It doesn’t always take a Bachelor’s degree and a huge student loan plan to land a job that puts you in demand. Here’s some careers that are in fields that need qualified people now, that you can train for in just months.

Don’t worry – hurry! You can get a new and exciting direction with great earning power quicker than you think!

The Continuing Expansion of Health Care

Even with retirees coming back on the job for specialized positions like Practical Nursing, there is still room for almost anyone coming out of training with a certification.

Some of the jobs that require less training don’t pay spectacular salaries, but they do offer a steady, recession-proof earning plan for those who need it to pay bills and mortgages.

According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, half of all laboratories and medical facilities in the U.S. struggle to hire qualified technicians. Lack of awareness of the profession is a key factor in the shortage of applicants for these “under the radar” jobs, but salaries and prospects are expected to continue rising.

Physician assistant

Two-year training program, and at least two years of college; license exam

• • Salary: $62,000

X-ray diagnostic technician

Associate’s degree, or 1-year certificate in diagnostic radiography

• • Salary: $48,170

Pharmacy technician

Short-term certification coursework in chemistry, biology, and statistics; state certification and license tests required

• • Salary: $28,000

Manufacturing Job Shift

The U.S. manufacturing industry is restructuring, but during this shift there are some booming job prospects for those with a specialized technical background.

Lower-skilled positions are going away, but highly skilled jobs in manufacturing are in great demand now, and require only vocational training and an apprenticeship.

Although the number of jobs in these fields is projected to decline slightly over the next seven years, skilled professionals will have excellent opportunities, according to the BLS. That’s due to the limited number of people entering training programs and employers’ difficulty in finding workers with the necessary skills and knowledge.

CAD Drafter or CNC programmer

Two-year degree at a technical or career college, or vocational degree work and apprenticeship

• • CAD Drafter Salary: $43,700

• • CNC Programmer Salary: $44,000

Financial Services Still Forging Ahead

Even amid the industry shakeout, financial analysts and financial planners still have plenty of opportunities. The same goes for Accounting school graduates, who can literally find a position anywhere that a business and customer exchange money that needs to be recorded.

CPA‘s with Bachelor’s degrees will definitely find the most prospects and better salaries, but in accounting, the name of the game is experience. Getting a quick 9-month to 24-month certification of associate degree could get you in on the ground floor of many different areas of the financial industry.

Financial analysts are employed by a variety of industries. However, you may want to consider self-employment, as the salary is higher than incorporated employees.

Accounting (CPA)

Associate degree for entry-level work, Bachelor’s degree in finance for CPA stature

• • CPA Salary $56,000

• • Accountant Salary $38,000

Financial analyst

Bachelor’s degree in finance preferred, but not required

• • Incorporated Financial Analyst Salary: $48,000

• • Self-employed Financial Analyst Salary: $63,000

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