How to work in the medical field without a degree?

If you want to work in healthcare but aren’t able to go to college right now, you still have options. Doctors and surgeons definitely need years of school, but many rewarding healthcare jobs only require training programs and certifications. Here are some medical jobs you can get without a college degree. We’ve also included the requirements and how much each one pays.

Medical Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree

Medical Assistant

Average Annual Salary: $46,120 (Source: Rippling)

You’ll do a little bit of everything. You’ll check patient vitals, schedule appointments, hand paperwork to doctors, and get exam rooms ready. You need a high school diploma or GED and must complete a medical assistant program, which usually takes 1 to 2 years.

Certification isn’t always required, but it’s much easier to get hired if you have it.

EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)

Average Annual Salary: $41,340 (Source: Coursera)

You’ll respond to emergency calls, give people first aid, and rush them to the hospital in emergencies. If you like adrenaline, this fits you perfectly. Most EMTs work in an ambulance, but there are also others who work out of airplanes and helicopters.

You need a high school diploma or GED, completion of an EMT training course, and a CPR certification. You also have to pass a licensing exam before you can apply for jobs.

Phlebotomist

Average Annual Salary: $43,660 (Source: Coursera)

You’ll take blood samples for lab tests, donations, or transfusions. Your responsibility is to make sure everything is labeled correctly so samples don’t get mixed up. Aside from hospitals, you can work in private homes, substance use treatment facilities, health centers, universities, and offices.

You need to complete a training program, which usually takes less than a year, and earn a certification. Note that there are different certifications for phlebotomists, so compare them before choosing one.

LPN or LVN (Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse)

Average Annual Salary: $62,340 (Source: All Nursing Schools)

If you want to experience nursing without going for a full 4-year degree, you can try being an LPN or LVN. You’ll monitor patients, give meds, and other nursing tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or doctor.

You need a high school diploma or GED, complete a state-approved state-approved program, and pass the licensing exam.

CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)

Average Annual Salary: $38,130 (Source: Nurse.org)

CNAs are also called nursing aides or patient care assistants. You’ll work closely with patients and help with basic daily activities like eating, bathing, and moving around. You’ll also check their vitals. You can work in hospitals, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, and even in patients’ homes.

You need a high school diploma or GED, get your CPR certification, and pass the NNAAP & MACE exams.  See more responsibilities of CNAs in our guide: What is a CNA?

Skills you need

Yes, you don’t need a college degree but you do need to be reliable and good with people. Some of the most important skills you’ll need (but not limited to) are:

• Good communication – You must know how to talk to patients and their families.
• Tech skills – You must know how to use basic computer systems.
• Time management – You must know how to move fast and do things efficiently.
• Empathy – You need to genuinely care about people and assist them nicely.
• Adaptability – You must know how to be flexible. Even though you have a specific set of responsibilities, healthcare needs are always unpredictable.

Whether you have a degree or not, landing a job in healthcare will always be fulfilling. At the end of the day, you get to go home knowing that you make a difference in people’s lives every single day.

Start Your Healthcare Career

Whether you have a degree or not, landing a job in healthcare can be deeply fulfilling. At the end of the day, you go home knowing you’ve made a difference in people’s lives.