Healthcare Programs You Can Complete in a Year or Less

You don’t have to spend years in school to launch a great beginning in healthcare. You can jump into a field in Allied Health—important supporting roles in the medical industry—with programs that take a year or less. And, depending on the field you choose, you may be able to use your initial training as a building block to a career with higher certification or an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

There are many fast-track programs to get the education you need to work with patients or in an office. So, if you’ve got a year or less and are looking to start a new personal path, we’ve got some options for you.

Not Afraid of Needles and Blood? Consider Phlebotomist Education

Phlebotomists are medical professionals responsible for drawing blood and doing other lab work. Before you begin a phlebotomy program, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED. Programs are available at a variety of schools and institutions, including community colleges, vocational schools, and hospitals.

A typical phlebotomy program will take four to eight months to complete, but some can be completed in as little as eight weeks. You can expect two-thirds of your training to be in the classroom and one-third in hands-on clinicals, where you’ll learn to draw blood, care for patients and more.

Many online schools also offer phlebotomy training with customizable options, including virtual laboratory training sessions. There will also be a hands-on, in-person component, to get the practical experience you’ll need to take your certification exam.

After you’ve completed your training, you’ll have the option of earning certification. Not all states require certification, but most employers prefer it. You’ll be qualified to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, laboratories, blood donation centers, and private medical practices.

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Interested in Medications? Maybe a Pharmacy Technician Program is for You

Pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies and hospitals, assisting both customers and pharmacists. They collect information needed to fill prescriptions, package and label prescriptions, and coordinate and take payments. In some states, technicians are permitted to mix medications or get prescription refill authorizations from doctors.

Vocational schools, community colleges, hospitals, and military programs offer training. Depending on your program, training will take six months to a year. Topics you can expect to cover include medical and pharmaceutical technology, pharmaceutical mathematics, and pharmacy law and ethics.

Many programs offer “hybrid” training, a combination of classroom and online learning.

Most states don’t require certification for pharmacy technicians, but voluntary certification offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board can strengthen your credentials. If you’re interested in getting certified, make sure your program is accredited, because only techs from accredited programs are eligible to take the exam.

Your salary may vary from employer to employer, according to the BLS. For example, pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals earn more while those who work in pharmacies earn about average, according to the BLS.

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Looking for a Desk Job? Check Out Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Courses

Medical billing and coding specialists review patient records and assign codes used to bill patients and insurance for care. Vocational schools and community colleges offer training in this field.

You’ll take courses related to physician-based coding and study medical terminology, health data, and healthcare reimbursement methods. You’ll spend approximately four months completing your program. Once you do, you’ll be eligible to earn certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Your program will likely help you prepare for the exam. Certification is not required, but many employers look for it when hiring, and earning it is a great way to show that you’ve mastered the material.

You’ll be qualified to work in hospitals, clinics, and private physicians’ offices. You also may be able to find at-home freelance work.

Medical billing and coding specialist salary figure falls under the “medical records specialists” classification by the BLS.

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Want to Work Alongside Doctors? Get Educated as a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants work in doctors’ offices and hospitals, where they take patients’ vital signs and prepare them for exams, and schedule appointments. Requirements for medical assistants are changing rapidly.

Many states have no formal licensing requirement, and on-the-job training used to be commonplace. Increasingly, however, states are asking that medical assistants complete formal training and earn certification.

Another driving force behind this trend is federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, currently credentialed medical assistants or licensed health professionals are required to enter a certain percentage of medication, laboratory, and diagnostic imaging orders into computerized provider order entry systems in order for their licensed providers (such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) to receive incentive payments under the Medicaid electronic health record incentive program. This tougher requirement was set by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, chief executive officer and legal counsel for the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), says mandatory credentialing for medical assistants is a logical next step.

“This CMS requirement scored a victory for the medical assisting profession, because it allows for enhanced patient care through better communication among the healthcare team members and increased attention to patient needs,” Balasa says. “The fact that credentialed medical assistants are now recognized in such a high-profile federal initiative implies that they are just as able as licensed health care professionals to undertake such significant responsibilities.”

You can complete a medical assisting program in nine to 12 months, and many schools have online programs. Coursework includes medical terminology, law and ethics, plus office management and the use of electronic health record systems. You’ll also have a short stint of on-the-job training to prepare for work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private physicians offices.

Your program must be accredited if you want to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam, which is administered by the AAMA. This certification is good nationwide, so even if your state currently doesn’t require it, you’ll be covered if that changes in the future.

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Looking for a Fast-Paced Career? Think About Professional Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) work as part of a team to stabilize people in emergency situations and get them safely to a hospital. EMTs also provide community training.

“EMTs and paramedics provide an expanded menu of services, including community paramedicine, injury, and illness prevention training, as well as CPR and bleeding-control training,” says Matt Zavadsky, president of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).

There are three types of certification for emergency medical technicians:

The time it’ll take to earn certification will vary depending on your state, but some schools offer EMT-Basic training that can be completed in as little as three weeks. If you don’t have a lot of time or money for school, you can earn EMT-Basic certification first and move on later to EMT-Intermediate or EMT-Paramedic certification. More advanced programs can take up to two years to complete.

During your program, you’ll learn all the basic skills needed to thrive as an EMT in crisis situations. If you continue on to higher levels of training, you’ll learn about advanced medical procedures and take courses such as anatomy and pharmacology. You might also complete some training at hospitals and fire departments. Some schools offer online programs, but they’ll be in hybrid format, since you’ll need hands-on experience to earn certification.

After you complete your training, you’ll be eligible for certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Once you’re certified, you’ll be qualified to work in a variety of emergency medical environments, including hospitals and clinics, and on paramedic teams.

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Curious About Dental Care? Consider a Degree in Dental Assisting

Dental assistants work as part of a dental office’s medical and administrative teams. They process patient X-rays, schedule appointments, maintain patient records, and assist with a variety of dental procedures.

Dental assistant certificate programs can take between nine months and a year to complete. You’ll study oral anatomy, dental pharmacology and radiography, and dental office administration. Some programs offer a mix of online classes and on-the-job training or internships.

You might be able to do all of your training on the job, but this isn’t recommended. Without formal training, you may not be eligible for certification, and employers will likely expect you to have that. In fact, the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) strongly advocates for formal training.

“In this day and age, formal education is essential for preparing dental assistants to perform intraoral functions,” says Sidonia Peto, education director at the ADAA. “This includes infection control, radiography, and a variety of additional critical procedures performed routinely by dental assistants.”

Not all states require certification, but it can boost your career. Depending on your state, you can take either the Dental Assistant National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam or the National Entry Level Dental Assistant test. Additional certifications are offered for students looking to work in specialized fields like orthodontics. See the table below for a quick overview of the earning potential, and visit our dental assistant salary guide for a further breakdown.

A note on dental hygienists vs. dental assistants

The main difference between the two is in their roles and responsibilities: dental hygienists focus on clinical care, performing tasks like teeth cleaning and oral health assessments, while dental assistants provide direct support to dentists, assisting with procedures, managing patient records, and handling office tasks. Dental hygienists also require more extensive education and licensure.

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Interested in Cardiology? How About Entering a Cardiac Monitor Technician Program

Cardiac monitor technicians, also known as cardiographic technicians or electrocardiogram (EKG) technicians, work in hospitals and critical care centers using EKG machines to read and monitor the heart rhythms of patients. Many cardiac monitor technicians also assist with physical exams, surgery screening procedures, and general patient care.

Most programs can be completed in three to six months, during which time you’ll study basic cardiology and receive technical training on EKG machines. You can earn certification with a mix of online and hands-on-training. In some cases, you might be able to complete a free on-the-job training course from your employer. In this case, your training will be mostly hands-on, although you might need to have technical training on medical terminology and cardiology as well.

After you’ve completed your program or training, you’ll be able to take the Certified Cardiographic Technician exam or the Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician exam. Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) offers both. You can qualify to take an exam by either completing a program or through training from your employer.