According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the healthcare industry is projected to witness about 14% job growth in the period between 2018 – 2028. A faster rate of job growth compared to the national average in America.

The healthcare industry is also one of the biggest job-creating sectors in the American economy, employing about 18 million Americans. Of this number, about 1.1 million are physicians, the rest being the support staff such as nurses and pharmacists. Meaning, there is a wide variety of jobs in this sector that don’t require extensive training like that of medical doctors.

In this article, we are going to explore 20 different types of jobs in the healthcare sector, which requires less than two years of training. Below is a list of 20 jobs in the healthcare sector that one can quickly qualify for, and leads to a rewarding and secure career. They are as follows:

1. Occupational Therapy Assistant

There are about 48 million people living in America with one form of disability or the other. Thanks to the professional assistance from occupational therapy assistants, the individuals with a disability can recover or improve their level of independence. The U.S. News and World Report say professions in this field rank at #22 in its list of the Best Health Care Support Jobs ranking. To get into this field of work, you need an associate’s degree from an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) program.

2.  Phlebotomist

A Phlebotomist is a healthcare worker tasked with drawing blood. It is a critical function in the provision of healthcare services including running lab tests and in the blood donation exercise. It is an entry-level position in the healthcare service sector and one needs just certification from bodies such as the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA), American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and the American Medical Technologists (AMT). The training programs for phlebotomy can be found at vocational schools and community colleges.

3. Physical Therapy Assistant

The U.S. News and World Report puts this career at #3 in their ‘Best Health Care Support Jobs’ list. It is also ranked among the top 40 in its ‘100 Best Jobs’ list. To qualify to practice as a physical therapist assistant, all you need is an associate degree. The programs you undertake will have to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

4. Medical Secretary (Administrative Assistant)

All spheres of the healthcare service provision require the services of a medical secretary/administrative assistant. This is the person tasked with coordinating activities within the administration office. Thus they must be conversant with medical terminologies, computer systems, office procedures, and the healthcare systems in general. All one needs to be eligible for this job is an associate’s degree, and a certification as a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) would be an added advantage in some states.

5. Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are healthcare professionals who offer assistance to physicians in discharging their duties. Often, medical assistants are the first healthcare workers who interact with new incoming patients in need of medical attention. They will then prepare the physician’s schedule and the necessary equipment for the diagnosis or treatment session between the physician and the patient. The average length of education for training to become a medical assistant is about 12 months.

6. Veterinary Technician

A ‘Vet Tech’ requires an associated degree from a community college, which might last for about 24 months, to begin work. Their coursework will include studies on animal anatomy, diagnostic testing, assessment, and medical administration. One must also pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) to get certified. Professionals in this field on average make between $34,090 – $40,360 and the industry has projected job growth of 19%.

7. Respiratory Technologist

Respiratory Technologists (RT) are healthcare workers who assist physicians in administering medical attention to patients suffering from asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases/conditions. One needs an associate degree, which runs for about 24 months, to begin practicing. The average salary for professionals in this field ranges between $60,260 – $60,500. The sector has a job growth projection of about 21%.

8. Cardiovascular Technologist

Cardiovascular Technologist (CT) work with physicians to diagnose heart and lung problems in patients. One needs to earn at least an associate’s degree (in a program running for about 12 months) from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs and certification from the Cardiovascular Credentialing International. Professionals in this field earn an annual salary of between $50,280 – $68,060 and a job growth prospect of about 14%.

9. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Diagnostic medical sonographers work with physicians and surgeons to maintain and operate imaging equipment to diagnose any abnormal images. They then review and summarize the diagnostic from the images and educate the patient on the right procedure with regards to treatment and cure. To work as a Diagnostic medical sonographer, you need to take education training lasting 24 months. Professionals in this field of work earn between $50,280 – $68,060 and job growth prospects of about 14%.

10. Web Developer

Today’s medical health facilities are accessible online, through a website, mobile apps, and even on social media. A lot of that is thanks to the services of web developers and graphics designers who create and customize these digital assets so that healthcare facilities can communicate with patients digitally and online. The professionals in this field make on average between $66,020 – $75,360, and the industry has job growth prospects of 13%. You would need about 24 months of education training to qualify as a web developer with an associate’s degree.

11. Medical Coder

Medical Coders are tasked with coming up with efficient naming systems for procedures and operations done by physicians in their quest to diagnose and treat the patient. Virtually all these procedures and operations (with regards to treating the patients) are billable, and it is the coder’s job to efficiently and accurately way to record and bill them. The records will later be used for receipting and invoicing purposes. Coders on average make between $33,244-$54,792 and the job has a projected industry growth rate of 13%.

12. Psychiatric Technician

People are now conscious of mental health more than any other time in history. A lot more people are seeking psychiatric help for cases that previously would not have walked through these professional’s doors. Psychiatric technicians work entails listening to the patient’s concerns, monitoring their behavior, and reporting back to the lead physicians in the therapeutic process. To work in this profession, one needs to take a 24-months-long associate degree at a community college on psychiatry and counseling. Professionals in this field make between $24,290 – $32,090 and their job market has a projected growth rate of 12%.

13. Registered Nurse

Nursing, according to Gallop, is the most trusted profession in the U.S. They are also highly in demand, with a projected job growth rate of 12%. Perhaps more interesting is the fact you can become an Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) after about 12-24 months of training at a community college. The average take-home salary for most nurses ranges between $61,850-$78,390.

14. Food Service Manager

Most people don’t like their stay in hospitals, and virtually all patients hate hospital foods. Hospital management also knows that, and it has reached a time they can no longer pretend patients hate the food servings in their hospitals. That is where foodservice managers come in, as more and more hospitals aiming at improving their patients’ (customers’) experience make an effort to improve their foods. These professionals work with nutritionists, dieticians, and other clinical staff to ensure patients get not just nutritious, and healthy foods, but also food that tastes good. The job market for these professionals has a projected job growth rate of 11% and on average they take home between $51,430-$63,780. Training takes between 1 to 2 years.

15. Dental Hygienist

Dentistry is among the best-paying healthcare support careers in today’s time. It has an average training length of about 36 months to become fully qualified and licensed. However, one can begin practicing after completing a college program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Professionals in this field make between $60,630-$75,090 with a projected job growth rate of 11%.

16. Cancer Registrar

Cancer registrar work with records of cancer patients, whereby they collect data on their history, diagnosis, treatment, and response to treatment. This data is then used for research and track the patient’s progress. Education training to qualify for this job takes between 12-24 months were one takes courses such as classification and coding, computer systems, healthcare statistics, etc. Professionals in this field make between $31,388-$60,460 and the industry has a job growth rate of 11%.

17. Radiology Technologist

Radiology technologists are tasked with taking x-rays and CT scans on patients to help physicians in their diagnosis. To be qualified for this job, one needs at least an associate’s degree followed by licensing then certification by your state. Professionals in this field make between $70,530-$84,080 and the industry has a job growth rate of 9%.

18. Anesthesia Technologists

These healthcare professionals work with physicians and nurses during surgery, labor and delivery, and radiology among other medical operations that need the patient protected from excessive pain. You can become qualified for this job after a two-year education program that is accredited by the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) for certification. Professionals in this field make between $45,030-$54,340 with a job growth prospects of about 9%.

19. EMT and Paramedic

Emergency response teams play a critical role in the healthcare service delivery. Healthcare support staff like EMT and paramedics come especially handy during emergency situations. To get qualified for these roles one needs to undertake certain programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs. The programs run for a period of about 12-24 months, and after which one needs to attain the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification. Professionals in this field earn between $31,590-$36,650 and their job growth prospects in the market stand at 7%.

20. Pharmacy Assistant

Pharmacy Assistants do just that, assist licensed resident pharmacists in the execution of their work. To qualify for this job one needs to undertake programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Passing through the programs will enable you to get certified by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). You would need about 12 months to complete these programs. Qualified professionals in this field make between $30,470-$37,390 and have the industry has a job growth rate of about 7%.

Winding-up

The healthcare industry is currently one of the most booming job sectors in the American economy. That is attributed to a lot of facts including the rising number of senior citizens, people living with various health conditions, people becoming more proactive on their health and general look so are taking up preventative health checks and so on.

If you are looking for a career with good pay, in-demand skills, and job security. Then a career in the healthcare sector will be a good choice. Contrary to most people’s beliefs, you don’t need to take ages in colleges and universities to become qualified and certified to start working.

From the above-mentioned careers, we can see there are a plethora of jobs in the healthcare sector, one can become qualified for in less than two years. The job pay too is quite decent, and thus if you are thinking of making a shift from your current job to the healthcare sector. You might just have to persevere for less than two years as you go through the education training program and become qualified.

The same goes if you are about to clear high-school and mulling about which career path to pursue. If you don’t want to go on a long learning journey, then the above are some career options you can go through speedily and start earning.

Article provided by, Advocate Search Group – a recruiting firm focused exclusively on filling educator and administration positions at universities with health science programs (i.e.: nursing, allied health, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc.)

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