Medical careers with little schooling required Doctors, dentists, and veterinarians must attain a four-year degree. But there’s an increasing demand for other types of health-care professionals who aren’t necessarily required to have such a long educational commitment. MEET MEMBERS
Medical careers can be a great option for someone who is looking to make a difference in the world. However, many people are not sure how to get started without a lot of schooling.
Luckily there are a variety of medical careers with little schooling required. Here are some examples:
-Medical Assistant: This job requires an associate’s degree and is a great option for someone who wants to work in a medical office or hospital environment.
-LPN/LVN: Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses typically need an associate’s degree. These positions can be found in hospitals, nursing homes, home health care agencies and more.
-Dental Hygienist: A dental hygienist needs an associate’s degree from an accredited school of dental hygiene or from an accredited university offering advanced standing credit (ASDE). These professionals provide preventative oral healthcare services including teeth cleaning and oral cancer screenings.
-Medical Billing Specialist: This job requires an associate’s degree and includes tasks such as processing claims and patient account receivables.
Medical careers with little schooling required
Introduction
If you are interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, but don’t want to sink years of your life into obtaining a medical degree, this article is for you.
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Dental assistant
As a dental assistant, you’ll work in the office of a dentist and assist patients. The typical duties include taking x-rays and helping the dentist perform procedures like cleaning teeth, filling cavities and placing crowns on damaged teeth. You may also be responsible for preparing patients for dental procedures by describing what they can expect before treatment begins.
You need to learn how to use dental equipment like x-ray machines, drills and hand tools as well as how to keep records of patient appointments or write prescriptions for oral medications.
You will probably receive some training from your employer or other people in the office while you’re working there or during school hours if your employer offers part-time employment after graduation from high school or community college programs that train dental assistants
Licensed practical nurse
Licensed practical nurses provide basic nursing care. They’re often referred to as LPNs, or licensed practical nurses.
The training requirements for LPNs vary by state and may include an associate’s degree, technical certificate or diploma program. The amount of time that it takes to complete the training also varies, but most programs last three semesters full-time or six quarters part-time (two years). After completing your education and becoming certified as a nurse, you’ll have a chance to work in almost any type of healthcare facility or setting. The job outlook is expected to grow steadily through 2022 according to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates
Medical laboratory technician
As a medical laboratory technician, you can work in hospitals, physician offices, public health departments, or diagnostic laboratories. You can specialize in blood bank technology (blood banking), clinical chemistry (clinical chemistry) hematology/serology (hematology/serology). The duties of an MLT vary by specialty but often include:
- Performing tests on specimens to diagnose disease and monitor treatment
- Processing and analyzing patient samples
- Establishing quality control procedures for testing procedures
Medical coder
Medical coders are health information technicians. They review patient records and assign appropriate codes to them, using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), which is a coding system used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Medical coders must have knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology in order to accurately code diagnoses or procedures that have been entered into a patient’s record.
In addition to being detail-oriented and able to read quickly, medical coder applicants should possess strong computer skills as well as an understanding of groupings such as:
- Organ systems
- Body cavities
- Anatomical regions
Paramedic
Paramedics are the first responders to an emergency, providing anesthesia and other life-saving services. They transport patients to hospitals and provide pre-hospital care until a doctor can become involved in their treatment. Paramedics are required to work long shifts, often on call outside of normal business hours.
To become a paramedic, you must complete an accredited program in field training at a community college or technical school. When you graduate from this program, you will be eligible for certification by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
Patient care technician
A patient care technician is an entry-level position that requires a high school diploma and a short course of study. Patient care technicians help patients with their daily activities, including bathing, feeding and dressing. They may also assist with prescribed exercises or transport patients to and from medical appointments. Patients’ health histories are recorded in the hospital’s electronic medical records system by registered nurses who supervise patient care technicians. Patient care technicians must be certified through an accredited program after completing a minimum of 80 hours of classroom instruction followed by hands-on training at the facility where they plan to work
There are many medical careers that don’t require a four-year degree.
If you are looking to break into the medical field but don’t have a four-year degree, there are still plenty of options available. Here is a list of some of the careers that can be considered with little to no schooling:
- Medical Assistants – Medical assistants take care of administrative duties and clinical tasks in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other healthcare facilities. They assist doctors and nurses by performing routine tests and procedures on patients.
- Pharmacy Technicians – Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacists while filling prescriptions at pharmacies or hospitals; they also provide customer service to customers who come in for medication information or refills.
- Physical Therapist Aides – Physical therapist aides help physical therapists treat patients suffering from injuries or disabilities by providing manual therapy techniques such as massage therapy or hot/cold packs treatments; they also monitor the recovery process through exercises provided by the patient’s physician or therapist.
Conclusion
While some medical jobs may require years of school, there are plenty of great careers in healthcare that don’t. This article highlights just a few examples; if you’d like to learn more about other jobs with little schooling required, check out our full list here.
