Where do I begin to start over?
How do I begin?
I am a teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin University. I am looking for a change in careers, and want to pursue my dream of being in the medical field. However, I have no idea where to begin. I first thought of nursing, but now, I am very interested in radiology or pharmacology. Who can tell me where to start? OR Am I too old to start over? I NEED advice, PLEASE!!
6 answers
Reema’s Answer
1. Self-Assessment and Research
Evaluate Your Interests and Skills: Reflect on what aspects of radiology or pharmacology excite you the most. This will help you narrow down your focus.
Research Careers: Understand the roles, responsibilities, and education requirements for radiologists and pharmacists. Shadowing professionals or conducting informational interviews can provide insight.
2. Educational Pathway
Prerequisite Courses: Determine if you need to complete any prerequisite courses for your desired program. This often includes subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics.
Radiology Pathway:
Radiologic Technologist: This can be a quicker entry into the field. You can pursue an Associate’s degree or a certificate program in radiologic technology, which typically takes 1-2 years.
Radiologist: Requires a medical degree (MD or DO), followed by a residency in radiology. This is a longer path, taking around 12 years (4 years of medical school, 4-5 years of residency, and possibly a fellowship).
Pharmacology Pathway:
Pharmacist: Requires a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, which typically takes 4 years to complete. You’ll need to pass the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) and apply to accredited pharmacy schools.
3. Application Process
Standardized Tests: Prepare for and take any required standardized tests (e.g., GRE for some graduate programs, PCAT for pharmacy school, or MCAT for medical school).
Application Materials: Prepare your application materials, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and resumes. Highlight your teaching experience, leadership skills, and any relevant coursework or volunteer work.
4. Gain Experience
Volunteer or Work in Healthcare Settings: Gain exposure to the medical field by volunteering or working in hospitals, clinics, or pharmacies. This will not only strengthen your application but also confirm your interest in the field.
Certifications: Consider earning certifications like Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to gain hands-on experience.
5. Financial Planning
Scholarships and Grants: Look for scholarships, grants, and financial aid options specifically for career changers or non-traditional students.
Part-Time or Flexible Programs: Some programs offer part-time or flexible schedules to accommodate working professionals.
6. Networking and Support
Join Professional Organizations: Engage with professional organizations related to radiology or pharmacology. Attend conferences, workshops, and networking events.
Seek Mentorship: Find mentors who can provide guidance, support, and advice as you transition into the medical field.
7. Create a Timeline
Set Milestones: Create a realistic timeline with key milestones, such as completing prerequisites, taking standardized tests, applying to programs, and starting your new career.
Additional Considerations
Age and Career Change: Many people successfully change careers later in life. Your experience and maturity can be assets in the medical field.
Career Counseling: Consider seeking advice from career counselors at universities or professional career coaches who specialize in helping individuals transition into new fields.
Getting Started
Contact Admissions: Reach out to admissions offices of schools offering programs in radiology or pharmacology for detailed information on prerequisites and application processes.
Enroll in Prerequisites: If needed, start taking prerequisite courses at a local community college or online.
Volunteering: Start volunteering in healthcare settings to gain experience and confirm your interest.
Transitioning into a new field can be challenging, but with careful planning and determination, you can achieve your dream of working in the medical field.
Karissa’s Answer
Bailey’s Answer
- registered nurse
-nurse practitioner
- physician assistant
- Radiology tech = X-ray tech, MRI tech, CT tech , cath lab tech
- nuclear medicine tech
- ultrasound tech
- echocardiogram tech
- physical therapist
- occupational therapist
- physician
- human resource in hospital
-medical biller /billing department
- pharmacist
-pharmacy tech
- bio-medical engineer (they are responsible for medical equipment and fix any issues)
- IT department for electronic medical record - CERNER/EPIC.
-lab= phlebotomist, microbiology, hematology, blood bank…
- management in any department
- dietician
- administrative /operator
- business administrator/ CEO
![margaret mchenney’s Avatar](https://res.cloudinary.com/careervillage/avatars/avatars-v4/v4_avatar-170.webp)
margaret mchenney
margaret’s Answer
Another area that you might consider is medical research. My husband and I have retired, but worked for a pharmaceutical company. In research one poses questions and seeks information through internet searches and through experimental data and through professional relationships. A person must develop the use critical thinking. In my experience I had independence, and planned, documented, executed, analyzed, and presented results to a group. Writing comes into play when preparing a paper for publication. This may not be typical with a BS. My background is in microbiology and molecular biology. I also worked in the sequencing laboratory. This was more routine: running reactions to be sequenced, preparing gels, reading sequences for correction. There are some experiments but they are limited. Sequencing lab work is more rote.
My husband has a PhD in organic chemistry. His role was to run a laboratory. He managed two associates (BS level) and he also did physical experiments. As a chemist he designed compounds, generated compound and documented them. He interacted with doctors, and the clinical trials side of research because of the higher level of involvement that senior research scientists (rather than associate scientists) enjoy. He had greater responsibility and was involved in many meetings making decisions. He was much better navigating the political aspects than I was, but both of us were successful in our own right.
The atmosphere: highly political in some ways, less people interaction than many jobs, highly competitive area of study, and in my experience not always pleasant because of that. There are opportunities for cooperation and collaboration if you seek them out. Lots of alone time.
Gathering information (what you are doing right now), and asking yourself what you want or can tolerate in a job is how you can navigate choosing a pathway. I hope that this is helpful.
Kind regards,
Margaret McHenney
Kim’s Answer
I'd start by having a heart-to-heart with myself, and accepting that this is not "starting over," but rather, making a course correction. It's not too late to do!
I would then do an honest self-assessment about how I ended up in the "wrong" field, and how I came to the determination that it is wrong. Sometimes we are in the right career field, but, the wrong job. Sometimes we are just working with the wrong team-leaders. Is there anything in the Medical Industry that you could do with the training that you have? (Transferrable job skills). How many years of experience do you have?
Then I'd ask what makes me think that medical is the right choice, and have I fully researched it and read any reviews by disgruntled employees?
Once past that point (and, it's okay to explore with the help of a career advisor or therapist), I'd then try to figure out what's next. I don't know your age or physical condition, but, please keep in mind that many medical positions are physically demanding. Of course, some are not. And the aging process starts at a much younger age than we want to admit! Along that line, have you considered going into Physical Therapy? Those offices do a rather high volume of business! I also like radiology, which has so many different pieces of equipment. To me, pharmacology sounds like something removed from human interaction, but, I have no idea if that is true or not. It might be you don't want much human interaction?
Assuming you have the financials and living arrangements covered, you can really take this in any way you want to go. The key is to really want it, to understand us older folks don't learn as fast or retain as much as the younger folks, to study at the appropriate times (when your brain is awake), and not fall behind. This might mean having to ask for help, which some students are reluctant to do. And above all else: Believe in Yourself!! There's no room for negative self-talk on this journey!
Kim