If you’re hoping to complete a degree in the medical field that requires minimal schooling, you may be interested in researching quick medical degrees. These types of degrees are usually certificate or associates programs, depending on the subject of the degree.
Quick medical degrees can typically be completed in 2 years or less, and they may help graduates pursue high-paying careers in the medical field.
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Common professions associated with medical certificate or associate degrees include dental hygienist, registered nurse, dental assistant, medical assistant, and more.
Quick Medical Degrees Online
The below programs are examples of quick healthcare degrees that can help graduates pursue fulfilling careers in the medical field. The median salaries provided come from data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Select the program that most interests you to jump to that section of the guide:
- Dental Assisting
- Dental Hygienist
- Health Information Management
- Healthcare Administration
- Medical Assisting
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Nursing
- Pharmacy Technician
- Physical Therapy Assistant
- Respiratory Therapy
You may want to explore your options to decide which program is right for you.
Dental Assisting
Median pay: $44,820
Dental assisting degrees can generally be earned in 16 to 20 months. In a dental assisting program, you’ll study how to help dentists with day-to-day tasks, both administrative and dental. You can learn to schedule appointments, understand basic dental terminology, and more.
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After completing one of these quick healthcare degrees, graduates typically pursue roles as dental assistants. They may even use these jobs to later pursue further education or training in the dental field.
Dental Hygienist
Median pay: $81,400
You can typically earn a dental hygienist degree in about 2 years. These associate degrees in healthcare cover topics like anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology.
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After graduating from a dental hygienist program, students may work toward roles as dental hygienists. Dental hygienists can clean patients’ teeth and help prepare patients for dental procedures. With further training and education, some may even use their experience to pursue jobs as dentists.
Health Information Management
Median pay: $58,250
A health information management degree usually takes around 20 months to complete. These programs cover medical topics like anatomy, but they also teach students how to manage patient information efficiently and effectively in a medical office.
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Graduates from these degree programs tend to pursue roles as health information technologists and medical registrars. These professions are in charge of patient records, data management, and administrative tasks in a medical environment.
Healthcare Administration
Median pay: $38,500
Students can generally complete a healthcare administration degree in as little as 16 months. You’ll learn how to complete administrative tasks in a medical office, which can include recording patient information, scheduling appointments, and managing office inventory.
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Obtaining these degrees can help arm students with the necessary knowledge to pursue roles as medical assistants, office clerks, information clerks, receptionists, and administrative assistants. These jobs all help support the operations of a medical office.
Medical Assisting
Median pay: $38,270
Medical assisting degrees can be completed in as little as 10 months or as many as 20 months. These programs teach students subjects like anatomy, chemistry, and biology and cover the basics of medical terminology.
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Graduates from these types of degrees tend to pursue roles as medical assistants. Professionals in these jobs help with administrative duties around a medical office and may help doctors with basic tasks like taking patients’ vital signs and recording their concerns.
Medical Billing and Coding
Median pay: $47,180
You may be able to complete a medical billing and coding degree in 20 months or more. In these programs, you can learn about the processes for billing and insurance reimbursement and the various codes that go along with them.
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Professionals with a medical billing and coding degree typically work as medical records specialists. These professionals use a coding system to organize, manage, and review patient records, making sure everything is accurate and kept confidential.
Nursing
Median pay: $81,220
Nursing degrees can usually be completed in about 2 years, as they’re typically associate degrees. These programs dive into subjects like pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, biology, and more. You’ll also learn health assessment and nursing methodologies.
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Graduates with nursing degrees typically pursue roles as registered nurses. These professionals work directly with patients to give medication, take care of wounds, monitor vital signs, and more. It’s necessary to become licensed to work as a registered nurse.
Pharmacy Technician
Median pay: $37,790
Students can generally complete a pharmacy technician degree in anywhere from 9 months to 2 years, depending on whether they pursue a certificate program or an associate degree. These programs teach students how to assemble medications, record patient information, and more.
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Many graduates from these types of programs go on to pursue jobs as pharmacy technicians, working under the direction of pharmacists. With further education and training, these professionals may choose to work toward becoming pharmacists.
Physical Therapy Assistant
Median pay: $62,770
You may be able to complete a physical therapy assistant degree in as little as 20 months. These degree programs teach students subjects like biology, psychology, and more. They help prepare you to assist patients with stretching, exercising, and general movement.
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Professionals in the field tend to work as physical therapy assistants or aides, where they assist physical therapists and work directly with patients.
Respiratory Therapy
Median pay: $70,540
Because respiratory therapy programs are typically associate degrees, they can usually be completed in 2 years. These programs cover subjects like chemistry, biology, anatomy, physics, and more.
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Graduates tend to pursue roles as respiratory therapists, where they can help patients with breathing problems like asthma. They may perform tests, administer medication, check vital signs, and more.
How to Choose a Quick Medical Degree Program
If you’re interested in pursuing the quickest medical degree program, you may want to take the following factors into consideration.
- In-person requirements. If you’re hoping to attend a remote program, it’s helpful to start your search looking at these types of programs specifically. Some schools may require in-person classes, which could mean traveling to campus.
- Tuition price. Fast degrees in the medical field typically cost less than a four-year degree. But just like figuring out, “How much does it cost to get a bachelor’s degree?,” it’s still strategic to make sure the cost of a program works within your budget.
- Accreditation. Choosing an accredited school can be important when it comes to looking for employment opportunities or applying for federal financial aid.
You may also want to take a potential program’s format and student support opportunities into consideration.
Accelerated Healthcare Programs Accreditation
When looking at 1 year medical programs or related programs with varying timeframes, like 1 year post bacc programs for medical school, it’s strategic to make sure they are accredited.
When a school is regionally accredited, a third-party accrediting organization has verified it meets a series of academic quality standards. This status can be helpful when applying for federal financial aid. It may also help boost your resume when looking for jobs.
To learn more about accreditation, you can visit the US Department of Education’s website.
What Are the Easiest Medical Degrees?
The difficulty of a degree depends on the individual student and program, but in general, some may consider these degrees to be on the easier side:
- Medical Assisting: These degrees may take as little as 10 months to complete. Along with science classes, you’ll also learn how to complete administrative duties.
- Healthcare Administration: You may be able to finish this degree in 16 months. You’ll learn how to perform tasks that keep a medical office running behind the scenes.
Dental assisting and physical therapy assistant degrees may also be considered easier or faster by some students.
What High Paying Medical Jobs with Little Schooling Can I Get?
If you’re looking for 2-year medical degrees that pay well, there are a range of specialties available for you to consider.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the median annual salaries for high-paying medical careers with minimal schooling:
- Dental hygienists — $81,400
- Registered nurses — $81,220
- Respiratory therapists — $70,540
- Health information technologists and medical registrars — $58,250
- Medical records specialists — $47,180
Obtaining a degree in one of these fields can help boost your resume when applying for these types of jobs.
Colleges Offering Quick Medical Degrees Online
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
California State University – Long Beach offers a fully online, self-paced Pharmacy Technician Certificate program that is worth 5 continuing education units. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for national certification exams. The program may be completed in 4 months. It features open enrollment, and students earn five CEUs for completing it.
California State University – Long Beach is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Central Maine Community College offers an Associate and a Certificate in Medical Coding and Electronic Health Records. Both programs are fully online. The associate program may be finished in as little as 1 year and requires the completion of 60 to 62 credits. Upon completion, students are eligible to take the certification exam.
Central Maine Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Charter Oak State College offers a Certificate in Medical Coding. The program is fully online and requires the completion of 30 credit hours. Students may be able to earn credit for prior experience. Courses are offered in half-terms, with six start dates each year. Students may be able to earn credentials from AHIMA or AAPC.
Charter Oak is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Colorado Christian University offers an AS in Healthcare Administration. The program is fully online and requires the completion of 60 credit hours. Courses are 5 weeks long and taken one at a time. The degree may be earned in less than 2 years, depending on transfer credits.
Colorado Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Colorado Technical University offers an AS in Health Administrative Services. The program is fully online and requires the completion of 91.5 credits. The degree may be accelerated through CTU’s Fast Track program, which offers credit for prior knowledge. There are start dates about every 5 weeks. Potential courses include Introduction to Healthcare Delivery Systems, Ethics in Healthcare, and Medical Terminology.
Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
DeVry University offers an Associate in Health Information Technology. The program is fully online and offers preparation for the AHIMA certification exam. The curriculum consists of 22 courses for a total of 67 credit hours. The credits earned in the program may be applied to a bachelor’s degree. Courses are 8 weeks long.
DeVry is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Drexel University offers a Certificate in Maternal and Child Health. The program is fully online and accredited through CEPH. The curriculum consists of six courses for a total of 18 credit hours. Courses are 10 weeks long and offered four times per year. Potential courses include Introduction to Epidemiology and Global Health Ethics.
Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Students can earn an associate degree in a medical field through East Coast Polytechnic Institute University. Most programs are fully online. Courses are conducted in an accelerated 5 week format. One course is completed at a time, and an associate degree may be earned in just 18 months. Programs are offered in nursing, medical assisting, and radiography.
ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Excelsior University offers degree programs in nursing with fully online courses. Students may choose between an AS or an AAS. The school also prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam. Courses are 8 weeks long, and there are several start dates throughout the year. Some courses are competency-based.
Excelsior University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Fletcher Technical Community College offers a Certification in Medical Billing and Coding. The program includes a voucher for a professional certification exam of the student’s choice. The program is fully online and self-paced and can potentially be completed in 12 months.
Fletcher Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Herzing University offers an AS in Medical Assisting Services. All courses are fully online, but hands-on labs and an externship are required. The program requires the completion of 60 credits, and up to 45 credits may be transferred in. Courses are offered during daytime and evening hours. The program includes one attempt at the RMA exam.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Kennesaw State University offers a Mental Health Technician Professional Certificate. The program is online and self-paced. It can potentially be completed in 12 months. Required textbooks are provided. Topics covered in the curriculum include various treatments for disorders like substance abuse and developmental delays.
Kennesaw State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Madison Area Technical College offers a Optometric Technician Technical Diploma. All courses are fully online, and the curriculum is designed to prepare students for Paraoptometric Technician Certification.
Students in the program are required to have a mentor. The program requires the completion of 27 credits and can typically be finished in 1 year. Classes are taken part-time. The school charges online students in-state tuition, regardless of residency.
MATC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Minnesota West Community & Technical College offers a Pharmacy Technician Certification. Coursework is completed online, but an externship is required. The program requires the completion of 10 credits. It can be started in the fall, and courses may be taken during the fall and spring and follow a semester schedule. Potential courses include Medical Terminology in Healthcare and Pharmacy Principles and Practices.
Minnesota West Community & Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Purdue University offers a Medical Assistant Certificate through its Global Learning program. The program is fully online and requires the completion of 58 credits. Courses are 10 weeks long, and there are start dates every month. The program can potentially be completed in 18 months.
Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Stark State College offers a Medical Billing Specialist Certificate and a Certificate in Medical Instrument Sterilization. Both programs are available fully online and on-campus and may be finished in 12 months. Some courses offer optional live online components. Courses are offered in 8 week sessions.
Stark State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Texarkana College offers eight online programs in the medical field, including Dental Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Electronic Health Records Management. All courses are fully online, and some offer a volunteer externship. Some of the programs may be completed in just 2 months. Some programs prepare students for certification exams. Coursework may be completed on mobile devices.
Texarkana College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Towson University offers a Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist course. The course is self-paced and online. It requires 194 hours, and students have up to 6 months to finish. The program offers a voucher for the CHER exam.
Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Utah offers a program for Clinical Medical Assistants. Coursework is online, but 1 day labs on campus are required once per month. The program also requires 180 hours of clinicals. It can potentially be completed in 4 months. Tuition may be reduced with a paid apprenticeship.
The University of Utah is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
York County Community College offers a Community Mental Health Certificate. The program offers full-time and online tracks. It requires the completion of 27 credits and can typically be completed in 2 semesters. The credits earned may be transferred to the school’s Behavioral Health Studies degree.
York County Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Getting the Fastest Medical Degree Online
If you’re interested in learning about the medical field but don’t want to attend a four-year university, you may enjoy pursuing a quick medical degree online. These certificate and associate programs can typically be completed in 2 years or less.
Graduates from these types of programs may work toward roles as registered nurses, dental hygienists, medical records specialists, pharmacy technicians, PT assistants, and more.
You can begin exploring quick online degrees from accredited colleges and universities today to get started on your journey toward enrolling in a fast medical degree.
