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Professional medical representative education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a professional medical representative. Professional medical representatives usually study business, marketing, or biology. 78% of professional medical representatives hold a bachelor's degree, and 9% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 685 real professional medical representative resumes to see exactly what professional medical representative education sections show.
The most common colleges for professional medical representatives are the University of Akron and the University of Akron.
There are also many online professional medical representative courses to help get the education required to be a professional medical representative.
There are certain professional medical representative certifications that you should consider. These professional medical representative certifications include Medical Assistant and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
What education do you need to become a professional medical representative?
What degree do you need to be a professional medical representative?
- Bachelor's, 78%
- Associate, 9%
- Master's, 6%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a professional medical representative?
- Business, 26%
- Marketing, 10%
- Biology, 8%
- Communication, 7%
- Other Majors, 49%
Most common colleges for professional medical representatives
| Professional medical representative common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Akron | 7.79% |
| Central State University | 6.49% |
| University of Central Florida | 6.49% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.49% |
| Florida State University | 6.49% |
Best majors for professional medical representatives
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 26.1% |
| 2 | Marketing | 10.1% |
| 3 | Biology | 8.4% |
| 4 | Communication | 7.3% |
| 5 | Psychology | 6.4% |
Best colleges for professional medical representatives
The best colleges for professional medical representatives are University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Stanford University.
A professional medical 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 professional medical 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 professional medical representatives.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. Baylor University
Waco, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$45,542
Enrollment
14,159
8. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,570
Enrollment
3,721
9. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
20 best online courses for professional medical representatives
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1. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
2. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...
3. Top Drugs 1 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy
Part 1: Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol, and OTC: Cough, Cold, Allergy - Condition Overview and Common Medications...
4. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices
A practical course discussing the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in real-world situations...
5. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative
Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...
6. Medical Terminology 101
For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...
7. Medical Terminology
Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...
8. Medical Writing for Healthcare Professionals
Launch your scientific and medical writing career today. Learn from an experienced medical writer!...
9. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.
Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...
10. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply
How to get approval to sell Medical Devices within the European Union. Understand regulatory affairs & ISO 13485 2016...
11. Understanding Medications and Therapeutics
Helping you build the best foundation to truly understand medications and develop clinical reasoning skills...
12. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training
Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...
13. Dosage Calculations Mastery for Nursing & Pharmacy Students
Master Dosage Calculations in 5 Hours Without Memorizing Any Formulas and Pass the NCLEX or PTCB Exam...
14. Internal audit on Medical Device QMS - ISO 13485:2016
Successfully conduct an internal audit based on requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...
15. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers
An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...
16. Introduction to Medical Imaging
Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...
17. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - US FDA Medical Devices
A practical course discussing the US FDA Medical Device regulations for real-world situations...
18. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding
Volume One: Medical Hematology...
19. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing
Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...
20. ISO 13485 Demystified - Medical Devices' QMS 360° Insights
Deep dive into the world of ISO 13485 international standard for medical devices' QMS, basic concepts & requirements...
Top 10 most affordable universities for professional medical representatives
The most affordable schools for professional medical representatives are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for professional medical 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 professional medical representatives.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for professional medical representatives
The hardest universities for professional medical representatives to get into are University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for professional medical 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 professional medical 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
8. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for professional medical representatives
The easiest schools for professional medical representatives to get into are Barry University, d'youville college, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a professional medical 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 professional medical representatives.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
3. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
7. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
8. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
9. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
10. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
Average professional medical representative salary by education level
| Professional medical representative education level | Professional medical representative salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $89,289 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $55,201 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $77,940 |
| Doctorate Degree | $84,888 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $57,867 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025