Top 5 In-Demand Allied Health Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree

Are you contemplating a career in the medical field but don't have the time or money to invest in a 2 or 4-year college degree?  If so, you have come to the right place. 

We've put together a list of the top allied health careers that are both in-demand and that don't require a college degree. Not to mention, many of them have programs that can be completed online! 

What is Allied Health?  

An allied health professional is a broad term for medical professionals outside of the commonly known direct patient care professionals such as nurses, physician assistants, medical doctors, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. 

Working in an allied healthcare career gives you the opportunity to work peripherally alongside many other healthcare professionals to provide science-based care to patients in many different specialties.

Most allied healthcare careers do not require a college degree. However, there is a certain amount of education and training required. States have their own educational and certification requirements that vary. 

5 In-Demand Allied Health Careers That Don't Require a College Degree

#1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

A CNA is a healthcare professional who works alongside registered nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide quality of life care to patients. You will find CNAs working in hospitals, assisted living facilities, and residential settings.

What Does a CNA Do?

• Checking and recording a patient's vital signs
• Assisting patients with activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, dressing and eating
• Helping patients ambulate
• Turning or repositioning patients in bed
• Documenting patient activities
• Cleaning rooms and changing linens

CNA Requirements

Certification requirements vary by state; however, CNAs must attend an accredited CNA program to be eligible for certification. Upon completion of the CNA program, students must sit for their state's CNA certification exam. Tests usually include a written portion as well as a skills portion.  

CNA Programs

Most CNA programs can be completed in 4 to 12 weeks. But, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are temporary nurse aide training programs that can be completed in as little as 8 hours to work in long-term care facilities. 

CNA Program Cost

CNA programs usually cost anywhere between $1,300 and $2,000, including books and other school supplies.  

CNA Salary

The average CNA salary is $39,430 per year, $18.96 per hour as of May 2024, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Are CNAs In-Demand?

Yes, CNAs are in demand. The BLS predicts the career will grow by 4% (As fast as average) over the next decade.

For more information, see our career guide on becoming a certified nursing assistant. 

#2. Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

A medical billing and coding specialist is a non-clinical office or remote work-from-home position that works as a liaison between healthcare providers and insurance companies. This job involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work with many hours spent working at a computer. 

What Does a Medical Biller and Coder Do?

• Creating and submitting invoices and claims for payment
• Coding patient services, procedures, treatments and diagnosis for insurance purposes
• Tracking and following up with payments from insurance companies and patients

Where Do Medical Billers and Coders Work?

You can find medical billers and coders working in nearly every type of healthcare facility, including physician offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, surgery centers, and other healthcare systems. Many medical billers and coders can also work remotely from home. 

Medical Biller and Coder Requirements and Certification

Certification is not required at the state or national level to work in this position. However, many employers may prefer a certified candidate over one who is not certified. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to become certified by passing one of the medical billing and coding certification exams from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC):

• Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
• Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H)
• Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P)

Medical Billing and Coding Programs

Medical billing and coding programs vary in length from 4 to 15 months, depending on what field specialties you wish to work in, as well as how fast you can complete your coursework.  

Medical Billing and Coding Program Cost

Most local trade school programs generally range in price from $1,000-$2,500. You can also consider attending an associate's degree program from a junior college for around $2,000 to $6,000 a year.

Medical Billing and Coding Salary

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary as of May 2024 for medical records and health information specialists was $50,250 per year, or $24.16 per hour.

Career Outlook

The BLS predicts this profession will grow by 9% between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than the average of all other occupations.

For more information, see our career guide on medical billing and coding.

#3. Medical Assistant (MA)

A medical assistant is a healthcare assistant who provides support to physicians and other healthcare professionals in a clinical setting. You can find medical assistants working in doctors' offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, clinics, assisted living facilities, and diagnostic laboratories.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants perform a wide range of clerical jobs such as scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, answering phones, and performing other administrative tasks. They also perform many clinical duties, including obtaining vital signs, documenting medical histories, assisting physicians during patient visits, and other clinical tasks.

Medical Assistant Programs

MA programs can be completed in as little as 6 weeks for an accelerated program; however, most MA programs are at least 3 months to 1 year. 

Additionally, some MA programs can be completed at a junior college, where you can also earn an associate’s degree. To become a medical assistant, you must, at a minimum, have your high school diploma or GED before applying to a program.

Medical Assistant Program Cost

The cost of an MA program ranges from $1,200- $4,000 from a training school, to $2,500- $9,500 from a community college.  

Medical Assistant Salary

The BLS reports that medical assistants earn an average annual salary of $44,200 or $21.25 per hour as of May 2024.

Medical Assistant Career Outlook

The MA field is promising. The BLS predicts that medical assistant jobs will grow by 15% over the next decade, which is much faster than all other occupations.

Medical Assistant Certification

Unlike many other healthcare professions, national certification is not necessarily required in many states to become an MA. However, you must research your state's requirements to be able to practice as an MA legally.

It is also important to remember that many employers may prefer candidates who have an MA certification, even if the state does not require it. In that case, it may be in your best interest to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. To be eligible for the CMA exam, you must have graduated from an MA program that is accredited by either the:

• The Commission on Accreditation Of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or
• The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) 

For more information, see our career guide series on becoming a medical assistant.

#4. MRI Technologist

An MRI technologist is a type of radiology career where the person works with a diagnostic device called a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner in various healthcare facilities such as hospitals and outpatient diagnostic clinics.

What Does an MRI Tech Do?

Duties of MRI technologists include injecting patients with contrast dyes to visualize organs and other body parts on a scanner. The purpose of these procedures is to produce an image that medical doctors can use to diagnose diseases and other medical conditions.

MRI Tech Requirements and Certifications

The minimum education to apply for an MRI technologist program is a high school diploma or GED. As with other allied healthcare professionals, educational requirements vary from state to state. However, most MRI technologists enter the profession after earning an associate's degree in MRI technology. Some states also allow students to complete their requirements through an accredited certificate program. 

It is important to note that to be eligible to sit for certification by the American Registry of Radiology Technologists (ARRT), MRI students must complete an accredited MRI certificate program from a community college. Certification requirements vary by state, so it is essential to research your state's requirements.

MRI Tech Programs

Students should expect their MRI program to take 6 months to 2 years to complete. 

MRI Tech Program cost

A 6 to 12 month MRI certificate program usually costs between $2,500 and $9,000, and a two-year associate's degree usually costs anywhere between $4,000 and $10,000 per year, depending on the program.

MRI Tech Salary

In May 2024, the BLS reported that MRI technologists earned a median annual salary of $78,980 or $37.97 per hour.

MRI Tech Career Outlook

The BLS reported that MRI technologist jobs will grow by 8% over the next decade, faster than the average of all other occupations.

#5. Surgical Technologist

A surgical technologist, also known as an operating room technician or scrub tech, works as a vital part of a surgical team in the operating room. 

What Does a Surgical Technologist Do?

• Preparing patients for surgery
• Preparing and maintaining a sterile surgical field to prevent infections
• Having in-depth knowledge of the sutures, tools, and other instruments needed to perform surgery
• Providing sterile instruments to a surgeon during a procedure
• Helping the rest of the surgical team with various tasks during surgery
• Counting instruments and surgical supplies at the end of procedures (to make sure they were not accidentally left in a patient)

Surgical Technologist Requirements and Certifications

Some states require additional certification to practice as a surgical tech.  But as with most allied healthcare careers, even if your state doesn't specifically require certification, many employers will prefer certified candidates.

Your surgical technology program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) to be eligible to take the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam after graduation. 

Where Do Surgical Technologists Work?

Surgical technologists work anywhere there is an operating room, including hospitals and outpatient surgery centers.

Surgical Technologist Program length

Depending on what type of surgical tech school you wish to attend (certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree), programs generally take between 1 to 2 years to complete.

Surgical Technologist Program Cost

Costs range anywhere from $5,000 for a certificate program to $15,000 or more for a public college program. For acceptance into a surgical tech program, candidates must have a minimum of a high school degree or GED.  

Surgical Technologist Salary

The median annual surgical tech salary is $62,480 or $30.04, according to a BLS report published in May 2024. Much like nurses, surgical technologists can get paid to travel and earn a much higher income.

Surgical Technologist Career Outlook

The BLS projects that surgical technologist jobs will grow by 6% over the next decade, which is faster than all other occupations.

Pros of Starting an Entry-level Allied Healthcare Career

#1. Decide if a career in healthcare is right for you

Before spending tens of thousands of dollars and several years in nursing school, it may make sense to test the waters in another healthcare field first. Every year there are thousands of nursing students who end up dropping out because they realized too late that they didn't want to become a nurse after all. Becoming a nurse isn't right for everybody, and starting in a field that requires less of your time and money might make a lot of sense.

#2. Network with other medical professionals

Many allied healthcare professionals have an opportunity to make helpful contacts that can later help them further their careers. 

For example, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) work alongside nurses in many different settings: the emergency department, med-surg floors, the ICU, outpatient surgery, inpatient surgery, and labor and delivery. After gaining a year or two of experience, many CNAs go back to nursing school while still working and achieve an ADN or BSN. When they graduate and pass the NCLEX, they already have references for employment and can even go back to the same workplace as an RN.

#3. Gain exposure to other healthcare occupations

Starting out as an allied healthcare professional gives you a bird’s-eye view of other medical careers. For example, if you work in a hospital, you will gain exposure to nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physical therapists, social workers, medical billers, and nutritionists, to name a few.

#4. Start earning a good income quickly

Most allied healthcare positions offer quicker training programs so you can get to work and start earning money faster.

#5. Better work/life balance while attending school or caring for a family

Having an income while working in a stable healthcare environment may provide a better work/life balance than other careers outside of the healthcare industry, especially if you have a family or are attending a university in your off-hours.

#6. Tuition assistance from a healthcare employer

Many allied healthcare employers offer benefits, which might include tuition assistance or reimbursement. You may be able to save money on education while working in the healthcare field.

Resources To Help Pay For Allied Health Programs

• StudentLoans.gov
  • StudentLoans.gov was created by the U.S. Department of Education to help students with student loan debt. This site contains several great resources that can help you find ways to pay for your education.
• Consumer Finance Protection Bureau
  • This site has resources to help students who are preparing for college, attending school, or paying off student loan debt.  They have a great section dedicated to everything you need to know about repaying student loans.  
• Rural Health Information Hub
  • The Rural Health Information Hub has valuable information regarding scholarships, loans and loan repayment information for health professionals living in rural areas.