The Fastest Healthcare Careers If You Already Have a Bachelor's Degree

Many people reach their late twenties or thirties with a bachelor's degree and a growing wish to work in healthcare. Starting over with a second four-year degree feels impossible, and for most careers it isn't necessary.

A number of programs are designed specifically for people who already have a degree. Here are the fastest routes, grouped by how quickly you can start working.

Start now: jobs that hire with your current degree

• Clinical research coordinator. Coordinators help run clinical trials at hospitals, universities, and research sites. A health, science, or social science degree is usually enough to start. See the coordinator route.
• Research technician. If you have a science degree, academic and biotech labs hire research techs directly. See the research tech route.

These jobs also give you healthcare experience, which strengthens applications to graduate programs later.

About 12 months

• Medical laboratory scientist (MLS). For biology and chemistry graduates, a 12-month post-baccalaureate program prepares you for the ASCP certification exam. It's one of the quickest routes into a certified, in-demand clinical career. See the MLS route.
• Nuclear medicine technologist. Certificate programs for degree holders often take around a year. Check that the program is JRCNMT-accredited. See the nuclear medicine route.

About 12 to 18 months

• Registered nurse through an accelerated BSN. Second-degree nursing programs accept a bachelor's in any field and typically take 12 to 18 months, followed by the NCLEX-RN. You'll need prerequisites such as anatomy, physiology, and microbiology first. See the nursing route.
• Diagnostic medical sonographer. Certificate programs for people with prior degrees commonly take 12 to 18 months. Choose a CAAHEP-accredited program so you can sit for registry exams. See the sonography route.

About 12 to 24 months

• Cytotechnologist. Certificate or master's programs for science graduates who enjoy microscope work and cancer diagnosis. See the cytotechnology route.

Before you enroll, check three things

1. Accreditation. Graduates of non-accredited programs often can't sit for the certification exam that employers require. Each career page links to the right accreditor.
2. Prerequisites. Many accelerated programs require recent science courses. Budget a semester or two to finish them if needed.
3. Clinical placements. Ask how the program arranges clinical rotations. Strong programs place you; weaker ones leave you to find your own.

Want a longer view?

If you're open to two or three more years of school, the options expand to physician assistant, occupational and physical therapy, genetic counseling, and more. Use the years of school slider in the career explorer to filter careers by how much time you want to invest, or read the faster routes section on the homepage.