Most people assume a career as a medical practitioner involves years and years of schooling. However, plenty of careers allow you to enter the medical field quickly and easily. Below are some of the more common medical careers you can pursue with little education.
Paramedic
Paramedics provide emergency treatment to patients like CPR, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) to patients. They work in ambulances, on emergency response teams, in hospital emergency rooms, and in some workplaces. They provide stabilizing medical treatment to patients before physicians are available to perform more extensive procedures. They are the most highly-trained emergency responders and can administer treatments to help during traffic accidents or cardiac arrest and provide emergency medicine.
To become a paramedic, you can complete paramedic training culminating in an associate degree at certain colleges or you can complete paramedic and certification training without a degree. The process can take seven months to two years. Often, paramedics are required to get PALS certification. This certification is provided by the American Heart Association (AHA) for medical practitioners responding to ill infants and young children in emergency situations.
Typically, a PALS course will include course material on resuscitation, CPR, and pediatric assessment. AHA guidelines stipulate that paramedics need to get pals recertification or renewal every two years, which can easily be done through online courses. Once you have finished your training, you will receive a course completion card.
Hearing Aid Specialist
Hearing aid specialists work with audiologists in the treatment of hearing loss and to test and fit hearing devices for patients. Hearing specialists perform hearing tests to check hearing loss and make sure patients receive the right type of hearing aid. Hearing aids are small electronic devices that can fit inside a person’s outer ear. They will help in noisy environments and quiet rooms. Hearing aid specialists will often perform screening procedures like screening of ear canal status using an otoscope and work with audiologists on procedures such as cochlear implant mapping. Their patients will often be older adults in need of better hearing devices, individuals experiencing deafness or severe hearing loss, and hearing aid users.
While hearing loss is more common in older adults, some younger people may experience hearing loss from a ruptured eardrum or from an excessive amount of earwax in the ear canal. Hearing specialists may sell new hearing aids or repair damaged hearing aids. These medical practitioners may often asses the type of hearing loss a patient is experiencing under the supervision of an audiologist and provide hearing care. Hearing loss can range from moderate hearing loss to sensorineural hearing loss to profound hearing loss. A hearing care professional will instruct patients on how to use hearing aids, and work to improve clients’ hearing health.
This job requires a minimum of a high school diploma. Hearing specialists may need a state license for hearing instrument dispensing and board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences. Hearing aid specialists will want to stay up to date on the latest hearing technology and advances in audiology, so continuing education in the field is recommended.
Nursing Assistant
Nursing assistants are always in high demand, especially with a growing population of older adults experiencing cognitive decline. These medical professionals assist nursing staff with a variety of tasks like patient care, checking vital signs, and administering medicine and medications. The minimum level of education for a nursing assistant is a high school diploma or GED.
Nursing assistants will then complete a certified nursing assistant training program. You can often earn your Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS certification through an online course.
