3 Medical Careers to Explore (if you don't want to go to med school)

Maybe you've always dreamed of stitching up wounds, setting bones, and saving lives, but the thought of spending 11 years in medical school makes your head swim. Or maybe you want to have a hands on role in treating patients, but you don't want the responsibility (or the headaches or the hours or the schedule) of being a doctor. Have no fear—below are some great medical careers that will allow you to help people and practice medicine without devoting a decade of your life to school.

Physician Assistant Careers
Education Requirements: A Bachelor's degree plus 2 years at an accredited physician program (6 years total)

This is the one the fastest-growing fields in health care, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 39% growth through 2018. Working under the direction of a physician, physician assistants provide a wide range or primary care services, from examining patients to casting broken bones to prescribing medications. Internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine and emergency medicine are just a few of the fields they work in. For more information, including career details and salary information, visit this physician assistant career profile.

Registered Nurse Careers
Education Requirements: A two-year Associate's degree, three-year nursing diploma, or four-year Bachelor's degree