Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries today, with many high-paying medical careers available and within reach. While many people think that you need to complete years of medical school and residencies to obtain a great job, the truth is that there are a lot of incredible (and impactful!) careers obtainable with a bachelor’s degree or less.

With just a little schooling, such as a postsecondary certificate or associate degree, you can launch a medical career that you love (and that pays well!) in under three years’ time. These programs can prepare you with the hands-on skills needed to step directly into fulfilling positions within hospitals, clinics, and home care settings, where you’ll find strong job potential and competitive pay without the burden of a four-year degree.

For career changers, these healthcare paths also offer a fast, practical transition into a meaningful profession. Recent high school graduates can avoid the high cost and time of traditional college while still entering a respected field.

Even better, many programs now offer flexible online or hybrid formats, making balancing school, work, and life easier while preparing for a rewarding future in health and medicine.

Why pursue a medical career with little schooling?

The medical roles we’ll explore below all offer quick entry into the workforce, often within one to two years. Compared to four-year degrees, tuition costs are significantly lower for these programs, making them more accessible for students from all walks of life.

As the healthcare field continues to grow, and hiring demand at all-time highs across various settings, these short-term pathways enable students to launch jobs and start earning a paycheck more quickly. This is because these programs include practical, hands-on training in real-world settings, so you’re not only learning the theory but also applying it immediately. With this, students can start building experience—and building connections—in settings like hospitals, outpatient centers, and long-term care facilities right away.

Beyond speed and affordability, these medical jobs with little schooling are stepping stones, offering room for growth over the coming years. Many entry-level roles in health and medicine open doors to future certifications or advanced degrees, if you specialize or move into higher-paying positions.

Start your healthcare journey at Goodwin University.

7 high-paying medical careers that don’t require a 4-year degree

Whether technical roles behind the scenes or hands-on patient care positions, these jobs offer diverse ways to significantly impact the medical world without the time and financial investment of a full bachelor’s degree.

These alternative medical careers provide opportunities for rapid entry into healthcare, with many programs offering certification in just a few months to two years.

1. Medical billing and coding specialist

Working behind the scenes as a medical billing and coding specialist is in high demand and can be pretty interesting. Involving the daily management of billing systems, converting medical treatments into standardized numbers for insurance processing, and organizing patient information, the training program is typically completed in about 12 to 18 months—a great option for detail-oriented individuals who want a flexible, often remote, role.

The median annual wage for medical records specialists, including medical billing and coding specialists, is projected at $50,250, and that’s at entry-level. Amid high-paying medical jobs with little schooling, this is one of the most adaptable and accessible career paths.

2. Dental hygienist

Becoming a dental hygienist is a smart move if you want a well-paying healthcare job without years of school. In as few as 24 months, you can earn a solid salary, now forecasted at $94,260. You can enjoy regular hours and make a real difference in patients’ health. It’s a stable, respected career among high-paying medical jobs with little schooling, including room to grow and a great work-life balance.

3. Medical assistant

One of the most practical and rewarding high-paying medical careers with little schooling, medical assistants are essential to the daily operations of healthcare facilities, supporting physicians with both clinical and administrative tasks. Their responsibilities range from taking vital signs and preparing patients for exams to managing records and scheduling appointments. You can enter this role through a certificate or associate degree program, which provides versatile training in under two years.

The median annual wage for medical assistants is approximately $44,200. This versatile and in-demand position typically involves working in doctors’ offices, urgent care centers, and outpatient clinics.

4. Practical Nursing (LPN)

Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs, play a central role in patient care, working closely with registered nurses and doctors. You’ll find them in hospitals, home health, and long-term care—checking vital signs, giving medications, and making sure patients get the day-to-day care they need.

The LPN path is a great way to break into healthcare and medicine. These entry-level nurses provide important, yet basic care to patients. They work under the direction of upper-level nursing staff, ensuring patients are comfortable and tended to in clinical settings. However, note that the LPN’s scope of practice is fairly limited in comparison to other types of nurses. The benefit of this? There is less training involved!

You can become a Licensed Practical Nurse with a postsecondary certificate program, which will provide the training needed to be eligible for licensure. This type of program can be completed in 24 months or less. At the end of this program, you can take the licensure examination, become an LPN, and start earning. LPNs in the United States earn, on average, $62,340 annually.

5. Nursing (RN)

You might be looking for a more autonomous or advanced nursing career, such as that of a Registered Nurse (RN). Registered Nurses are the nurses you’ll typically find bustling about hospital and outpatient settings, providing important care to patients in need. To become an RN, look for a career-focused nursing program, offered at either the associate or bachelor’s degree level.

An associate degree in Nursing is the fastest path to a registered nursing career, taking roughly three years to complete in total. This program is the standard requirement for RNs today, preparing candidates with the skills and competencies needed to become licensed and successful nurses.

While the schooling commitment is around three years, the return on investment is high. Registered Nurses earn a median salary of $93,600 annually, and even more in states like Connecticut. With such strong pay potential, nursing stands out as a stable and respected position among available high-paying medical jobs with little schooling required.

RN graduates can find high-paying jobs they love in these industry settings:

• Community health centers
• Doctors’ offices
• Home health care services
• Hospice facilities
• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• Nursing supervision & management
• Occupational & industrial nursing

6. Occupational therapy assistant

Interested in helping people regain independence and improve their quality of life? This role is incredibly fulfilling as occupational therapy assistants work with patients recovering from injury or illness, guiding them through exercises and daily activities.

It requires an associate’s degree, which usually takes about two years. With a median salary of $68,340 expected, and opportunities in schools, rehab centers, and hospitals, it’s a strong contender in the landscape of high-paying medical careers with little schooling.

7. Respiratory therapist

One of the highest-paying roles on this list, with a median salary estimated at over $80,000. Respiratory therapists assist patients with chronic breathing conditions like asthma or emphysema and provide critical care in emergency settings. The job typically requires a two-year associate degree and is ideal for those looking for a top-tier income and a fast entry into healthcare.

Your healthcare career starts here — get job-ready fast with Goodwin University

Goodwin University is the place to begin if you’re ready to jump-start your future in healthcare without spending four years in school. Designed to allow students to meet their goals at an accelerated pace, including the potential to earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as three years for full-time students, Goodwin offers three academic sessions each year for faster degree completion, and part-time and working students benefit from a full range of evening and weekend course offerings.

In more of a hurry? No problem! Our certificate and associate programs are designed to help you launch one of today’s most in-demand, high-paying medical careers with as little classroom time as possible.

There’s never been a better time to step into healthcare. Whether changing your path or starting fresh, explore your options and apply today.

Learn more about our programs at Goodwin University to see if gaining a medical and healthcare career within months is a good choice for you