Medicine is one of the most intimidating and demanding fields, requiring extensive training and meeting strict educational expectations. Therefore, it’s only natural to question if there’s a less stressful way to become a healthcare professional without sacrificing the fulfillment of helping others. You’ll find several medical degrees are perceived to be easier than others due to the length of training and curriculum.
In this guide, we will explore five medical degrees that are often regarded as easier. We will examine the various factors that contribute to the ease of a medical degree, as well as the challenges and misconceptions surrounding the easiest medical degrees. Join us as we help you choose a medical degree that aligns with your goals and passions.
Understanding Medical Degrees
Medical degrees are academic qualifications that demonstrate the completion of an accredited program in medicine. They equip you with the technical and practical knowledge necessary for a medical career and help you develop valuable industry skills, such as medical terminology, medical ethics, compassion, and empathy.
Choosing the right medical degree can be a daunting task that requires thorough research. It also requires you to reflect on your passions and areas of interest within healthcare, such as patient care, public health, or a specific medical specialty. Additionally, you must evaluate your academic strengths and skills to determine which degree aligns with your abilities. For instance, to become a radiologic technologist, you must have computer skills to use radiology-specific software and review scan results. On the other hand, to become an EMT, you must have situational awareness to assess a patient’s overall well-being, devise an effective solution, and ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Medical Degrees Often Considered Easier
Although all medical degrees require hard work, here are some that are often considered easier than others and the factors that contribute to their perceived ease.
Nursing (RN or LPN/LVN)
Program length and curriculum intensity are among the factors contributing to the perceived ease of obtaining a nursing degree to become an RN or LPN/LVN. While RN programs can take two to four years, LPN/LVN programs are typically shorter and take at least a year to complete. Curriculum intensity also varies, with some programs offering part-time options or flexible schedules to accommodate student needs.
While both RN and LPN/LVN programs require a high school diploma, RN programs usually require the completion of courses such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, and English and a minimum GPA of 2.5-2.75. On the other hand, LPN/LVN programs are more lenient and easier to get into.
The nursing curriculum also includes clinical rotations in nursing to allow you to develop your practical nursing skills in various healthcare settings under the supervision of an RN clinical instructor. These rotations include:
- Pediatrics
- Mental health facilities
- Medical surgical clinics
- Acute care
- Long-term care
- Labor and delivery
- Community settings.
As you become more confident in your skills, the program can become more manageable, thus leading to an easier perception of the program.
Nursing offers various specialty areas and career paths, from critical care and pediatrics to mental health and community health nursing. Thus, the perceived ease of earning a nursing degree may also vary greatly depending on one’s interest in a particular area.
Radiologic technologist
The factors contributing to the perceived ease of obtaining a medical degree to become a radiologic technologist include the two-year program length for associate degree programs. Due to the shorter program length, the curriculum may be less intensive and may be perceived as easier to complete, especially if you’re balancing work and study commitments.
Another reason why getting a radiologic technologist degree is perceived as easy is the entry requirement of having a high school diploma or GED and completing courses such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physics. While some programs may be competitive, as long as you have good grades on the prerequisite courses, you’ll have an easier time enrolling in your targeted program.
As part of your radiologic technologist training, you’ll also engage in clinical rotations in pediatrics, trauma centers, orthopedics, and outpatient radiation therapy practices. As the program provides ample practical experience, you’ll have a smooth learning and skill development journey, aiding the perceived ease of the program.
Medical laboratory technician (MLT)
Factors that impact the ease of an MLT degree include the length of the program, which typically lasts for two years, and the curriculum that emphasizes the knowledge and skills required to perform laboratory procedures. Another factor is the more accessible entry requirements, which usually include the completion of prerequisites such as biology, mathematics, and chemistry coursework.
During your MLT studies, you will participate in clinical rotations and gain significant practical experience. As you become acquainted with laboratory tests and procedures, you may find the program more manageable and the learning process easier.
MLT programs usually focus on laboratory science and technology, making them less daunting than programs with a broader scope. Furthermore, these programs lead to more straightforward career paths and job opportunities within the field, making it easier to find a job.
Emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic
EMT and paramedic programs are considered to be among the easiest medical degrees. EMT programs take 170 hours to complete, while paramedic programs can take anywhere from 1,200 to 1,800 hours and last between six to twelve months. EMT programs have a less intensive curriculum focusing on CPR, delivery, oxygen administration, and epinephrine administration. Meanwhile, paramedic programs build on EMT education and teach skills such as EKG interpretation, administering medication, and starting intravenous lines.
Moreover, the fact that entry requirements only include a high school diploma, CPR certification, and background checks aids the perceived ease of EMT and paramedic programs.
As part of your training as an EMT or a paramedic, you’ll gain significant hands-on experience through clinical rotations in ambulances and emergency departments. Practical experience allows you to develop the necessary skills to become an EMT or paramedic, thus making the program more comprehensive and manageable.
EMT and paramedic programs have a clear focus on emergency medical care, making them less overwhelming than other medical programs. Additionally, they provide a straightforward career path with opportunities in ambulance services and emergency departments.
Medical assistant
Medical assistant programs are considered one of the easiest medical degrees due to their shorter length of nine months to two years, which is much shorter than other medical degrees. This makes medical assistant programs more manageable if you are seeking a quicker entry into the healthcare field. Additionally, the curriculum may be less intensive and usually includes courses in anatomy, physiology, medical coding and billing, medical law and ethics, and customer service.
These programs typically require applicants to have a minimum high school diploma or GED, which makes them accessible to a wider range of individuals. They cover a broad range of knowledge and skills relevant to various healthcare settings, allowing you more flexibility in your career options. Moreover, you may choose a medical assistant program that will enable you to focus on a specialty such as geriatrics, cardiology, podiatry, or oncology, leading to higher compensation.
On the other hand, medical assistant programs have less demanding clinical rotations compared to other programs. The shorter duration of practical experience can make the overall experience feel more manageable, especially if you’re juggling other life commitments.
Challenges and Misconceptions
It is essential to understand that obtaining a medical degree requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and academic rigor. For example, although some people perceive nursing programs to be easier, they have their own complexities that require mastery of medication management, bedside manners, and healthcare protocols. Additionally, regardless of the field of study, students must complete academic coursework, practical training, and clinical rotations to become highly skilled medical professionals.
Furthermore, all medical degrees come with their own set of challenges, such as long hours, clinical responsibilities, and exposure to emotionally taxing situations. Balancing personal life, coursework, and clinical rotations can also be challenging. However, what motivates medical professionals to continue is their unwavering commitment to helping others, regardless of the perceived difficulty of the degree program.
The Bottom Line
While some medical degrees may be perceived to be easier than others due to their shorter length and curriculum, it’s crucial to note that all medical degrees demand rigorous dedication and intellectual ability. While perceived as easier than others, nursing, EMT, medical assistant, and other degrees set the foundation for a fulfilling and successful career path.
Moreover, though an easier degree can be exciting, it’s crucial to choose one that aligns with your interests and career goals, regardless of whether it is perceived as easy or difficult. Lastly, while a medical career has challenges, the opportunity to positively impact lives and contribute to medical advancements makes medicine a rewarding career path.
Explore our Associate of Science (AS) in Health Sciences and set the foundations for a career in health sciences and related areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it true that some medical degrees are considered easier than others?
Although it’s a common perception, all medical degrees require a significant amount of dedication and hard work. That said, some degrees have different demands in terms of the complexity of coursework, length of training, and workload, which can impact the perceived difficulty.
Do perceptions of ease in medical degrees change over time or across different regions?
Perceptions of ease in medical degrees can change over time or across different regions due to changes in curriculum, healthcare trends, workforce needs, and advancements in technology and medical knowledge.