7 Quick Medical Certifications that Pay Well in Healthcare Careers - MedCerts

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7 Short Medical Certification Programs that Pay Well

Don’t have a ton of time and energy to go back to school?

Thankfully, you don’t have to spend years in school to earn a great salary.

In the healthcare world, there’s a huge demand for well-trained individuals to join the staff at hospitals, clinics, and outpatient centers. Due to an aging population and higher demand for healthcare, these positions are popping up all over the country.

But first, you may need some additional training or certifications to apply for these jobs.

If you still need to work while building your skillset, it’s totally possible. Online certifications make it easier to get trained quickly to gain the knowledge needed to move onto a new career. Plus, online programs offer flexibility with courses that are 24/7.

Ready to make a change?

Here’s a list of 7 quick certifications that pay well:

1. Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

Training time: 11 weeks

Median pay: $34,480 per year

Top pay: $49,060+

As a phlebotomist, you draw blood for transfusions, tests, or blood donations. This role is critical to the healthcare industry as doctors request blood work for patients daily. Empathetic individuals do well in this role as they may need to keep patients calm while taking blood samples.

Where do they work? You may work in labs, hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices as a CPT.

Learn how to prep for and pass the NHA CPT Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam.

2. Professional Coder (CPC)

Training time: 20 weeks

Median pay: $44,751 per year

Top pay: $51,752+

In less than 6 months, you can become a professional coder and work in busy healthcare offices. As a Professional Coder, you organize and review patient medical records and assigns codes for each diagnosis and treatment. You also prepare coded information for use by health care insurers or for research.

Where do they work? Professional billers usually work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Learn how to prep for and pass the CPC Certified Professional Coder exam.

3. Pharmacy Technician Professional (CPhT)

Training time: 25 weeks

Median pay: $30,753 per year

Top pay: $36,604+

Pharmacy Technicians work under the supervision of a pharmacist to help prepare and fill medical prescriptions. This job is great for communicators as you handle most customer interaction – except explaining medications, that’s handled solely by the pharmacist. You could be involved in anything from pricing medication to processing insurance claims and dispensing prescriptions to patients.

Where do they work? Pharmacy Technicians work in either a retail pharmacy or a healthcare facility.

Learn how to prep for and pass the CPhT Certified Pharmacy Technician exam.

4. Medical Assistant (CCMA, CMAA)

Training time: 27 weeks

Median pay: $33,610 per year

Top pay: $47,250+

If being in an operating room isn’t for you, there’s always the option of becoming a certified medical assistant. As a medical assistant, you may provide clinical care in addition to administrative tasks. In this role, you may take vital signs, prep patient rooms, document medical histories, offer patient education, and more. Of all the quick certifications that pay well, this one has the highest anticipated job growth, too.

Where do they work? You may find work in outpatient facilities, specialists’ offices, and hospitals.

At MedCerts, we offer multiple programs where you can earn more than one certification. If you're hoping to move into a career as a Medical Assistant, we offer three online Medical Assistant programs depending on what certifications you are interested in.

Learn how to prep for and pass the CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant) exam, and the CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant) exam.

5. Medical Front Office Administration Specialist (CMAA)

Training time: 13 weeks

Median pay: $30,000 per year

Top pay: $38,378+

Front Office Administrative Specialists are an essential part of any medical practice. They act as the first point of contact for patients checking in at the front desk and perform a variety of administrative tasks. This includes compiling medical records, scheduling appointments, transferring lab results, and operating office equipment. This position is perfect for organized individuals with great people skills.

Where do they work? Medical Front Office Administration Specialists can find work in hospitals, clinics, and physician offices.

Learn how to prep for and pass the CMAA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam.

6. Behavioral Technician Specialist (RBT)

Training time: 11 weeks

Median pay: $31,522 per year

Top pay: $43,000+

A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) works in clinical settings under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) to provide treatment plans for patients like autistic children. As a behavior technician, you’ll work under a BCBA to create the most impactful changes for an individual patient. You could teach children language and communication skills, daily living skills, and more while recording and analyzing data.

Where do they work? Behavioral Technician Specialists typically work in mental health facilities, medical centers, school districts, and childhood development centers.

Learn how to prep for and pass the RBT Registered Behavior Technician Specialist certification exam.

7. Patient Care Technician (PCT, CPCT)

Training time: 23 weeks

Median pay: $36,605 per year

Top pay: $67,872+

Due to an aging population, the need for Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) is growing quickly. The role is vital to healthcare facilities, as PCTs work closely with nurses by assisting patients in managing food intake, administering IVs, drawing blood, and much more. This is a great first step in moving toward a career as a Registered Nurse and is an opportunity to work closely with patients and build a bedside manner.

Where do they work? PCTs can find work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities.

Learn how to prep for and pass the CPCT Certified Patient Care Technician exam.

Want to learn more about going back to school for quick medical field certifications that pay well?

MedCerts provides comprehensive training in many high-demand healthcare careers, utilizing interactive and engaging learning methods to ensure a thorough understanding of the material. See here for a full list of healthcare certification programs offered.

Interactive Learning Methods

MedCerts' online courses employ interactive and engaging learning techniques. This approach ensures students learn the material and understand how to apply it in real-world scenarios.

Flexible Payment Options

MedCerts offers flexible payment plans. These include options to pay in full, installment plans and access to government grant funding, thus making the course accessible to all. Plus, MedCerts is more affordable than many traditional programs.

If you’re a military spouse, be sure to reach out to an education consultant today to learn more about using your MyCAA scholarship benefit to get a certification!

Post-Program Career Assistance

MedCerts instructors go beyond just training for the exam. They provide extensive post-program support, including access to a Career Center and Career Coaches for a year. This ongoing support is invaluable in navigating the competitive job market.

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Published on December 14, 2023