An estimated 6.5 million health care workers will exit the workforce by 2026. Some of the resulting openings can be filled by someone who starts training today and is employed before summer—CNA programs run as short as four weeks, and hospitals are offering them free with guaranteed job placement.
Editorial Team
Not everyone has four years and six figures to spend on a degree. BLS data shows that several of the fastest-growing health care occupations require less than a year of training, and some can be entered in as few as two months. For career changers, parents re-entering the workforce, or anyone who needs income now, certificate programs offer a legitimate on-ramp into a $4 trillion industry—no bachelor's degree required.
This ranking lists 50 health care careers sorted by time from enrollment to first employment. A CNA program takes 3 months; an associate degree takes 24 months. The metric is straightforward—shorter programs rank higher. Program length estimates come from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook descriptions of typical education and training requirements.
The results reveal a clear tier structure. Certificate programs (3–12 months) dominate the top ranks, followed by associate degrees (18–24 months). But speed alone isn't everything—the strongest fast-start options pair quick entry with durable demand, while documentation-heavy tracks face more automation pressure.
Each dot is a career. X-axis = months from enrollment to employment. Y-axis = median annual salary. Bubble size = projected growth rate.
The health care careers with the shortest path from enrollment to employment.
Sortable table with time to start, growth rates, salaries, and education requirements.
| Rank ↑ | Career ↕ | Time to Start ↕ | Salary ↕ | Growth ↕ | Education ↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Home Health Aide | 2 mo Instant | $34k/yr Average | 17.4% Very Fast | High School Diploma | View Details |
#2 | Phlebotomist | 3 mo Instant | $42k/yr Average | 7.5% Fast | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#3 | Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | 3 mo Instant | $38k/yr Average | 4.3% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#4 | EKG/ECG Technician | 4 mo Very Fast | $63k/yr Above Average | 5.6% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#5 | Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | 6 mo Very Fast | $39k/yr Average | 5.1% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#6 | Medical Transcriptionist | 6 mo Very Fast | $37k/yr Average | -6.6% Declining | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#7 | Dialysis Technician | 6 mo Very Fast | $44k/yr Average | 5.0% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#8 | Pharmacy Technician | 9 mo Fast | $40k/yr Average | 4.1% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#9 | Medical Assistant | 10 mo Fast | $42k/yr Average | 14.8% Fast | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#10 | Medical Administrative Assistant | 10 mo Fast | $42k/yr Average | 7.8% Fast | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#11 | Patient Care Coordinator | 1 yr Fast | $63k/yr Above Average | 8.1% Fast | Bachelor's Degree | View Details |
#12 | Medical Billing and Coding Specialist | 1 yr Fast | $49k/yr Average | 7.8% Fast | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#13 | Surgical Technologist | 1 yr Fast | $61k/yr Above Average | 5.6% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#14 | Dental Assistant | 1 yr Fast | $45k/yr Average | 7.3% Fast | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#15 | Paramedic | 1 yr Fast | $39k/yr Average | 5.1% Average | Associate Degree | View Details |
#16 | Community Health Worker | 1 yr Fast | $49k/yr Average | 11.2% Fast | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#17 | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | 1.3 yr Moderate | $60k/yr Average | 4.7% Average | Certificate or Diploma | View Details |
#18 | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) / Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | 1.3 yr Moderate | — | 4.7% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#19 | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) / Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | 1.3 yr Moderate | — | 4.7% Average | Postsecondary Certificate | View Details |
#20 | Radiologic Technologist | 2 yr Moderate | $73k/yr Above Average | 5.8% Average | Associate Degree | View Details |
Time to start is the typical number of months from enrollment to first employment for each occupation, as described in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. A 3-month CNA program means you can be working in 3 months; a 24-month associate degree means 2 years from enrollment to your first job. Rankings are sorted by this duration (shortest first). Program length estimates come from BLS OOH descriptions of typical education and training requirements for each occupation.