Post Job

Medical Sales Representative Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a medical sales representative. Medical sales representatives usually study business, marketing, or biology. 82% of medical sales representatives hold a bachelor's degree, and 7% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 5,500 real medical sales representative resumes to see exactly what medical sales representative education sections show.

The most common colleges for medical sales representatives are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online medical sales representative courses to help get the education required to be a medical sales representative.

There are certain medical sales representative certifications that you should consider. These medical sales representative certifications include Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Medical Assistant.

What education do you need to become a medical sales representative?

What degree do you need to be a medical sales representative?

The most common degree for medical sales representatives is bachelor's degree, with 82% of medical sales representatives earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 7% and master's degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 82%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Associate, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a medical sales representative?

You should major in business to become a medical sales representative. 28% of medical sales representatives major in business. Other common majors for a medical sales representative include marketing and biology.

Most common colleges for medical sales representatives

Medical sales representatives often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Arizona State University, and Michigan State University. Here are the most common colleges for medical sales representatives in the US based on their resumes.
Medical Sales Representative Common CollegePercentages
University of Phoenix11.23%
Arizona State University7.00%
Michigan State University6.45%
The University of Alabama6.08%
University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus5.71%

Best majors for medical sales representatives

RankMajorPercentages
1Business28.4%
2Marketing12.7%
3Biology7.8%
4Communication7.5%
5Psychology5.8%

Best colleges for medical sales representatives

The best colleges for medical sales representatives are University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Stanford University.

A medical sales representative with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for medical sales representatives. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become medical sales representatives.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

4. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

5. SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,369

Enrollment

5,229

6. Baylor University

Waco, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$45,542

Enrollment

14,159

7. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

8. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

9. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,360

Enrollment

3,142

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

20 best online courses for medical sales representatives

Advertising Disclosure

1. Salesforce Sales Development Representative

coursera

If you’ve always wanted a rewarding career, the tech sales industry may be the path for you. If you’re an ambitious problem-solver who likes to win, you’ll find tech sales not only fulfilling, but lucrative as well. As the tech industry continuously introduces innovative services and products, tech sales roles have become more crucial than ever. SDRs are in the front lines of the tech biz, connecting with customers and clients, and coming up with the smartest solutions for their problems. Sales...

2. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply

udemy
4.3
(391)

How to get approval to sell Medical Devices within the European Union. Understand regulatory affairs & ISO 13485 2016...

3. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers

udemy
4.4
(520)

An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...

4. The Complete B2B Sales Masterclass: 6 Courses in 1

udemy
4
(413)

1. Generate Leads, 2. Pitch, 3. Close & Handle Any Objection: Get Certified in Cutting Edge, Non-Pushy B2B Sales System...

5. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.

udemy
4.3
(764)

Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...

6. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices

udemy
4.5
(527)

A practical course discussing the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in real-world situations...

7. ISO 13485 Demystified - Medical Devices' QMS 360° Insights

udemy
4
(648)

Deep dive into the world of ISO 13485 international standard for medical devices' QMS, basic concepts & requirements...

8. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - US FDA Medical Devices

udemy
4.4
(726)

A practical course discussing the US FDA Medical Device regulations for real-world situations...

9. Medical Terminology

udemy
4.7
(3,688)

Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...

10. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups

udemy
4.6
(584)

The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...

11. Introduction to Medical Imaging

udemy
4.5
(827)

Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...

12. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing

udemy
4.4
(767)

Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...

13. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices

udemy
4.1
(389)

Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...

14. Sales Machine: The Sales Training B2B Master Course

udemy
4.6
(4,040)

Learn Sales Strategies & Sales Techniques to Sell ANYTHING for Entrepreneurs, Startup, B2B Sales, & Business Development...

15. Sales Skills: 9 Sales Training Courses In 1

udemy
4.4
(994)

Develop Extraordinary Sales Skills With The Ultimate Sales Training (Taught By 5 Top Sales Experts)...

16. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding

udemy
4.6
(352)

Volume One: Medical Hematology...

17. Medical Devices Quality Management System - ISO 13485:2016

udemy
4.2
(631)

Awareness and Application for the requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...

18. Internal audit on Medical Device QMS - ISO 13485:2016

udemy
4.3
(578)

Successfully conduct an internal audit based on requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...

19. Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques

udemy
4.6
(23,968)

Sales Hacking: Essential sales skills, sales strategies and sales techniques to sell just about anything!...

20. ISO 13485:2016 - Design and Development of Medical Devices

udemy
4.2
(408)

Design and Development of Medical Devices in the perspective of ISO 13485:2016 and Medical Devices Industry...

Top 10 most affordable universities for medical sales representatives

The most affordable schools for medical sales representatives are SUNY Farmingdale, baruch college of the city university of new york, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for medical sales representatives are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for medical sales representatives.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,992

Cost of Attendance

22,430

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,238

Cost of Attendance

21,567

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$4,094

Cost of Attendance

14,302

10. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for medical sales representatives

The hardest universities for medical sales representatives to get into are University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for medical sales representatives are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for medical sales representatives based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

6. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,407

7. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

43%

SAT Average

1,338

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

40%

SAT Average

1,376

10. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

42%

SAT Average

1,380

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for medical sales representatives

The easiest schools for medical sales representatives to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and d'youville college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a medical sales representative without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for medical sales representatives.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

3. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

7. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

8. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

9. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

999

10. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Average medical sales representative salary by education level

According to our data, medical sales representatives with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $97,395 annually. Medical sales representatives with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $92,613.
Medical Sales Representative education levelMedical Sales Representative salary
Master's Degree$97,395
High School Diploma or Less$60,322
Bachelor's Degree$85,060
Doctorate Degree$92,613
Some College/ Associate Degree$63,225

Medical Sales Representative Education FAQs

Search for medical sales representative jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.