r/findapath • u/ilovematcha02 • 1d ago
Findapath-College/Certs Degrees with short schooling
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if you can give me advice or tips on a short degree(associates)that I can take and you think is worth it to not be in so much debt and that paid decently. I am open to any ideas! Looking to go back to school and finish a short course or an associates degree. I am bilingual(English/Spanish) and really enjoy helping people! Thank you in advance :)
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u/ClearAbroad2965 1d ago
Look into your community college something like a radiology tech
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u/ilovematcha02 1d ago
Makes great money I have heard! I would love to do something online since I work full time
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u/Primary-Bug-7353 1d ago
Unfortunately anything worth doing won’t allow you to work full time or you’d have to work a different shift. You could, alternatively, find a program that has the clinical rotations at the end of the program so you can work until the end
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u/lurrainn 1d ago
Anything in healthcare requires in person clinicals, including radiology tech I’d suggest maybe a hybrid program with PM classes. Those tend to be expensive schools though. Look for a community college with a PM line
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u/olsutton 1d ago
For a mostly online route, look at health information or medical coding programs, radiology tech requires in-person clinicals.
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u/NoRegrets-518 1d ago
look around to see who is hiring and what they want. Check your local community college for what they offer.
If you want to help people, do you think you would like sales? The best sales people are those who want to help people and don't cheat them.
People can get jobs in sales sometimes without a degree-just with a real estate license, for instance. If that doesn't appeal to you, get educated in an area that interests you. Do a search for the major industries and then look into some that interest you. Get a 2 year degree in that area and try to get any job in the industry, even a lowly one. Then continue your education.
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u/pool_family 1d ago
I would definitely look into the healthcare programs at your local community college. RN, radiology tech, cardio tech, dental hygiene, sonography.
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u/lameazz87 21h ago
The actual degree part may be short on first glance, but once you start to break them down it often takes people much longer than the usual 2 years to complete these degrees.
All of the programs you mentioned are generally highly competitive programs at community colleges/trade schools. Most of them wont even consider applicants until they have completed their prerequisite courses, such as A&P, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Humanities, PSY, or whatever the school requires.
There is usually a point based system that ranks applicants based on how many of these they have completed and how well they have done in the courses. My school and schools in my areas wont even consider applicants if they make anything below a B in, especially in our science courses.
Then you have to take the TEAS/ HESI test. The TEAS/HESI test is REQUIRED for health science entry programs. Community colleges will have a minimum score for entry, but to be competitive students will need to score well above that minimum score, often times needing to retake the test.
Even if students complete everything, have high test scores, students get "waitlisted" and have to wait until the next year because these programs get hundreds of very qualify applicants and can only accepted maybe 50 students due to lack of nursing education instructors/ clinical site locations.
This leads students to go to private schools or very expensive online healthcare schools and rack up TONS of debt, only to be left with subpar education.
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u/rotatingruhnama 8m left
I'll add that the level of competition depends on program and where you live. In my local community college system, dental hygiene is a blood sport where students with straight A's might get rejected.
But you can generally get accepted to the ADN or OTA programs if you have a decent GPA. Not sure how competitive the RT or rad tech programs are, but I'm sure they're pretty fierce.
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u/rotatingruhnama 22h ago
I'm an occupational therapy assistant major. It's an associates degree program, but with prerequisites it can take about three years. Plus you have to pass a certification exam. Coursework is in person for the most part because it's hands on.
It's a health care career where you work with clients on everyday activities as part of their therapy. For example, you might assist a stroke survivor with relearning how to brush her teeth or wash dishes, or you might help a child develop handwriting skills. OTAs work in a lot of environments - hospitals, rehab centers, schools, mental health facilities, nursing homes, etc.
Before I started the program I had to have a foundation in psychology and Anatomy and Physiology. Now my coursework applies those concepts to treatment strategies.
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u/lameazz87 21h ago
I am completing a community college nursing program at the moment as an adult learner switching careers. I wish people would stop mentioning health science programs as an "easy 2 year quick fix" option when people ask about a path for education. It often takes people much longer than the usual 2 years to complete these degrees.
These degrees are very intensive to get through as well. Its extremely hard to work full time while completing these degrees at a community college/trade school due to the fact that they REQUIRE in person class, labs, and clinical rotations. My college only offers night class options for the LPN to RN bridge. So the rest you must attend day classes. Everyone is our class is struggling financially and we lost several people in our class because they couldnt do the 8:30-3:30 Mon-Fri REQUIRED in person nursing class times. I applied to another college that had night class options but I only got into the day class at that one as well.
Health science programs are highly competitive programs at community colleges/trade schools. Most of them wont even consider applicants until they have completed their prerequisite courses, such as A&P, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Humanities, PSY, or whatever the school requires.
There is usually a point based system that ranks applicants based on how many of these they have completed and how well they have done in the courses. My school and schools in my areas wont even consider applicants if they make anything below a B in, especially in our science courses.
Then you have to take the TEAS/ HESI test. The TEAS/HESI test is REQUIRED for health science entry programs. Community colleges will have a minimum score for entry, but to be competitive students will need to score well above that minimum score, often times needing to retake the test.
Then you must pass a background test. They look over EVERYTHING, and if they dont find it they will when you go take your board exams. Then you will take a 13 panel drug test. They wont tell you when, they will just throw it on you one day like oh BTW today is the day! You will have to gather your entier medical history, vaccination record, and get any vacancies you dont have, and a physical before starting.
Even if students complete everything, have high test scores, students get "waitlisted" and have to wait until the next year because these programs get hundreds of very qualify applicants and can only accepted maybe 50 students due to lack of nursing education instructors/ clinical site locations.
This leads students to go to private schools or very expensive online healthcare schools and rack up TONS of debt, only to be left with subpar education.
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u/rotatingruhnama 10m left
Yup, I'm in OTA school and my "easy" program by health care standards still requires two semesters of A&P, a ton of other prerequisites, an intense onboarding process, clinicals, etc.
I still advised OP to consider it, but not as a quick fix.
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u/kuro-chan335 1d ago
associates degree won’t really get your foot in the door since it’s just 2 years of gen ed’s. you can do various medical certification classes but those have really long waitlists. might as well just go for the bachelors at a state school.
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u/lurrainn 1d ago
There are a ton of associates that will absolutely get your foot in the door. A ton in medical in things like imaging, respiratory therapy, RN, the list goes on. There’s also trades like land surveying that pay well with apprenticeship
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u/kuro-chan335 1d ago
those are certifications. i’m talking about just a regular-degular associates.
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u/lurrainn 1d ago
Wym? Those are definitely associate programs lol I’m in my sonography associates now. Or you’re just talking about associates that don’t require a certification test after school?
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u/ilovematcha02 1d ago
So true! Thank you looking to start soon :)
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u/FlairPointsBot 1d ago
Thank you for confirming that u/kuro-chan335 has provided helpful advice for you. 1 point awarded.
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u/ilovematcha02 1d ago
Would love to do something online!
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u/keepsaying 1d ago
Online is an unnecessary limitation. Evening classes are better if you work 9-5.
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u/CarolinCLH 1d ago
Good paying jobs require specialized skills that not everyone has and are worth something to the company. An ordinary Associates Degree does not give you these kinds of skills. It just gives you a broad spectrum of knowledge that might be useful in your further schooling.
Speaking Spanish is a specialized skill that can be useful to some companies. They will expect you to be able to write business letters in Spanish and talk to their customers. If your knowledge of Spanish comes from speaking at the home and on the street, you will need to take some classes to expand your vocabulary and knowledge. Taking Spanish classes can help there and can be part of your Associates ciriculum.
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u/ilovematcha02 1d ago
Thank you! I am fluent in Spanish and English. Took Spanish classes in High School and can read, write and translate. I can always take Spanish as a minor or elective. My friend suggested I do something in HR or Pre School teacher. I thougt Pre School teachers werent getting paid much😣Im just looking for stability and a decent paying job and that I am passionate about it you know. The thing is we have to choose carefully to not be in so much debt afterwards
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u/FlairPointsBot 1d ago
Thank you for confirming that u/CarolinCLH has provided helpful advice for you. 1 point awarded.
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u/CarolinCLH 1d ago
Pre school teachers need some credits in early childhood education, 12 maybe? That won't be hard, but look at the pay. It could be a good choice for you.
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u/Maximum_Hornet_5517 1d ago
Nothing worth doing in life has a short path.
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u/fuzzblanket9 19h ago
A massive amount of healthcare disciplines are short paths and are extremely worth it.
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