Medical Field Careers With Little Schooling

Medical Field Careers With Little Schooling

If you want to become a medical professional, but don’t think you can afford the time or money it takes to get a degree, don’t worry! There are many medical field careers that require little schooling and can be done in your spare time from home.

One of these is pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists by preparing medicine for patients and stocking shelves. While some states require a license for this job, most do not. You will receive training on-the-job from your employer, and many employers offer bonuses or additional benefits for their employees who complete their training.

Another great option is surgical tech. Surgical technicians assist surgeons during operations by handling instruments and supplies needed in surgery, as well as assisting in surgery itself through tasks such as making incisions and suturing wounds closed after surgery has been completed. Again, most states do not require licensure for surgical techs, so all you really need is basic medical knowledge along with good communication skills (and maybe some experience working with tools) to get started with this career path!

Medical Field Careers With Little Schooling

12 HIGH PAYING MEDICAL JOBS YOU CAN LAND WITH LITTLE SCHOOLING
Medical Office secretary
Average Annual Salary: $32,653

The regular tasks of a medical secretary are similar to that of other administrative roles. However, it requires more knowledge of healthcare processes. They’ll be making appointments and answering phone calls, but a lot of their responsibilities involve handling billing and preparing medical reports.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Answering phone calls and transcribing messages

Scheduling appointments

Preparing medical and invoice reports

Processing billing and insurance paperwork

Bookkeeping

Schooling requirements. While there are no formal schooling requirements for a medical secretary position, if you plan on advancing to an executive medical secretary’s role, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. Various certifications help you land a job but are not required, such as the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) certification.

Find Medical secretary jobs near me

Pharmacy technician
Average Annual Salary: $34,000

A pharmacy technician acts as an assistant to the pharmacist in all of their daily duties, such as distributing medications to patients. Since they handle a lot of powerful and federally regulated drugs, it’s a position that requires the ability to follow directions closely and communicate well with other people.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Handling prescriptions and patient refill requests

Maintaining patient confidentiality

Providing customer service and clearly explaining prescription schedules to patients

Processing billing and insurance coverage

Schooling requirements. The only traditional diploma that you need to become a pharmacy technician is a high school diploma. However, you need to receive a pharmacy technician certification, which can take anywhere from four months to two years.

Find Pharmacy technician jobs near me

Phlebotomist

Average Annual Salary: $34,750

A phlebotomist a medical technician who specializes in drawing blood from patients. Phlebotomy also involves following proper protocol for sample storage, tracking information digitally, and maintaining a sterile work environtment and tools.

Phlebotomy is viewed as an entry-level role, but with great job growth and low stress, it can also be a fulfilling career.

Other job responsibilities include:

Draw blood for tests, transfusions, and donations

Provide assistance to patients before and after giving blood

Work with hospital or clinic staff to solve patient issues

Label, transport, and track all blood samples

Schooling requirements. Phlebotomy programs are typically less than one year long and ends with a certificate. The specific accredidation you need may change depending on the state or institution you wish to work for.

Find Phlebotomist jobs near me

Medical transcriptionist
Average Annual Salary: $36,000

Medical transcription might be the right career fit for individuals who thrive in roles that require heightened attention to detail. They listen to recordings of doctors, nurses, and other people who work in healthcare facilities and write down everything that is said.

This task sounds simple enough, but doing it successfully demands a specific skill set, such as being detail-oriented and typing fast.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Listen carefully to voice recordings

Record everything that’s said in the recordings according to transcription format

Edit drafts provided by speech recognition software

Translating medical abbreviations

Using electronic health systems to keep track of medical reports

Schooling requirements. Earning a certification is optional for becoming a medical transcriptionist, but earning a postsecondary degree of some kind is needed.

Find Medical transcriptionist jobs near me

Phlebotomy technician
Average Annual Salary: $32,651

Taking blood is one of the first things that a hospital performs to figure out the patient’s diagnosis. The people who collect these blood samples are phlebotomy technicians. They also perform other blood-related treatments, such as transfusions.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Discussing the procedure with patients

Drawing blood samples

Keeping a sanitary working space

Handling medical testing items such as needles and test tubes

Updating patient records

Coordinating with physicians

Schooling requirements. Becoming a phlebotomy technician requires a certification from an accredited program in your state. Additionally, interpersonal skills are helpful in this medical role because patients are often nervous about having bloodwork done.

Find Phlebotomy technician jobs near me

Physical therapist assistant
Average Annual Salary: $52,000

Working as a physical therapist assistant is about helping patients reach their physical capability goals after either an accident or bodily injury. These assistants work under a physical therapist’s guidance to help recover from an ailment over time with a specific growth plan.

Most of their time is spent working one-on-one with patients, making it an excellent option for people who enjoy working with others.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Monitor patient’s status and progress over time

Watch the patient’s throughout the process of physical therapy

Assist in strenuous exercises

Correctly utilize equipment to have in physical training

Keeping a record of patient progress

General cleaning and maintenance

Schooling requirements. Most physical therapist assistants have at least a two-year associate degree and are licensed in the skill. Some facilities are willing to overlook the lack of qualifications if a candidate agrees to participate in on-the-job training.

Find Physical therapist assistant jobs near me

Surgical technician
Average Annual Salary: $52,000

The position of surgical technologist allows its participants to experience the excitement of the surgery room without going through ten years of school and training first. Their job function is to prepare operation rooms, organize equipment, and assist surgeons seamlessly during the process of operation.

Anything that a surgeon might need while operating, a surgical technologist is on top of it.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Cleaning and prepping surgical rooms

Stocking and ordering medical supplies

Sterilizing and organizing equipment

Assisting minorly during surgical procedures in tasks like using suctioning equipment

Schooling requirements. There are many schooling options available for people who want a career as a surgical technologist. These include vocational schools, associate programs, and bachelor’s degrees in surgical technology. At least an associate degree is preferred by most organizations.

The required level of school differs based on state and healthcare facility preferences.

Find Surgical technologist jobs near me

Registered nurse
Average Annual Salary: $63,000

Registered nurses play an incredibly important role in hospitals and healthcare facilities. They administer physician-instructed care, support, and communicate directly with patients and their families. Within the field of nursing, there are also multiple specialties to focus on, including pediatrics and intensive care.

Each specialty provides unique benefits and limitations to the registered nurses who work in them.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Administering treatment and medication under the direction of a doctor

Ordering tests to evaluate a diagnosis

Using best judgment to make decisions in difficult situations

Communicating with patients and their families about conditions and care

Schooling requirements. Becoming a registered nurse requires an Associate or Bachelor’s of Science degree in nursing from an accredited school. Nursing specialties and states have varying certification requirements past receiving a degree.

Find Registered nurse jobs near me

Ultrasound technologist
Average Annual Salary: $69,000

One reliable way to diagnose conditions within a patient’s body is by using an ultrasound. While ultrasound technicians are popularly known for performing the procedure on pregnant women to track fetal progress, it’s also used for other circumstances as well.

An ultrasound technician works with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff to perform and interpret sonography results.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Preparing the exam room to make sure it’s clean and comfortable for patients

Using sonographic equipment

Interpret sonography results

Produce reports of findings

Securing patient confidentiality

Schooling requirements. Becoming an ultrasound technician is done by either earning a degree in medical sonography or completing a certification program that takes about a year. You may also have to pass a licensing exam before beginning work as an ultrasound technician in some states.

Find Ultrasound technician jobs near me

Health care administrator
Average Annual Salary: $66,000

People who are attracted to the medical field for the administrative and business aspect could find a lucrative career working as a health services administrator.

Individuals in this role don’t interact with patients as much. Rather, most of their responsibilities are managing medical staff and the facility’s financials.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Managing the healthcare facility’s finances

Overseeing staff

Keeping medical and administrative records

Creating a work schedule for staff

Following healthcare laws and regulations in all departments

Schooling requirements. Landing a job as a health services administrator requires more schooling than some other opportunities on this list. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree, at minimum, in a field that’s related to business administration.

Additionally, most professionals hired for open health administrator roles already have a few years of experience in the medical field.

Find Health care administrator jobs near me

Dental Hygienist
Average Annual Salary: $78,500

Dental hygienists enjoy many of the perks of medical careers (high pay, rewarding job) while also being easier to break into and less stressful to practice. Dental hygienists typically work in dnetal offices and help provide patient care.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Clean teeth

Examine patients for signs of oral disease

Provide information on preventative dental care

Perform administrative tasks related to patient records

Schooling requirements. Dental hygienists need at least an associate degree, so it takes a minimum of 20 months to get your first job. You’ll also have to pass a statewide licensure exam and follow other procedures depending on your state to become certified.

Find Dental Hygienist jobs near me

Radiation therapist
Average Annual Salary: $81,000

Patients who need radiation therapy are usually battling cancer or an equally serious disease. Most people know someone who fought against this. Radiation therapists work directly with affected patients to administer targeted radiation in an effort to diminish cancerous tumors.

Working in this role is difficult because most days are spent with people going through an excruciating disease and treatment. However, it’s also rewarding knowing that a positive change is being made to help them recover.

Examples of Their Job Responsibilities:

Utilizing imaging and treatment equipment properly

Calculating the proper dosage of radiation for particular patients

Recording patient information, treatment, and progress

Communicating directly with patients about the treatment and recovery process

Emotionally supporting patients through treatment

Schooling requirements. While most radiation therapists have at least an associate degree in a related field, the main requirement is being certified in performing the therapy.