Medical Jobs with No Degree – Is it possible?

Are you interested in working in the medical field, but haven’t been able to acquire a degree, well, you are not out of luck. Sure there are many other fields that offer decent career options for professionals without a degree, but the medical field is not one of them. 

The medical field is satisfying for most people. Every position is important in the medical industry for they hugely contribute to creating a healthy environment and patient experience that will better an individual’s wellbeing. While many occupations in the medical field necessitate at least an associate’s degree or higher, there are a number of jobs in the medical field that only demand a high school diploma or, in some cases, a certification. 

Not having a college degree does not necessarily mean that you could never get a spot in the medical field. In this read, you can find out what jobs in the medical field that you can apply for while not having a degree. Read on so it may help you on your job exploring as you go along the way. 

Here are a few examples of medical jobs that you may consider applying for, and all of them do not require a degree!

Medical Assistant

Salary: $17.75 per hour (2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS)

Primary duty: A medical assistant is responsible for doing administrative duty such as taking the patient’s vitals, organizing appointments, recording or mapping medical histories, and preparing laboratories in a clinic or other healthcare environment. They could also guide a patient from the waiting area to other parts of their session. 

Requirements: The qualifications are simple enough. Medical assistants are needed to take a postsecondary program, usually it takes about a year.

EMTs and Paramedic

Salary: $19.41per hour (2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS)

Primary duty: A paramedic’s job is attending to emergency calls and delivering help as needed, depending on the patient’s symptoms. They must be CPR certified, know how to bandage a wound, and be able to assess a patient swiftly to identify what care is needed right away. More dangerously ill individuals may be transported to the hospital by paramedics.

Requirements: An associate’s or bachelor’s degree is not required for employment as an EMT/Paramedic. You must, however, have a high school diploma or have passed the GED. The next step is EMT training, which includes CPR certification and enrollment in a state-approved emergency medical technology education program. EMTs and Paramedic also have a chance to complete more advanced training or pursue a two-year degree to better their profession.

Phlebotomist 

Salary: $17.46 per hour (2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS)

Primary duty: A Phlebotomist’s job is somewhat a very important job in the medical industry, a Phlebotomist is in charge of taking blood from patients for use in a variety of medical or clinical tests that a doctor may ask for in order to better understand a patient’s symptoms. Blood drawn from them could be utilized for transfusions or donations. Phlebotomists must also properly prepare the blood they collect so that it may be transported and analyzed by others.

Requirements: State-by-state criteria for becoming a phlebotomist vary, but in most situations, a phlebotomy certification is required. Phlebotomy programs are typically provided at technical and vocational schools as well as community colleges, and they usually last less than a year. After graduation, the student is eligible to take a professional certification exam. 

Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses

Salary: $23.47 per hour (2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS)

Primary duty: A certified vocational nurse’s job is at the bottom of the nursing career ladder, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple to get into. Under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) or physicians, licensed practical nurses offer hands-on care to patients. The majority of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses provide basic bedside care. Temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration are among the vital signs taken. 

Requirements: To become a vocational nurse, students must enroll in a vocational nursing program for at least one to two years and earn a certificate, diploma, or associate degree in the profession. In order to practice, you must also pass a licensing exam.

Nursing Assistants

Salary: $14.82 per hour (2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS)

Primary duty: The job of a Nursing Assistant is to provide basic daily care for patients. While the common tasks will include the assistance or patients with eating, bathing and dressing, tasks also include taking vital signs and updating or reporting information to the nursing staff. A nursing career job offer may come with a lengthy-full of employment contract. This is a physically demanding profession that frequently requires transferring patients from bed to wheelchair and bringing them to other areas of the facility for meals or therapies.

Requirements: Acquiring a high school diploma or GED, plus nursing assistant training is needed for an individual to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Community colleges, trade schools, and medical facilities all offer these programs.

Skill set required before you get into the medical field:

Communication Skills

Every medical role requires excellent communication skills. Communication with other administrative and clinical staff is a must whether you are evaluating a budget or creating a schedule so that you may understand how a simple decision of yours affects others.

Basic Technical Skills

Basic skills such as CPR and first aid are essential if you work in the medical field. Clinical skills for medical professionals might be useful even if you’re more on the business side, especially in emergencies. Being updated on changes in healthcare technology and medical terminology will help you maintain broad awareness in your area.

Time Management

It’s not just doctors that have busy days in the medical industry. Medical occupations, especially those that do not require degrees, are very time-sensitive and time-consuming. Time management improves your efficiency as a healthcare practitioner and raises the odds of a patient’s recovery.

Considerate Attitude

Obtaining a position in the medical industry without a degree does not imply that you are unqualified. You must be knowledgeable and skilled in your field, and you’ll be receptive to receiving on the job feedback. With a receptive attitude, you’ll be able to handle constructive criticism, learn from it, and make necessary changes.

Flexibility 

You’ll almost certainly be working with a lot of higher-ups and teammates if you work in healthcare without a degree. Working effectively in this team necessitates flexibility. In a busy hospital, you may be required to take up a coworker’s shift or respond to demanding patients. You should be able to adjust to new, different, or changing situations.

These are just a few examples of jobs that you can take up without having any degree. Hopefully, this article was able to contribute to your exploration.

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