You don’t have to spend years in school to launch a great career 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 or bachelor’s degree.
There are many fast-track programs to get the education you need to work with patients or in an office. If you’ve got a year or less and are looking to start a new healthcare career, we’ve got some options for you.
Key takeaways
- There are many allied health education programs that can be completed in less than a year, with some requiring little more than a high school education to enroll.
- Phlebotomy, pharmacy technician, medical billing and coding, medical assistant, EMT, dental assisting and cardiac monitor technician programs are some examples that can be completed in just a few months.
- Many of these short programs can lead to certifications and job opportunities across clinical, administrative and emergency care settings, and can serve as stepping stones to advanced education or careers.
Not afraid of needles and blood? Consider phlebotomist education
Length of program: 3 to 9 months
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 takes about three to nine months to complete (one or two academic quarters is common), but some can be completed in as little as a few weeks. Make sure that you research the program and ensure it will prepare you to take a certification exam—ultra-fast programs should be considered with caution.
You can expect about half of your training to be in the classroom and half in hands-on clinical practice, where you’ll learn to draw blood, care for patients and more. Hands-on practice drawing blood on real people is required to take most certification exams.
After you’ve completed your training, you have the option of earning several phlebotomy certifications. Not all states require certification, but most employers prefer it. Certification can open up opportunities to work in multiple settings, including hospitals, laboratories, blood donation centers and private medical practices.
Interested in medications? Maybe a pharmacy technician program is for you
Length of program: 6 to 12 months
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. These education programs typically take six months to a year to complete. Topics you can expect them 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.
Some states require pharmacy technicians to obtain certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), while others do not. Even in states where it’s not required, voluntary certification 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 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For example, pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals tend to earn more while those who work in pharmacies earn about average.
Looking for a desk job? Check out medical billing and coding courses
Length of program: 9 to 12 months
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 education programs in this field.
Programs include courses that cover topics related to physician-based and facility coding, medical terminology, health data and healthcare reimbursement methods. Most programs take about nine months to one year to complete, and some schools even offer medical billing and coding as an associate degree.
After completing your education, you have the option to pursue certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and/or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). 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.
Medical billers and coders can work in hospitals, clinics and private physicians’ offices. You may also be able to find at-home freelance work.
Medical billing and coding specialist salary figures falls under the “medical records specialists” classification by the BLS.
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Want to work alongside doctors? Earn your education as a medical assistant
Length of program: 9 to 12 months
Medical assistants work in doctors’ offices, hospitals and other healthcare settings where they perform a mix of basic clinical tasks and administrative duties. Examples include taking patients’ vital signs, preparing them for exams and scheduling appointments. Requirements for medical assistants are changing rapidly.
Most states have no formal licensing requirement, and on-the-job training used to be commonplace. Increasingly, however, employers are requiring medical assistants to complete formal training and obtain 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), said 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 said. “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.”
Many medical assistant certificate programs can completed in nine to 12 months, and some schools offer associate degrees in medical assisting as well. Coursework includes medical terminology, laws and ethics, office management and the use of electronic health record systems. You’ll also complete an externship or other hands-on 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 recognized nationwide, so even if your state currently doesn’t require it, you’ll be covered if that changes in the future.
Looking for a fast-paced career? Think about professional certification as an emergency medical technician
Length of program: As short as a month
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,” said Matt Zavadsky, President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).
There are four levels of certifications for emergency medical technicians offered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT):
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 education, you can apply for one of the above certifications through the NREMT. Once certified, you can qualify for work in a variety of emergency medical environments, including hospitals and clinics, and on paramedic teams.
Curious about dental care? Consider a degree in dental assisting
Length of program: 6 to 9 months
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.
Many dental assistant education programs take between six to nine months to complete, though some can be longer or shorter. 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,” said 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.
Interested in cardiology? How about entering a cardiac monitor technician program
Length of program: 3 to 6 months
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 can consider taking the Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) exam or the Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT) 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.
