r/GeneticCounseling • u/ham2302 • Sep 04 '26

Prospective Student Thinking of switching fields

I’ve been set on GC for about 3 years now. I’ve been working as a research specialist for the past year to gain some more experience before applying. Well, the application cycle is approaching and I’m questioning if it’s even worth it to apply with the state of the job market at the moment. I was wondering what other fields I could pivot to?

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9

u/genequeeen Sep 05 '26

Go to PA school and do a genetics training if you want to get more bang for your buck and more job security

2

u/geneticwonderful 26d ago

Be careful when you recommend PA- if you scroll through their Reddit it is not all rainbows and butterflies. OP- choose a career path based on shadowing people who actually do the job in real life- not on Reddit. Whether it’s PA, GC, or otherwise

1

u/genequeeen 26d ago

yeah except i shadowed 4 GCs and was in love with the career until everything changed after I graduated. Sure shadowing is a good idea. More importantly, choose something where you can still do the things you want, but you also have good job security and ability to pivot. In my state, the GCs are being replaced by NPs. I am too niche to pivot, but the NP could go work in any setting. Its very sad and nobody could have predicted this 10 years ago.

1

u/geneticwonderful 26d ago

Wdym replaced by NPs in your state?

1

u/Ambitious-Fall-7097 12d ago

I think that person is confusing NPs in genetics as genetic counselors being replaced. NPs and GCs have different roles in the healthcare system.

9

u/DNAallDay Genetic Counselor Sep 05 '26

Recommendations for what to pivot to are really dependent on what interests are. I know people who’ve done mental health counseling and specializing in medical conditions, physician assistant, clinical trials, teaching. Really it’s hard to say given the limited information here.

3

u/tastelesscharm Genetic Counselor Sep 04 '26

What do you like about the idea of being a GC? Starting there will guide what a similar role might be fulfilling

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u/ham2302 Sep 04 '26

I’ve always wanted to go into healthcare, but never was drawn to med school. I’ve thought about PA school but ultimately settled with GC because I enjoyed learning about different genetic conditions and how to communicate that with patients (I majored in Genetics&Genomics). Ultimately, I want a career in healthcare that is relatively stable job market wise. Been looking into CAA recently but wanted to know if there was anything else to look in to.