Discover high-demand healthcare certifications that don't require a degree and can be completed in four weeks. Start your medical career today.
Looking to enter the healthcare field without spending years in school? Entry-level healthcare career certifications offer an accessible pathway to rewarding medical careers without the same time commitment and financial investment of a traditional degree.
Below, we’ve organized 14 in-demand healthcare certifications that can jump-start careers from the shortest program duration to the longest. This guide will help you understand the responsibilities of each role, certification requirements, and potential salary expectations.
Why Get a Healthcare Certification?
Some entry-level positions in healthcare require training and certification, but not an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Whether or not you have college experience, pursuing a shorter-term certification program can be a valuable step toward a future career in high-demand healthcare sectors.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that healthcare jobs will grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2021 to 2031. Begin your path to career growth in healthcare with a certification that aligns with your ambitions and personality.
Shortest Healthcare Certifications
Phlebotomist (4-12 Weeks)
Phlebotomists draw blood samples from patients and ensure they are safely sent to a lab for testing. In a training program for this role, you’ll learn proper sterile techniques and safe needle disposal.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: The 2024 median annual salary is $43,660, with the highest-paid individuals making more than $57,750. (BLS)
- Job outlook: Faster than average projected job growth (eight percent from 2023 to 2033)
- Online options: Clinical practice required in person
*Does not include all requirements in every state. Review the certification requirements specific to your state to determine all necessary criteria.
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (4-10 Weeks)
CEHRS professionals manage patient health records, ensuring proper documentation of diagnoses, lab tests, treatments, and insurance information. In this role, you’d manage patient files with a focus on accuracy, privacy, and regulations.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: Median annual salary in 2024 was $50,250, with top-paid individuals earning above $80,950. (BLS)
- Job outlook: Above average projected job growth (nine percent from 2023-2033)
- Online options: Health records specialist certification programs may be available entirely online.
Certified Nursing Assistant (4-12 Weeks)
CNAs, or Certified Nursing Assistants, assist patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating, while monitoring vital signs and reporting changes to supervising nurses. For more information, read our CNA career guide.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED and background check*
- Average salary: Median salary for nursing assistants is $39,530 in 2024, with the highest earners making more than $50,140 (BLS)
- Job outlook: Steady growth meeting average across all occupations (four percent from 2023-2033)
- Online options: Some partially online programs, but clinical hours must be completed in person.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (1-4 Months)
Medical assistants perform clinical and office duties and support physicians in examining and treating patients. If you do not have experience in this field, a certification program can demonstrate your capabilities as an MA.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED equivalent*
- Average salary: The median wage is $44,200 per year in 2024, with the highest-paid ten percent of MAs earning upwards of $57,830. (BLS)
- Job outlook: Predicted to grow much faster than the average of other occupations (15 percent from 2023 to 2033)
- Online options: MA certification programs may offer online coursework with in-person clinical components.
Certified EKG Technician (2-5 Months)
EKG technicians operate and maintain equipment to monitor and test heart performance and prepare patients for procedures. A certification program ensures you meet state requirements to be eligible to sit for certification exams.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: In 2025, the median salary for an EKG technician in the U.S. is $54,300. (Salary.com)
- Job outlook: Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular specialists, with EKG technicians as a starting point in the career paths, can expect above-average job demand growth as reported by the BLS (11 percent from 2023 to 2033).
- Online options: In-person skills training required for most certification programs.
Medical Scribe (2-3 Months)
Medical scribes document verbal and written medical notes by physicians and support various administrative tasks, making this role ideal for individuals who enjoy both patient care and office work. Some employers require the completion of a certification program and may offer higher salaries to certified applicants.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: In May 2024, the median annual wage for medical transcribers was $37,550. Those in the highest ten percent report salaries at or above $53,890. (BLS)
- Job outlook: The BLS predicts no growth in the job market.
- Online options: Yes, fully online programs are available.
Mid-Length Healthcare Certifications
Medical Interpreter (3-6 Months)
Medical interpreters translate conversations between healthcare providers and patients with limited English speaking skills. Employers typically prefer applicants with certification, though completing a certification program is not required in every state.
- Requirements: High school diploma/GED and fluency in at least two languages*
- Average salary: The BLS reports that interpreters and translators in healthcare settings earned a median annual salary of $60,890 in 2024.
- Job outlook: The projected growth rate nationwide is below average, but there is potential for growing demand in areas with diverse populations.
- Online options: Yes, many programs offer fully online training.
Patient Care Technician (3-6 Months)
Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) work closely with nurses and physicians to help patients with food intake, administer IVs, and provide basic care. Becoming a certified PCT is a great stepping stone to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: $34,937 annual median salary in 2025 (Salary.com)
- Job outlook: With the rise in aging populations and chronic conditions, healthcare occupations are projected to grow faster than average from 2023 to 2033.
- Online options: Clinical in-person training is typically required, but hybrid options may be available.
Sterile Processing Technician (4-6 Months)
Sterile processing technicians clean, sterilize, process, assemble, store, and distribute medical supplies and equipment used in healthcare facilities. Job candidates must undergo certification in sterile processing in some states and by many employers nationwide.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: $39,640 median annual salary, with the top ten percent reporting earning a median of $49,268 annually. (Salary.com)
- Job outlook: Surgical technologists skilled in sterilization best practices are predicted to see faster than average job growth (six percent from 2023 to 2033)
- Online options: Hands-on training is usually required; partially online programs may be available
Physical Therapy Aide (3-9 Months)
Physical therapy aide is an entry-level position that doesn’t require a degree, unlike a physical therapy assistant (PTA), which requires a 2-year associate’s degree. As a step to enter the field, physical therapy aide training can substitute for a lack of prior experience, though some jobs may train you without experience. In this role, you may prepare treatment areas or help patients with exercises.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: In May 2024, $34,520 median annual salary with the top ten percent earning more than $46,930 (BLS)
- Job outlook: Significantly higher than average predicted job growth (19 percent between 2023 and 2033).
- Online options: Partial or fully online physical therapy aide courses available
Longest-Term Healthcare Certifications
Medical Coder/Biller (3 Months-1 Year)
Medical coders translate healthcare services, diagnoses, and procedures into standardized codes for billing and insurance purposes. If you’re detail-oriented and interested in the business side of healthcare, check out our guide to starting a career in medical billing and coding.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: Median annual earnings of $56,711, with the top ten percent reporting a median salary of $72,253. (Salary.com)
- Job outlook: Employment of specialists in medical records and healthcare coding is predicted to grow in demand faster than the average across all occupations. (BLS)
- Online options: Fully or partially online programs available
Pharmacy Technician (3 Months-1 Year)
Pharmacy technicians work under pharmacists to help prepare and fill prescriptions, handle customer service, process insurance claims, and manage inventory. Most pharmacy technicians must complete an accredited, state-approved training program to enter the role.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: $43,460 median annual wage in 2024, with the top ten percent of earners reporting average annual salaries above $59,450. (BLS)
- Job outlook: Moderate predicted job growth of 7 percent, above average among all occupations, from 2023 to 2033.
- Online options: Online programs may be available, but certification programs traditionally include in-person externship requirements.
Dental Assistant (6-12 Months)
Dental assistants work in dentists’ offices, assisting with procedures, taking X-rays, scheduling appointments, handling billing, and maintaining office cleanliness.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED*
- Average salary: Median annual salary reported as $47,300 in 2024, $61,780 reported median yearly wage for the top ten percent of dental assistants. (BLS)
- Job outlook: Growth in this career is expected to be faster than the average across all occupations (eight percent from 2023 to 2033).
- Online options: Partially online options available, but clinical practice required in person
Surgical First Assistant (10-12 Months)
Surgical first assistants can be entry-level certified to work directly with surgeons and surgical staff in an operating room. You will learn to provide crucial support, including selecting equipment, holding instruments, and controlling bleeding.
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED, plus potential previous healthcare experience as a Certified Surgical Technologist, PA, or similar role*
- Average salary: In 2024, the median annual wage reported is $60,290, with the top ten percent earning more than $102,390. (BLS)
- Job outlook: Employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations
- Online options: Some programs may offer options for online coursework and in-person clinical components.
How to Choose the Right Healthcare Certification
When selecting a healthcare certification, consider these key factors:
- Personal interest and strengths: Do you prefer direct patient care, behind-the-scenes or computer-based work?
- Program length and cost: How quickly do you need to enter the workforce? What is your budget, considering potential return on investment? You may qualify for free community college tuition to pursue healthcare certifications if you are a New Mexico resident.
- Job outlook and salary potential: Research the demand for specific roles in your local area.
- Work environment preferences: Consider whether you prefer hospitals, clinics, private practices, in-home care, or other healthcare settings.
- Career advancement opportunities: Some entry-level roles offer clearer pathways to advancement.
Healthcare Certification Options at San Juan College
San Juan College (SJC) offers several healthcare certification programs that can lead you to a rewarding career in health and medicine. Our wide range of health science degrees and certificate programs includes:
- Medical Coder/Biller Certificate: Prepare in just 16 months to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam.
Health Information Technology AAS (Online): Learn techniques to manage technological systems, analyze health data, and manage projects. - Phlebotomy Technician Certificate: Fulfill academic and in-person experience requirements to earn phlebotomy certification.
- Pharmacy Technician Certificate: Enter pharmacy tech roles with a 16-week certification program including coursework and externship.
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program: Complete requirements to become certified as a nursing assistant in this 8-week course.
- Surgical First Assistant Certificate: Train to assist surgeons in the operating room with our fully online program.
- Dental Hygiene, AAS: Learn skills to enter or advance as a dental hygienist.
Start Your Healthcare Career at San Juan College
Healthcare certifications provide an entry point to many rewarding careers in medicine without the extensive time and financial commitment of a traditional degree. With strong job security, competitive salaries, and opportunities for advancement, these entry-level certifications offer an excellent return on investment for those looking to start a healthcare career quickly.
We’re committed to helping you achieve your goals at San Juan College. Contact us today to get started in a growing field.
