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An Expert's Take On Switching Careers

One of the hardest parts of changing careers is figuring out what you can do without starting over from scratch. For advice on where you should begin, we interviewed an executive recruiter with a wealth of experience helping people transition to new roles. 

Career Recruiter/Advisor

Colin McIntosh is an executive search recruiter and career advisor with direct experience helping professionals navigate career transitions.

OnlineU's List of Fast-Track Careers

Based on the (BLS) projections, we chose careers that are projected to have many job openings each year over the next decade.

There's always a risk when you change careers. Jobs with a high number of new openings reduce risk considerably, because this metric indicates:

• Solid demand into the future

• More entry-level opportunities

• Resilience to economic turmoil

With the list below, we intentionally include a wide range of career fields to choose from, but we narrowed it down to occupations with solid earnings, either close to or above the national median wage. For context, the median wage in the U.S. right now is at $49,500/year. 

We organized the careers under these educational umbrellas:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Postsecondary nondegree award (certificate)
• Associate degree

Fastest credentials that can lead to career change

Online community colleges offer certificate or associate programs designed for quick entry into the workforce. There are many benefits to community college, including affordability, economic mobility, and time needed to acquire a degree that holds real value. Here are some of the offerings to consider: 

• Online certificate programs 
• Online associate degrees

If you'll notice, all of these requirements are below a bachelor's. This lowers the barrier to entry dramatically in terms of time and money. We do mention how these careers could lead to a bachelor's though, if at some point you want to advance in the field, but it's never a requirement to get going. Specifically, we mention how online learning can help progress your career quickly. 

So, if you don't want to end up spending four (or more) years stuck in school but need to change careers fast, read on鈥� 

High School Diploma, No Degree

Let's start out with a great choice for salary and stability that's fast to maneuver into and requires only a high school diploma. One benefit is that there's strong advancement potential, although the median salary is the lowest on our list.

1. Security Guards 鈫� Criminal Justice Pathway

Security guard roles most often just require a high school diploma and some short-term training. This is a solid entry-level position for adults seeking a fast career change.

However, pay for this role is fairly modest at a yearly median of , meaning half the workers earned more and half earned less. Educational services is the top industry for security guards, who make closer to around $44,090 in this sector. 

Working as a security guard can help you build transferable skills if you ever decide to change careers again. You'll learn about surveillance, emergency response, report writing, and conflict de-escalation, all of which are relevant to careers in public safety.

This way, if you ever wanted to advance into law enforcement or corrections careers, you could earn an affordable online criminal justice associate degree and be on your way to more specialized and higher-paying roles. 

Postsecondary Nondegree Award (Certificate)

The BLS shows that a large share of job openings over the next decade only require a postsecondary nondegree award. Training programs that are considered "fast" take a few months up to one year. 

Many of these careers offer median salaries that are actually higher than the national median. This gives career changers the opportunity for speed as well as stability. 

2. Truck Drivers 鈫� Supply Chain Management Pathway

You can be a truck driver in months, sometimes even weeks. All you need to do is complete the certificate program to obtain your commercial driver鈥檚 license (CDL). 

With a median annual wage of , this role already pays nearly $8,000 above the median across all U.S. occupations. Plus, it gets you in the door fast. 

You can also choose to advance your career later down the line and pursue a bachelor's in supply chain management online while you continue your full-time job. This way, you could potentially transition into management, logistics coordination, or operations roles at higher pay. 

Currently, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected to have about 237,600 openings per year, which is one of the highest totals among occupations requiring education below a bachelor鈥檚. 

3. Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) 鈫� Healthcare Pathway

LPN/LVN programs can be completed in about a year. They don't require additional on-the-job training beyond licensure prep. 

Even with those minimal requirements, they make a median of per year, which is about $29.97 per hour. At state and local educational institutions and hospitals, they make closer to $66,370. 

On the front lines of healthcare, LPN/LVNs deliver essential medical care. Their responsibilities can shift depending on the demands of their work environment. Many continue their education to become registered nurses through associate or RN-to-BSN programs.

4. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) 鈫� Emergency Management Pathway

EMTs have a very short training period via certificate programs. These programs focus on patient assessment, emergency response, and critical decision-making skills. This process allows for quick entry into healthcare roles.

EMTs and paramedics make around $22 per hour, with a yearly salary of per year. Keep in mind that this is just a median, and it largely depends on where you live and where you work. For example, outpatient care centers tend to pay closer to $67,990, whereas ambulance services is one of the lowest paying industries, with a salary around $39,190. 

Since it's such a physically demanding job to have for a long period of time, some EMTs later pursue degrees in emergency management, which lead to roles in disaster planning, emergency preparedness coordination, or public safety leadership, for example. These roles often involve developing response strategies for natural disasters, public health emergencies, or large-scale incidents. 

5. Medical Assistants 鈫� Healthcare Administration Pathway

Medical assistants are projected to have about 112,300 openings per year, reflecting high demand. To get started in this clinical support role, it usually only requires a certificate. There's no extended on-the-job training beyond the initial orientation. 

The median yearly wage of reflects an accessible entry point into healthcare careers, with outpatient care centers paying slightly more $47,560. 

Since medical assistants gain experience with patient scheduling, medical records, and clinical workflows, professionals sometimes choose to pursue a degree in healthcare administration. This allows them to climb the ladder into office management. 

6. HVAC Technicians 鈫� Engineering Technology Pathway

HVAC certificate programs emphasize hands-on skills, so it's fast workforce entry. You could get a certificate in HVAC in as little as six months. It covers mechanical systems, diagnostics, and repair techniques. However, that's not always the case.

Some even enter the occupation with less education under their belt, but in those cases, it is a longer training period. 

HVAC technicians make a median wage of per year. The top industry is wholesale trade, where the pay is closer to $65,760. 

Over time, technicians may go on to pursue engineering or engineering technology degrees to move into supervisory or specialized technical roles.

What this chart shows: 

• An LPN/LVN leads the group in earnings, while Medical Assistant sits much lower. Same field but very different earnings ceilings. 
• The roles of Truck Driver and HVAC Technician show that hands-on trades can deliver solid, stable income without a degree.
• There鈥檚 an ~$18K spread between the lowest and highest career options in this category. This shows that credential level and specialization impact pay even within 鈥渘on-degree鈥� careers.

Associate Degree

If you are willing to invest a little more time or already have an associate degree, here are some careers with strong job stability and higher-than-average wages that you can easily get in just two years. 

As before, we also discuss the ladder of advancement in these fields to show the potential for future growth. 

7. Registered Nurses 鈫� Healthcare Pathway

Many registered nurses (RNs) initially qualify with an associate degree in nursing (ADN). There are even online nursing associate degrees to make it even more accessible. In general, these programs include clinical training and licensure prep. 

Like several healthcare roles shown in the chart above, nursing roles demonstrate how below-bachelor education pathways can lead to strong earnings. This is because there's always consistent demand for patient care services. 

For RNs in general, they are looking at a median salary of per year. However, the BLS does lump all RNs into that salary range, regardless of their education level. 

(To clarify, ADN graduates qualify for entry-level RN roles. Once licensed, ADN-prepared nurses are part of the same occupation category as BSN-prepared nurses. So, they are eligible to earn this same salary range over time.) 

8. Dental Assistant 鈫� Dental Hygiene Pathway

Since dental assisting programs are usually short-term dental assistant certificate programs, this role can provide a fast entry point into the dental field. Typically, there's no on-the-job training required beyond initial preparation. 

Dental assistants are expected to have about 52,900 openings per year through 2034, with a median annual wage of . 

Some dental assistants later pursue a degree in dental hygiene, which leads to expanded responsibilities, such as preventive treatments, patient education, and clinical assessments. The incentive is that dental hygienists earn significantly higher wages than dental assistants, closer to . This wage reflects the additional clinical training and licensure requirements needed. 

9. Respiratory Therapists 鈫� Health Sciences Pathway

Respiratory therapists typically complete two-year associate programs that prepare them to evaluate and treat breathing disorders and cardiopulmonary conditions. There's little training beyond licensure prep, enabling straightforward entry into clinical settings. 

The two year program may be worth the wait for some because the wages are per year. It's highest for those who choose to work in hospitals. And if you ever wanted to take your career a step further, there are online bachelor's degrees in respiratory therapy, too. Though, these are not necessary to begin your career. 

As an alternative, professionals may pursue bachelor鈥檚 degrees in health sciences instead to qualify for supervisory roles or specialized care environments.

10. Paralegals and Legal Assistants 鈫� Business or Public Administration Pathway

Paralegals typically enter the workforce with a certificate or an associate degree in paralegal studies. This role provides exposure to legal procedures, document prep, and research, making it a common entry point into a legal profession.

The salary is fairly high for an associate-level position at per year. This shows how powerful having specialized knowledge can be when it comes to supporting stable office-based career transitions that don't require a bachelor鈥檚 degree upfront.

A bachelor鈥檚 in business or public administration may lead to compliance or management opportunities. There's also an online bachelor's in paralegal studies for those who want to go all the way. 

What鈥檚 Driving Faster Career Transitions: Skills Over Degrees

CEO OF Certification Guide Inc.

Manjunath Sarvanad is an expert in certification and career development at Certification Guide. He assists people who want to switch careers into flourishing professions through certification programs and structured training programs.

"Fast transition job opportunities are typically skill-based rather than degree based. Therefore, many project coordinator positions, IT support positions, digital marketing positions, and health-care support positions are available with short education tracks because they require applicants to have the skills needed to perform the job, rather than requiring long-term education at a university. 

When determining how much return on investment (ROI) you will receive from attending a course, you will need to consider three factors:

• how long the course is; 
• how likely you will get a position after completing the course; 
• and how much more you will earn after you obtain a position that requires the certification attained through the course. 

Generally, short-term (3-6 month) certification programs that are in high demand usually provide a quick ROI when compared to long-term (3-4 year) degree programs in the same profession. 

There appears to be a trend of hiring workers for their abilities rather than for their educational qualifications now. The result has been a higher volume of hires with certification or with hands-on experience/skills. This tends to apply even more so to the technology industries and operations positions. 

Short-term certification programs provide benefits to individuals who wish to change careers, for working adults who wish to continue their careers, and for individuals who want to return to the job market quickly. 

The problem with this is that many people will select a course based on popularity instead of determining whether there is a need for that type of career in the labor market."

FAQs About Changing Careers Fast, Answered by Experts

Tech Talent Recruiter

Known throughout the industry as 鈥淭HE Professional Tech Talent Finder.鈥� Tastefully brewed by a collection of over 20 years of experience in the world of staffing, recruitment, and talent acquisition. As the President and Co-Founder at CalTek Staffing, it is my mission to create a standard and expectation by which other staffing firms strive to live up to.