10 Healthcare Certifications You Can Get in 2 Years or Less

Thinking about starting an allied health career? Over the last decade, healthcare certificate and associate degree programs have become popular due to their affordability, shorter study times, and schedule flexibility. 

Many allied health careers can be started in less than two years, and are convenient options for people who are considering a career change later in life. 

10 Short Healthcare Programs Leading to Medical Certifications

 To check out ten of the best allied health career paths that you can join in under two years, keep reading!  

1. Phlebotomy Technician
2. Cardiac Monitor Technician
3. Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
4. Pharmacy Technician
5. Sterile Processing Technician
6. Medical Assistant
7. Dental Assistant
8. Neurodiagnostic Technologist
9. Surgical Technologist
10. Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer

1. Phlebotomy Technician (2 - 3 months) 

One of the shortest allied health training programs belongs to the phlebotomy sector. Within two months, you could be taking blood samples from real patients and preparing them for laboratory testing.

Many certified phlebotomy techs use their training as a stepping stone towards other health careers (such as medical assistants). Some programs combine phlebotomy and EKG courses which provide a wider variety of practical skills. 

Where Do Phlebotomists Work? 

Though a large number of phlebotomists are employed by hospitals, the majority of these certified allied health professionals work at medical laboratories, private practices, and blood donation centers. 

At smaller clinics and private practices, a standard 9-5 job might be available. Hospitals, however, tend to have a phlebotomist on-call 24/7, so you could find yourself working night or day shifts (or anything in between). 

What Is a Phlebotomy Technician Salary Like? 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average phlebotomy salary in 2023 was around $41,810. However, the top 10% of earners took home $55,330 per year. The top earners tend to work at outpatient centers and may require additional certifications/training. Just like any career, extra dedication often reflects higher salaries. 

2. Cardiac Monitor Technician (3 - 6 months)

Just like many other allied health careers, cardiac monitor techs can be referred to in a variety of ways: 

• EKG Technician 
• ECG Technician 
• Cardiographic Technician 
• Telemetry Monitor Technician

Whatever they call themselves, these techs provide accurate test results so physicians can diagnose diseases, birth defects, and other conditions related to the cardiovascular system. From Holter monitoring to EKGs to stress tests, cardiac monitor technicians are responsible for working directly with patients of all ages and backgrounds. 

Where Can EKG Techs Work? 

Cardiac monitor technicians often work full-time positions at hospitals, private practices, medical labs, and outpatient centers.

What Is the Salary Like for Cardiac Monitor Technicians?

After gaining their medical field certification, these professionals can expect to earn an average annual salary of about $40,700. 

3. Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (3-9 months)

With the recent shift away from physical documents to digital records, the need for medical billers and medical coders has dramatically increased. If you’re looking for an autonomous position that isn’t patient-facing, becoming a medical biller might be a great fit. 

In these certification programs, you’ll study how to handle insurance billing issues, appeal denied claims, memorize ICD-10 codes, and work with electronic health records. 

This will help you handle a wide variety of responsibilities, like ensuring that patients are appropriately billed, denied claims are appealed correctly, and health care providers are accurately reimbursed for their services. 

Where Can Medical Billing Specialists Work? 

The majority of medical billing positions are full-time at hospitals, private physician offices, clinics, and medical billing companies. 

Due to the nature of their career, experienced medical billers and coders are sometimes able to work from the comfort of their home office. This is especially useful for new parents or people with mobility issues. 

What Is the Job Market Like for Medical Billers and Coders? 

As of May 2023, medical billers had a median annual salary of $45,590, with the top 10% commanding over $62,530. 

 Employment opportunities for medical billers in New Jersey are projected to grow 7% from 2020-2030. 

4. Pharmacy Technician (5 months) 

When filling a prescription, you’ll probably interact with a pharmacy technician. Acting as a pharmacist’s right hand, pharmacy techs assist customers (either in-person or over the phone), manage and fill prescriptions, take inventory, and handle a number of other important tasks.. 

While on-the-job training is an option for some, many employers require formal pharmacy training and certification to ensure that they have adequate knowledge in drug administration and classification.

Where Do Pharmacy Technicians Work? 

Drug stores and pharmacies might be the largest employers for this field, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be relegated to working at Walgreens or Walmart. With the right training and experience, you may be able to find an open position at a hospital or online pharmaceutical dispensary. 

What Is the Job Market Like for Pharmacy Techs? 

 Pharmacy techs average an annual salary of $40,300 . The top 10% of earners can take home $47,580. They tend to work at hospitals, which typically require specialized training in compounding.

5. Sterile Processing Technician  (10 months)

Sterile processing technicians (SPTs) are health professionals known by a few other names, such as: 

• Medical Equipment Preparer
• Processing Technician
• Sterilization Technician
• Central Service Technician

These allied health professionals may not regularly interact with patients, but their work has a major impact. SPTs are responsible for guaranteeing that all surgical instruments and equipment are decontaminated and sterilized by applying what they’ve learned through their lessons on microbiology and infection control. 

Where Can SPTs Work? 

Because SPTs are exposed to the inner-workings of hospitals and clinics, there are great options for upward mobility. With enough experience, some are promoted to sterile processing supervisors while others might go back to school to become laboratory technicians, endoscopy techs, or even surgical technologists. The sky’s the limit! 

What Is the Average Medical Equipment Preparer Salary? 

Medical equipment preparers make an average annual salary of $45,280.

For sterile processing supervisors, this increases to more than $83,412 per year.  

6. Medical Assistant (10 months) 

When it comes to flexibility, there aren’t many roles that are more flexible than medical assistants. From drawing blood to taking patient information to contacting insurance companies, medical assistants (MAs) work closely with physicians, certified nurses, and other hospital personnel to provide optimal patient care. 

During medical assistant training, students are expected to study both administrative and clinical duties like billing, EKG, phlebotomy, anatomy, office practices, and laboratory techniques. Additionally, some accredited schools offer medical assistant programs with specialized training in pediatrics, OB/GYN, and imaging technology. 

Where Do Medical Assistants Work? 

The great part about the medical assistant sector is its duality. Some people might choose to focus on administrative elements entirely while others may choose to dedicate themselves to clinical roles (like taking blood and vital signs). 

Just as a medical assistant’s job description can vary, so do working environments. From the quick pace of surgical wards to the relaxed atmosphere of private practices, you’ve got ample locales to choose from. 

What Is an Average Medical Assistant Salary? 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics places average medical assistant salaries at $42,000. For MAs who are lucky enough to snag jobs at outpatient centers, this amount can increase to an average of $50,250. 

7. Dental Assistant (9 - 12 months)

Dental assistants might be relied upon to schedule appointments, maintain records, hand tools to the dental team during exams, operate suction devices, and even take X-rays. 

With an increasing number of states starting to require proper licensure, it’s important to consider attending a certification program. Not only will this get your resume at the top of the pile, but you’ll also be prepared to assist your dental team from Day 1. 

What Is the Job Market Like for Dental Assistants? 

Those who pursue their dental assistant certification have a great job market ahead of them. In fact, over the coming decade, there’s an anticipated 8% growth rate for this field. Even better, the average dental assistant can command more than $46,540 each year. 

Many assistants later choose to tackle a 4-year dental hygiene degree, opening the doors up to even greater opportunities and salaries. 

8. Neurodiagnostic Technologist (2 years or less)

Neurodiagnostic technologists (NDTs) record and study electrical activity within the human brain and nervous system in the two year medical program. Their goal is to help hunt for clues that can be used to diagnose a wide variety of conditions like amnesia, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, migraines, and even insomnia.

Through NDT training, students will discover how to perform tests like nerve conduction studies (NCS), evoked potentials (EP), and Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). This career might also require recording medical histories, working with nervous patients, maintaining medical equipment, and calculating results. 

Where Do Neurodiagnostic Techs Work?

From hospitals to independent clinics, NDTs have seemingly endless options for finding work. People in this role are always on the move: You could be performing tests at a patient’s bedside one minute and find yourself in the operating room assisting with a brain surgery on the same day.

What’s the Job Market Like for Neurodiagnostic Technicians? 

NDTs have one of the best-paying roles in allied healthcare, with workers pulling in an average of nearly $64,093 each year. Thanks to the increased use of non-invasive procedures, the medical world relies heavily on neurodiagnostic techs to assist in diagnosing various health conditions. 

9. Surgical Technologist (2 years or less)

Looking to get into the operating room but don’t want to spend years in medical school? Joining a surgical technologist training program can get you in the action in 2 years or less – all without a medical degree!

During your training course, you’ll discover everything you need to become a vital member of the surgical team including operating room prep, sterilization methods, and pre- and post-operative patient care. This career is often a stepping stone to other medical careers, and many surgical techs (also called scrub techs) go on to become surgical assistants or registered nurses (RNs).

What Is the Job Market Like for Surgical Technologists?

These entry-level roles place you in the heart of the action, but you’ll also be reimbursed well for your efforts. The median income for surgical techs falls at $60,610 with opportunities to earn up to $83,150 in some settings.

10. Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (2 years or less)