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The sooner you become aware of the main academic pathway towards your chosen career, the more efficiently you can reach your goals. However, not all of us know exactly what we want to do from an early age. Even if you are deciding on a specific profession later in life, there are ways to achieve your career goals and get the credentials you need, as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort.
It’s easy to assume that those professions that require a lot of education are beyond you, especially if you don’t consider yourself very academic, or if you’re not planning your career out while still in high school. In fact, the careers that have a clear academic path are, in many ways, the easiest to plan for, although the qualifications themselves will require a lot of hard work.
While most of these careers have a standard accepted academic pathway, there are also various other options, such as combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees or accelerated degrees, online degrees, and even apprenticeship programs in some cases. Today, we’re looking at the main academic pathways available in a few desirable and well-paying careers.
How to become a lawyer
Earning a law degree usually involves four years of undergraduate study to complete a bachelor’s degree followed by three years of law school, for a total of seven years of time-consuming and expensive post-secondary study, but there are ways to cut that time down. The first thing to be aware of is that while a relevant major at the undergraduate level can help with your law studies, it is not required, so if you already have a four-year Bachelor’s degree in any major you can certainly consider applying to law school.
It’s also worth considering that plenty of people study for their law degree while still working full or part-time, and there are even online options now that make the whole process more accessible, and potentially more affordable. Depending on where you are with your education already, there are also some options that might allow you to fast-track your education and gain those qualifications a little quicker than most people.
Some schools offer accelerated law degrees that allow you to study intensively and complete the standard three-year program in two years. If you’re at the beginning of your undergraduate degree, there is also the possibility, at some institutions, to follow an accelerated combined BA/JD program that includes pre-law classes at the undergraduate level and allows students to start studying at post-grad level during their final year of undergrad, meaning they’re finished in six years rather than seven.
In some states, there is even an option to skip the traditional law school route and apprentice at a law firm as an alternative to law school. Those taking this route will still have to study to pass state bar exams but will not have to attend school full-time or earn an actual law degree. It should be noted that only a few states allow apprentices to sit the bar exam, these currently include California, Washington, Virginia, and Vermont. While this route saves a lot of money, it should be noted that some law firms are understandably unwilling to hire lawyers without a law degree, even if they have passed the bar exam.
You should be aware that gaining entry to law school will require you to pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Your LSAT score along with your undergraduate GPA will determine which law schools you are admitted to. Once law school is completed, you’ll still need to pass your state bar exam before you can get your license and start to practice law.
Due to the different bar requirements in each state, you will generally only be able to practice law in the state that you sit the exam in, but there are exceptions. For example, 13 US states currently use the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which is a standardized version of the exam. While an attorney who passes the UBE in one state does not have the automatic right to practice in another, he or she can apply for admission to the bar in another UBE state by transferring their score. Their UBE score must be high enough for licensing in the second state of course but provided it is then they will be allowed to practice law there without retaking the bar exam.
How to become an architect
Becoming an architect can also be a lengthy procedure. To practice as a licensed architect in the United States, you must earn a license from the regulatory board in the jurisdiction where you want to practice. The requirements can vary, with each state, territory, and jurisdiction setting their own requirements that must be met in order to secure a license. Each jurisdiction will have standards that must be met, and the process will involve education, practical experience, and passing an examination.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is the body that recommends national standards for these three areas, and many state licensing boards follow NCARB recommendations. Some jurisdictions, however, will set their own standards, so check exactly what is required to practice in the area that you will be working in.
Typically, you will have to earn an architecture degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), although there are a few jurisdictions where relevant experience may be accepted as an alternative to the education requirement. In some states, relevant international qualifications will also be accepted. You will need to get practical work experience and pass a state-specified exam in order to earn your license.
As with most study programs, there are shortcuts available. Many accredited institutions now offer an Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL). This can allow graduates to earn a license shortly after graduation as they are able to complete the required professional experience and meet examination requirements while earning a degree.
There are also alternative pathways to licensing, depending on your jurisdiction. NCARB publishes an Education Standard which can be used to evaluate education that is outside of the accredited programs to see if it meets the standards required for licensing. This means that those with other degrees, or incomplete degrees, can have their credits assessed to see if they meet the requirements of an NAAB degree, and identify any additional credits that are needed to bring their current educational profile up to the level of a NAAB-accredited degree program.
Those aiming for licensing will have to set up a NCARB record to log their AXP experience. This is the practical experience that qualifies you for your architect’s license and includes 96 key tasks, across six areas, including Project Planning and Design, Project Development and Documentation, and Construction and Evaluation, that you must be able to perform before acquiring your license.
You’ll also need to pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), which is the exam used to assess your knowledge and skills across six divisions, in the practice of architecture. Passing all six divisions of the ARE is required by all US jurisdictions in order to earn a license. As with most degrees, you can now study for a NAAB-accredited degree program online, scheduling learning time around existing commitments, which makes it a more accessible course of study than attending college full-time.
How to become a medical doctor
As most people are no doubt already aware, the academic pathway to becoming an MD is not an easy one. You will need to complete a four-year undergraduate degree program followed by a further four years in medical school, and after that, it’s still necessary to complete residency training, which can take between three and seven years.
This is without a doubt a career path that requires a big commitment of time, money, and effort. Fully qualified medical doctors hold either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or equivalent specialized medical degree, which is obtained during those four years in medical school. To qualify for medical school and obtain a place in a doctorate program, candidates will also need a Bachelor’s degree with a relevant major. Unlike other career paths, it is unlikely that any old Bachelor’s degree will get you into medical school.
While medical schools may not have a specific Bachelor’s requirement, they tend to be highly competitive and the majority of candidates for the best programs will have taken pre-med courses and will tend to have a relevant science-based major, such as biology or chemistry. To gain entry to medical school, you will also need to pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and the highly competitive nature of medical school means that you will need a fairly impressive GPA as well.
According to LeapScholar, the top undergraduate courses and majors for those hoping to become a medical doctor in the USA are:
- BA in Biology
- Medical Anthropology and Global Health
- Neurology
- Mechanisms of Disease
- BA in Health and Societies
- Global Health
- Disease and Culture
- BSc
- Human Biology and Society
- Neuroscience
- Paramedicine
- Psychology
Unlike most other degrees, you will not be able to study exclusively online for an MD degree, although some classes can certainly be taken online. Obviously, to become a medical doctor, it is necessary to work directly with patients under the guidance of experienced physicians, and most medical schools place a great deal of emphasis on this. In fact, while online undergraduate degrees may be accepted by some medical schools, the top ones are wary of them. Harvard Medical School stresses that when it comes to pre-requisite requirements, courses taken in person are strongly preferred.
Having gone through undergraduate and medical school, MDs must then undertake extensive training, which is completed during their three to seven years in residency after medical school. The amount of time required in residency will depend on the candidate’s specialty.
In addition, all MDs must fulfill the licensing requirements of the state that they practice in. Obtaining a license to practice medicine is a rigorous process that includes the verification of medical school graduation and postgraduate training as well as passing a comprehensive national medical licensing examination. Applicants for licensing must submit proof of their education, training, and residency, including a detailed work history. Prospective licensed MDs must also reveal any information that may affect their ability to practice medicine, including their health status, any criminal convictions, and any malpractice judgments or settlements.
To maintain the right to practice medicine, physicians must renew their license regularly: generally every one or two years in most jurisdictions. To qualify for license renewal, medical doctors must have maintained acceptable standards of ethics and medical practice and must also usually show that they have participated in a program of continuing medical education, with the number of hours required varying by state.
How to become a nurse
The main academic pathway into nursing involves a four-year degree, but it is also possible to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in some states, including Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, and Florida, with just a two-year Associate’s degree. Many nurses who start their careers with an Associate’s degree often study alongside their nursing role in order to upgrade it to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A route to further professional development taken by many Registered Nurses is the study of a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) which allows them to become Nurse Practitioners: a position with more responsibility and higher pay.
It is also possible to study a doctoral program in Nursing, with many Master’s and Doctoral programs incorporating online study and clinical practice, and building on previously earned nursing qualifications. For example, programs such as the Marymount University online doctoral nursing program allow Registered Nurses with a BSN and a year of full-time experience to enroll in their Online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner Program. This allows for the completion of the program in a little over three years while continuing to work alongside the program of study. However, time for clinical practice and on-campus residencies should be factored in.
As with other degrees, you can study for a nursing degree (whether a BSN, MSN, or doctoral degree) online or in-person, allowing you to fit study around work commitments and family obligations, or both. There are also combined and accelerated programs, run both in-person and online that allow you to combine studying for a BSN and MSN, with a shorter overall route to full licensing. As with any career, it is worth thinking through your entire pathway and final goals and doing your research to see if there are quicker, more convenient, or more affordable ways to reach those goals.
In order to obtain a license as a Registered Nurse, you will also have to pass a NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination. You’ll need to contact the Nursing Regulatory Bodies (NRBs) where you are seeking licensing to find out their requirements for registering for and sitting the exam. The NCLEX is a computer adaptive test which must be passed to obtain a Nursing license. However, it can be retaken if you do not pass on your first attempt.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) oversees the licensing of Registered Nurses in the USA, and Nursing Regulatory Bodies (NRBs) are responsible for the regulation of nursing practices in each of the 50 states, four US territories, and the District of Columbia. The two main components of a nursing license tend to be the verification of graduation or eligibility for graduation from an approved prelicensure nursing education program, followed by the verification of successful completion of NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination. In some states, you’ll also have to pass a criminal background check. You should be aware that state licensing procedures do differ slightly, so your nursing license is issued by the state you qualify in, and not all states recognize a license obtained elsewhere.
Ultimately, there is usually more than one way to make it into the profession of your choice, and that is the case even with more traditional careers. The changes we have seen over the last few years as a result of the worldwide pandemic have led to more and more online courses and degree programs, and more flexibility in the way people approach career development and change. While many careers still do require an awful lot of study, qualifications, and credentials, there is more flexibility in how these are gained than ever before.
It is a big advantage if you know from an early age what type of career you want to pursue, as it will allow you to plan things out and get all the qualifications you need for the next step, as efficiently as possible. If, however, you are planning a career change, and would like to go into a profession with a lot of academic requirements, don’t despair. Keep calm, do your research, look at all the options and alternative routes to your goal, and draw up a plan to get you from where you are now to where you’d like to be.
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