a year of internship and a board examination are required in order to practice.

More information

For more information about this field, visit The American Dietetic Association and ExploreHealthCareers.org. 

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Occupational Therapy

Help patients with mental, physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities to develop or re-learn functional, day-to-day activities so they can be independent at home, school, work, or in the community. 

You’ll evaluate your patient's performance in self-care, work, and leisure activities, and help your patient adapt or adjust.

Treatment may include:

  • personal self-care
  • thinking skills
  • equipment training
  • hand therapy

Professional Outlook

Use ExploreHealthCareers.org to learn more about the professional outlook for occupational therapy positions.

Education

Occupational therapy programs may be:

  • a four-year bachelor’s degree
  • a two-year master’s degree or certification

Pre- Occupational Therapy Coursework

The online master's program at Kirksville Southwest Center in Phoenix is the closest program to Flagstaff. Prerequisite courses for this program include:

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (one year)
    • course equivalents: BIO 201 and BIO 202
     
  • General Biology  (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182
     
  • Chemistry  (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • English (one year)
    • course equivalents: ENG 105 and ENG 205
     
  • Humanities
    • Course equivalents: any two humanities courses
     
  • Physics
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111 with lab
     
  • Psychology
    • Course equivalents: PSY 101, PSY 240, and PSY 415
     

Applying to Occupational Therapy Programs

Apply through the centralized application service for occupational therapy.

More Information

For more information, examine the following websites:

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Optometry

As the major providers of primary vision care, you’ll examine your patients’ eyes and prescribe:

  • glasses
  • contact lenses
  • vision therapy
  • aids for low vision
  • therapeutic drugs for specific diseases

Education

Typically, a Doctor of Optometry consists of a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by four years of study at one of the 17 optometry schools in the United States.

Pre-Optometry Coursework

Admission requirements vary depending on the school, so you should carefully review school catalogues. Requirements may include:

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 201 and BIO 202
     
  • General Biology (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182
     
  • Chemistry (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • English (one year)
    • Course equivalents: ENG 105 and ENG 205
     
  • Statistics
    • Course equivalents: STA 270 or PSY 230
     
  • Physics
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111 with lab
     
  • Microbiology
    • Course equivalents: BIO 205
     
  • Organic Chemistry
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 or CHM 238 with CHM 235 lab
     
  • Calculus
    • Course equivalents: MAT 136
     
  • Biochemistry
    • Course equivalents: CHM 360 or CHM 461

Entrance Exam

You must take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), which is offered twice a year in February and October.

The OAT consists of four sections:

  • quantitative reasoning
  • survey of Biology, Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry
  • reading comprehension
  • Physics

More Information

Take a look at these other sources for more details:

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Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic programs are comparable to allopathic programs, but there is an emphasis on a whole-body approach. You’ll choose specialties that complement this philosophy, including:

  • family medicine
  • internal medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Education

Medical school is a four-year program, leading to a doctoral degree. After medical school, you must apply for—and gain acceptance to—a residency program to train in a specialty area. Residency programs last from two to five years or more.

Premedical Coursework

Most Osteopathic medical schools require the following courses for admission:

  • Biology with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Physics with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111 and PHY 112 with labs
     
  • Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • Organic Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with CHM 325 lab

Check individual schools for more specific information.

Admissions

The admissions committees consider the following when deciding to admit you to their program: 

  • cumulative and science grade point average
  • overall trends
  • course loads per term
  • number of advanced courses 
  • score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), typically taken the spring or summer after the junior year
  • letters of recommendation, both from individuals and from the Premedical Professions Committee
  • clinical experience through volunteer or paid positions
  • community service and other extracurricular activities
  • your interview

Applying to Osteopathic Programs

Osteopathic schools participate in the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) online application.

More Information

For more details on this field, visit the American Osteopathic Association.

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Paramedic

Respond to emergency calls and provide immediate care and transport to critically-ill and injured patients. 

You’ll treat:

  • airway and ventilation problems, including drowning
  • control of hemorrhage and shock
  • immobilization of fractures, spine, or extremities
  • cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • emergency childbirth
  • psychological crisis
  • poisonings

Employment settings

You could work in:

  • community fire and police departments
  • private ambulance companies
  • hospital emergency departments
  • private industry

 More Information

The closest program is located at Coconino Community College. 

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Pharmacy

Provide patients and health care professionals with crucial medication information.

Your responsibilities include:

  • dispensing medications
  • monitoring patient health and progress
  • educating consumers on the use of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
  • advising physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on drug decisions
  • providing expertise about the composition of drugs to ensure their purity and strength

Applying to Pharmacy Programs

Most pharmacy schools participate in PharmCas.

Entrance Exam

Pharmacy programs require or recommend the Pharmacy College Application Test (PCAT) for admission.

Pre-pharmacy coursework

Most pharmacy schools require the following courses for admission:

  • General Chemistry (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • Organic Chemistry (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs
     
  • General Biology (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Human Anatomy (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 201 and BIO 202 with labs
     
  • Microbiology
    • Course equivalent: BIO 205 with lab
     
  • Physics (one year)
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111-112 or PHY 161, PHY 262, and PHY 263 with labs
     
  • Calculus
    • Course equivalent: MAT 136 or MAT 131
     
  • English (six credits)
    • Course equivalents: ENG 105 and ENG 205
     
  • Economics
    • course equivalents: ECO 284 or ECO 285

More Information

For more information about this field, visit the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

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Physical Therapy

Physical therapists examine, treat, and instruct patients affected by physical disability, movement dysfunction, bodily malfunction, and pain from injury or disease. 

Specialties

The American Physical Therapy Association certifies these specialties as:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sports Physical Therapy
  • Orthopedics
  • Cardiopulmonary
  • Clinical Electrophysiology
  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics

Entrance Exam

The General Record Exam (GRE) is often required to apply, although sometimes the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is accepted as an alternative. For GRE testing information please, visit the GRE website.

Education

All accredited physical therapy schools offer degrees at the master's level and above, in accordance with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Today, more than half of the physical therapy programs in the United States offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Check individual schools for specific pre-requisites and other application requirements.

Two physical therapy programs in Arizona offer a doctoral degree: Northern Arizona University and Arizona School of Health Sciences.  

Most physical therapy programs require the following courses for admission:

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 201 and BIO 202 
     
  • General Chemistry  (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151/L and CHM 152/L 
     
  • Physics  (one year)
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111/L and PHY 112/L
     
  • Psychology
    • Course equivalents: PSY 101 
     
  • Statistics
    • Course equivalents: STA 270 or PSY 230
     
  • Abnormal or Developmental Psychology
    • Course equivalents: PSY 415 or PSY 240 

More Information

For more information about this field, visit the American Physical Therapy Association.

The Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy (DPT) offered at Northern Arizona University is a 33-month program.  

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Physician Assistant (PA)

As a Physician Assistant, you’ll practice medicine under a supervising physician. 

Your duties will vary based on training, experience, and state law, and corresponds to the supervising physician’s practice.   

In general, you’ll see many of the same types of patients as the physician, but the more complicated or non-routine cases are referred to the physician. Physician assistants most commonly work in primary care.

Education

There are 137 physician assistant programs nationwide, and three are in Arizona. The typical program is at least two years long, and no residency is required afterward. Over 90 of these programs award master's degrees.

The master’s program at Northern Arizona University in Phoenix is a 24-month program. Prerequisites include:

  • two courses in Chemistry (such as inorganic, organic, or biochemistry)
  • submission of GRE scores
  • one course in Anatomy and one course in Physiology, or two sequential combined Anatomy and Physiology courses (assuring that all body systems have been covered) taken within the last three years
  • related experience in the past three years may be substituted for refresher courses at the discretion of the program
  • one course in Statistics (Biostatistics, Educational Stats, General Stats, or Finance Stats)
  • one course in Microbiology
  • one course in Genetics
  • one hands-on science lab course (not online)
  • two upper division Biology courses (level 300 or above)

A minimum of 500 hours of health care experience, with no more than 20 hours of shadowing experience are counted toward the 500 hours. Both volunteer and paid experiences are acceptable.

Note: Prerequisites for PA programs vary greatly from school to school. It is very important that applicants research each program to find specific application requirements.

Applying to a Physician Assistant Program

Most programs participate in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants.

The General Record Exam (GRE) is often required to apply, although sometimes the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is accepted as an alternative. For GRE testing information, please visit the GRE website.

Physician Assistant programs in Arizona include:

More Information

For more information about this field, visit the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

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Podiatry

Specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions affecting the human foot, ankle, and related structures. 

As a Podiatrist, you will also:

  • make independent judgments
  • utilize x-rays and laboratory tests for diagnostic purposes
  • prescribe medications
  • order physical therapy
  • set fractures
  • perform surgeries

Professional Outlook

The work hours of most podiatric physicians are significantly more flexible than those of other medical professions. Use ExploreHealthCareers.org to learn more about the job outlook for podiatrists.

Certified podiatric specialties include:

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics
  • Biomechanics
  • Primary medicine
  • Sports Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Dermatology
  • Radiology
  • Geriatrics
  • Diabetic foot care 

Education

There are seven podiatry schools in the United States. Most require at least three years—or 90 credits—of undergraduate coursework.

Pre-Podiatry coursework

Pre-Podiatry coursework includes:

  • General Chemistry (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • Organic Chemistry (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs
     
  • General Biology (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Physics (one year)
    • Course equivalents: PHY 111 and PHY 112 or PHY 161, PHY 262, and PHY 263 with labs
     
  • English (six credits)
    • Course equivalents: ENG 105 and ENG 205

Applying to a Podiatry Program

The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) has traditionally been the only standardized test required for admission, but some schools will accept other test scores, such as the GRE. For GRE testing information, please visit the GRE website.

Check with individual schools for admission requirements or look at the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine application.

More Information

For more information about this field, visit the American Podiatric Medical Association.

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Public Health

Enhance human health through organized community efforts. 

Create strategies to address community health problems in practical, effective ways, such as:

  • determining the causes of disease, disability and premature death
  • planning and organizing appropriate health services, including:
  • health education
  • health policies

You will not treat health problems, but will take part in community efforts to prevent illness.

Focus areas include:

  • community health
  • epidemiology
  • health administration and policy
  • internal health
  • health education and health promotion
  • public health nutrition
  • education

If you are interested in policy, you’ll want to consider a master’s of public health. The three state universities in Arizona cooperate to deliver classes at each university and through satellite links.

Admission requirements for a master’s program include:

  • a bachelor’s degree
  • three letters of recommendation
  • Medical College Admission Test or GRE
  • at least one course in mathematics, biology, and social sciences

More information

For more information about this field, visit the American Public Health Professions website.

Northern Arizona University offers an undergraduate degree in Public Health.

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Veterinary Medicine

Make a career out of your love for animals. 

Veterinarians treat ill and injured animals, from family pets to zoo inhabitants, and from the agricultural setting to the wildlife realm.

While most operate in private practice, there is a growing need for veterinarians who have completed specialized training in areas such as:

  • molecular biology
  • laboratory animal medicine
  • toxicology
  • immunology
  • diagnostic pathology
  • environmental medicine

Entrance Exam

Veterinary programs require applicants to complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). For GRE testing information, visit the GRE website.

Education

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is awarded after four years of study. Most students admitted to veterinary programs hold an undergraduate degree from a four-year institution. Hands-on experience working with animals is highly recommended.

The prerequisite courses for veterinary school admission vary slightly from school to school, so check with each school for exact requirements.

Pre-Veterinary Coursework

Most Veterinary schools require the following prerequisite coursework:

  • Biology with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs
     
  • Chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs
     
  • Organic chemistry with lab (one year)
    • Course equivalents: CHM 235 and CHM 238 with CHM 235 lab

Applying to Veterinary Programs

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service is the central distribution, collection, and processing service for applications to the veterinary medical colleges.

More Information

For more information about this field, visit the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

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