3 Career Opportunities for Women Without a College Degree - MedCerts

Is Short-Term Online Career Training Right for You?

When you were younger, did anyone ever say to you:

Go to college, or you'll end up as a (insert dead-end job here)?

It's a common myth in our society that you need a college degree to succeed. But that advice is out-of-date—not to mention that college can be so expensive and time-consuming.

A college degree usually costs between $32,000 to $215,800 and takes two to four years to complete, depending on your degree type. Many women find it takes even longer because of home and family responsibilities.

Fortunately, college isn't the only way to train for a career. The online education market has exploded, creating professional and technical certifications that can give women an edge in the workplace. These courses are often more affordable than college and can take a matter of weeks, not years.

Here are some of the best careers for women who don't have — or would rather not get — a college degree.

1. Physical Therapy Aide

If you enjoy helping people build strength and independence, a career as a physical therapy aide might be for you. More than 7,300 entry-level jobs are available in this growing field, which has an average starting salary of $35,000.

Physical therapy aides work with physical therapists to help patients recover from injury or illness. They perform various non-medical tasks, from observing patients and recording their progress to preparing treatment rooms.

MedCerts's Physical Therapy Aide and Administration Specialist program can prepare you for this dynamic career in as little as 18 weeks.

2. EKG or Phlebotomy Technician

These are two of the best jobs for women who want to work hands-on in the healthcare field but don't have traditional degrees.

Electrocardiography (EKG) technicians perform diagnostic tests that help physicians diagnose and evaluate heart problems. Phlebotomy technicians collect blood samples for laboratory testing. There are close to 40,000 job openings in these combined fields across the United States.

MedCerts's Cardio-Phlebotomy Technician program teaches the essential skills of both roles. The program, designed to take as little as 14 weeks, teaches technical procedures, medical terminology, and healthcare professionalism. Students who finish the program can apply to be Certified EKG Technicians or Certified Phlebotomy Technicians.

3. Behavior Technician Specialist

More than 6 million people with developmental disabilities live in the United States. Many of these individuals receive behavioral health services from Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), who develop individualized plans that teach daily living skills and reduce challenging behaviors.

Many BCBAs rely on the help of Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), who work one-on-one with clients to implement those plans. RBTs are compassionate professionals who can teach patiently, notice what a student needs, and offer the right help at the right time.

Being an RBT is an ideal career path for women who want to work in special needs services but don't have a college degree. If you're interested in this path, MedCerts's Behavior Technician Specialist program is your first step toward certification.

Pursuing Career Opportunities Without a Degree

These are some of the best careers for women who don't have a college degree. There are many others like them. To learn more, check out the MedCerts catalog of programs or speak with an education counselor today. Our education professionals understand women's career needs and can help you find the right program.

Portrait of Julie Campos
Written by Julie Campos
Vice President of Student Success and Career Services

Julie Campos is the Vice President of Student Success and Career Services at MedCerts. She brings over 14 years of experience in Online Higher Education in both Student Support and Enrollment and started her career at the University of Phoenix, serving most of her tenure as a student-facing leader.

Julie has her Bachelors of Liberal Arts in Political Science from the University of Texas at El Paso, and her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Her areas of expertise are student support in online higher education environments and working with nontraditional students. At MedCerts, she is focused on creating a pro-active student central support model for MedCerts students to reach their goals and has developed the MedCerts Student Support and Outreach Model, created MedCerts Student Success Advisor reports and Dashboards, as well as the Student Success Advisor Playbook. Her proactive approach to student support has been crucial in meeting MedCerts’ student’s needs, as well as completion and certification goals.

Julie has three children – a 10-year-old son and 12- and 4-year-old daughters, who keep her and her husband busy with sports. She is also an avid crafter with an entire room of her home dedicated to the hobby. In her free time, she enjoys teaching wreath making and even has a few “how-to” YouTube videos on the subject!

Published on February 28, 2022

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