With a population of nearly 39.5 million (1), California has an important healthcare market. Many available healthcare jobs are support positions that require some college or vocational training, but less than a bachelor’s degree — which is good news for anyone looking to start a healthcare career as quickly as possible.
Healthcare jobs with minimal schooling include medical assistant, medical billing specialist, pharmacy technician, respiratory therapist, surgical technologist, registered nurse, dental assistant, and diagnostic medical sonographer. These jobs may require a certificate of achievement, which can often be completed in as few as 9 months, or a two-year associate’s degree, depending on the role.
When you’re ready to take the next step, learn how you can train for a medical career at Carrington College. The college offers multiple Medical and Dental programs so you can select the ideal career path for your personal and professional goals. Carrington College also offers Online programs, which may include in-person externships, giving you flexibility in how you complete your education.
Healthcare Jobs You Can Train for Without a Four-Year Degree
If you’re interested in a healthcare job with minimal schooling, Carrington College offers the following:
- Medical Assistant
- Dental Assistant
- Pharmacy Technician
- Vocational Nurse (LVN)
- Medical Administrative Assistant
- Surgical Technologist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Phlebotomy Technician
Medical Assisting
Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative tasks in healthcare settings such as physicians’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. Typical work duties include:
- Taking vital signs
- Recording patient medical histories
- Assisting physicians with patient examinations
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Maintaining inventory supplies (2)
The Medical Assisting program at Carrington College combines hands-on clinical and administrative training and can be completed in as few as 9 months.
Dental Assisting
Dental assistants play a supportive role in dental offices, providing patient care, handling administrative tasks, and assisting dentists during procedures. Typical work duties include:
- Ensuring patients are comfortable and relaxed
- Sterilizing dental instruments
- Handing instruments to dentists during procedures
- Keeping records of dental treatments
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Processing X-rays under the direction of the dentist (3)
Carrington College’s Dental Assisting program combines coursework with hands-on labs, and you can earn your certificate in as few as 9 months.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense medications in commercial pharmacies, hospitals, and mail-order pharmacies. Job duties include:
- Collecting information needed to fill prescriptions
- Measuring, packaging, and labeling prescriptions
- Organizing pharmacy inventory
- Accepting payment for prescriptions
- Customer service (4)
The Pharmacy Technology program at Carrington College typically takes around 9 months to complete and helps students prepare for applicable credentialing exams.*
Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Vocational nurses provide basic medical care to patients in a wide range of healthcare environments, including nursing homes, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and homes. Daily tasks may include:
- Monitoring patient health and vital signs
- Helping patients dress or bathe
- Reporting patient status to RNs or physicians
- Documenting patient care and maintaining health records
- Providing care and comfort as needed (5)
Carrington College’s Vocational Nursing program can be completed in as few as 12 months and prepares students to sit for applicable credentialing exams.*
Medical Administrative Assistant
Medical administrative assistants perform daily clerical and administrative tasks in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their job duties may include:
- Answering phones and taking messages
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Maintaining facility databases and filing systems
- Basic bookkeeping
- Billing health insurance companies (6)
The Medical Administrative Assistant program at Carrington College can be completed in as few as 9 months and is completed online.
Surgical Technologist
Surgical technologists assist surgeons during operations in hospitals, outpatient centers, dental offices, and doctors’ offices. During an average day, you might:
- Prepare operating rooms for surgery
- Sterilize surgical equipment
- Ready patients for surgery
- Pass surgeons instruments and sterile supplies
- Maintain a sterile environment to prevent infections (7)
Carrington College’s Surgical Technology program can be completed in as few as 15 months and leads to an Associate of Science degree.
Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists care for patients with breathing difficulties, such as asthma and COPD. RTs work with patients of all ages, from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly patients with lung disease. Typical job duties for a respiratory therapist may include:
- Examining patients with breathing disorders
- Consulting with physicians to develop treatment plans
- Performing diagnostic tests
- Monitoring and recording patient progress
- Educating patients in proper medication and equipment use (8)
Respiratory Therapy programs can be completed in as few as 18 months, and typically lead to an Associate of Science degree. Carrington College’s Respiratory Therapy program combines classroom coursework with practical, hands-on training designed to prepare students for applicable credentialing exams.*
Phlebotomy Technician
Phlebotomy technicians are trained to draw blood for medical testing and transfusions. They may be employed in hospitals, doctors’ offices, blood donor centers, and medical and diagnostic laboratories. Typical job duties include:
- Drawing blood from patients or blood donors
- Verifying patient or donor identities
- Correctly labeling blood for testing
- Reassuring patients who are nervous about having blood drawn
- Entering sample information into databases (9)
Phlebotomy Technician training is typically a short-term course. The Carrington College Phlebotomy Technician course can be completed in as little as 3 months, making it a fast track for anyone interested in a healthcare career.
How Long Does Healthcare Training Take Without a Four-Year Degree?
If you’re interested in healthcare jobs with minimal schooling, consider a certificate program, which typically takes 9 to 12 months to complete, compared to a four-year bachelor’s degree. Students who want more extensive training without a four-year commitment should consider associate degree programs such as surgical technology or respiratory therapy, which typically take as little as 15 to 24 months to complete.
What Is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Degree in Healthcare?
A certificate program focuses on developing specific skills for particular healthcare roles. This targeted approach lets students build practical skills quickly, with certificate programs typically taking less time to complete than associate degree programs.
Associate degree programs, in contrast, include general education requirements and a broader range of coursework. These extra requirements can provide more flexibility in securing employment, but they come at the cost of longer programs. Check out our blog on certificate vs. associate degrees for more information.
How Carrington College Prepares You for Healthcare Careers
Carrington College certificate and degree programs combine classroom experience with hands-on lab practice to help students pursue their chosen careers. Some healthcare programs also include clinical or externship experience, allowing students to train in real-world environments.
Interested in pursuing healthcare careers without a four-year degree? Contact Carrington College and request information today!
References
- Public Policy Institute of California. (n.d.). California’s population. https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-population/. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Medical assistants. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Dental assistants. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Pharmacy technicians. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
- O*NET OnLine. (n.d.). Medical secretaries and administrative assistants. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-6013.00. Accessed 26 September, 2026.. a
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Surgical assistants and technologists. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-technologists.htm. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Respiratory therapists. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/respiratory-therapists.htm. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Phlebotomists. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/phlebotomists.htm. Accessed 26 September, 2026. a
*Carrington College prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.
