Professional degree: What it is and how it works

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Key takeaways about professional degrees

A professional degree prepares you for a specific licensed or regulated career, usually in medicine or law.
These degrees typically come after your bachelor’s and include several years of specialized coursework and hands-on training.
They can be expensive, but scholarships, grants, and financial aid can help reduce the cost.
Professional degrees aren’t required for every high-impact or high-paying career.
The best choice depends on your interests, lifestyle goals, and what kind of daily work you want to do.

If you’re exploring careers in fields like medicine, law, or dentistry, you’ve probably come across the term professional degree. It's a type of graduate degree that prepares you for a specific career path—usually one that requires licensing, certification, or regulated training.

If you love the idea of specializing or working directly with clients or patients, a professional degree might be the right path. This guide will help you understand the meaning of a professional degree, what the programs involve, how long they take, and whether you need this type of degree to reach your goals.

What is a professional degree?

A professional degree is an advanced program that trains you for one particular job—usually one that requires official licensing or certification. Think of degrees like MD (Doctor of Medicine) or JD (Juris Doctor, for lawyers).

These degrees are built to ensure you graduate with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to step directly into a professional role. Professional degree courses often include advanced lectures, labs, seminars, and clinical work. Real-world training such as supervised practice, internships, or fieldwork also required.

These experiences help you build the real-world skills your profession demands. The structure also prepares you for licensing exams so you can officially practice once you complete your program.

Professional degree vs. academic degree

So what's considered a professional degree vs. an academic degree? Let's look at the differences so you can compare your options:

Professional degrees often include:

Coursework that builds the exact skills you’ll use for a specific job
Clinicals, internships, or supervised practice
A standardized curriculum tied to industry or state requirements

Academic degrees—including master's degrees and PhDs—will often:

Emphasize theory, analysis, and long-term academic development
Prepare you for roles that don’t require professional licensing
Lead to a variety of roles in education, industry, policy, or research

Still comparing your options? Explore Sallie's degree resources including:

What are some popular professional degrees?

Many well-known professional degree examples are in healthcare and law. These include

Doctor of Medicine (MD) for physicians
Juris Doctor (JD) for lawyers
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) for dentists
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) for pharmacists
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) for veterinarians
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) for physical therapists

Professional degrees also appear in fields like education, counseling, business, and architecture, all requiring specialized training or certification.

If you want to compare programs, Scout College Search can help you explore degree types, admission requirements, and schools offering the programs you’re considering.

Common admission requirements for a professional degree

Wondering how to get a professional degree? It starts with understanding each program’s requirements. Most professional degrees require specific coursework, strong grades, and experience that shows you understand the profession.

Common requirements include:

Prerequisite courses in subjects like math or sciences
A competitive undergraduate GPA
Entrance exams such as the MCAT, LSAT, DAT, GRE, or GMAT
Shadowing, volunteering, or clinical experience
Letters of recommendation
Personal statements or essays
Interviews

What are some jobs that require a professional degree?

Certain careers rely on professional degrees because the work involves specialized knowledge, ethical responsibilities, or public safety. For example:

Doctors must complete medical school, residency, and board exams.
Lawyers earn a JD and pass the bar exam
Pharmacists complete a PharmD and licensing exams.
Dentists complete dental school and national board requirements.
Veterinarians earn a DVM and pass a licensing exam.
Physical therapists complete a DPT and clinical rotations.

These roles come with a lot of responsibility, which is why the educational pathway is so structured. You’re preparing not just to understand your field—but to lead, diagnose, advocate, or treat in ways that directly impact people and communities.

How long does it take to get a professional degree?

Most students start working toward a professional degree after completing a bachelor’s degree. Program lengths vary by field but generally require several years of advanced coursework and training.

A typical path includes:

Bachelor’s degree: 4 years
Professional program: 2–4 years
Post-graduate training: residency, fellowship, or supervised practice

In total, it’s common for students to spend 7 to 10+ years preparing for their career.

What does a professional degree cost?

Professional programs tend to cost more than undergraduate programs because of specialized courses, lab access, clinical rotations, and expert faculty. Because many students can’t work full-time during these programs, planning ahead is important.

Typical average annual cost of a professional degree

Most professional degree programs (like law, medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy) cost about $40,000–$60,000 per year once you factor in tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

Public universities usually fall on the lower end of the range.
Private universities and specialized programs (like dental or medical) often land on the higher end, and some exceed $80,000–$100,000 per year.

Typical total cost of a professional degree

3-year programs (like law school): around $120,000–$180,000 total
4-year programs (like medical or dental school): often $200,000–$300,000+ total
Highly ranked private programs can reach $350,000–$400,000+

Scholarships, grants, federal and private student loans, work-study opportunities, and employer tuition support can all help make your degree more affordable.

How can I pay for a professional degree?

Paying for a professional degree can feel overwhelming, but most students use a mix of financial aid, scholarships, federal loans, and private student loans to cover tuition, supplies, and living costs. Start by completing the FAFSA ® to see what federal aid you qualify for, then explore scholarships—especially those designed for students in fields like medicine, law, dentistry, or pharmacy. Grants, employer tuition benefits, and work-study programs can also help reduce expenses.

Learn more about ways to pay for your degree using these Sallie resources:

Planning ahead—especially understanding the full cost of attendance—will help you make confident financial decisions.

What are the benefits of earning a professional degree?

A professional degree sets you up for a stable, meaningful career where you solve real-world problems from day one. These programs offer in-depth training and hands-on experience, getting you ready to take on important responsibilities right away.

Many students pursue professional degrees to make a direct impact—whether you’re caring for patients, supporting clients, or providing expertise, your work has the power to change lives. Plus, these fields usually offer steady demand, so your skills stay in high demand for years to come.

What are some alternatives to a professional degree?

A professional degree isn’t the only path to a fulfilling or high-paying career. Academic master’s programs, research-focused PhDs, and specialized certificates can prepare you for impactful roles in public health, education, business, technology, policy, healthcare administration, and more.

You can also build a strong foundation with a bachelor’s degree, especially when paired with internships or industry credentials. Many students find that they’re able to achieve their goals without the time and financial commitment of a professional degree.

If you’re comparing alternatives, explore:

How to decide if a professional degree is right for you

Deciding on this path takes some honest self-reflection and a bit of research. Think about what kind of work excites you—are you drawn to detail-oriented tasks, passionate about working with people, or motivated by taking on big, long-term challenges? Also consider if you’re ready for the major investment of time and money.

Connecting with professionals, shadowing, volunteering, or getting involved in student organizations can give you a clear, real-world view of what’s ahead. These experiences can either confirm your interest in this path or help you discover another direction that’s just as rewarding.

Your next steps

If you’re exploring a professional degree, take time to research your options thoroughly. Review different programs, speak with current students and graduates, and map out the prerequisites or exams you'll need to take. When you’re ready to compare schools, tools like Scout College Search can help you discover programs that fit your interests.

And if cost is a concern, you're definitely not alone—many students rely on scholarships and financial aid to make their degrees possible. Resources like Scholly Scholarships and Scholly Easy Apply can help you find opportunities to make your education more affordable.

No matter what you decide, being informed and intentional will help you move forward confidently, knowing you’ve chosen the path that aligns best with your goals.