Top 5 Two-Year College Medical Careers

A healthcare career is one of the most respected careers in the world. Individuals who choose to work in the healthcare industry are often respected, admired and categorized as humanitarians.

Along with the admiring respect from the public, healthcare careers can often have very satisfying salaries. In addition to satisfying salaries, the healthcare industry is expected to be one of the fastest growing industries in the next ten years. According to Forbes, medical professionals dominate the top 25 best paid jobs. This list includes surgeons, physicians, optometrists and other high level medical professionals. In order to find your way in one of these positions, it will take many years of medical schooling.

The wonderful thing about the healthcare industry is you can choose a respectable medical profession without going to medical school or without receiving a bachelor's or master's degree. There are a numerous healthcare careers that require only a two year college degree. The two year college degree is usually an associate's degree, but it can sometimes be a certification.

The top five healthcare careers that require a two-year degree:

Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists provide routine dental services including cleaning teeth, patient education, preventative care and a variety of other duties. Dental Hygienists must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school and pass both a written and clinical examination. The average yearly salary for a dental hygienist is $58,000 a year.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Nuclear medicine technologists manage cameras that monitor radioactive drugs in a patient's body to create diagnostic images. Nuclear medicine technologists explain test procedures to patients, prepare and administer dosage of the radiopharmaceutical and monitor the drugs as the patient receives the test. Nuclear medicine technologist's educational requirements vary from state to state. However, the educational programs usually range from 1 - 4 years. The average yearly salary for a nuclear medicine technologist is $55,000 a year.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Diagnostic medical sonographers which also are known as ultrasonographers, use specialized equipment to obtain images using high wave frequency sound waves. The testing is used during pregnancy and to help diagnose a variety of diseases. Diagnostic medical sonographer's educational requirements are usually a two year degree but there are also 4 year programs available. The average yearly salary for diagnostic medical sonographers is $52,000 a year.

Registered Nurse

Registered nurses provide nursing care to a variety of patients in a variety of settings. Nurses can work in hospitals, home health, nursing homes, physician's offices, schools and a variety of other places. Registered nurses must have at least an associate degree in nursing and pass a national licensing examination. Nurses who have a bachelor's degree or master's degree generally earn a better salary. The average yearly salary for a registered nurse is $50,000 a year.

Physical Therapist Assistants

Physical therapist assistants are expected to be the fastest growing profession for associate's degree holders. Physical therapist assistants perform physical therapy treatments under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. In most states, physical therapist assistants are required to have an associate's degree. The average yearly salary for a physical therapist assistant is $44,000 a year.