Healthcare jobs that don't require a degree

Want to work in the healthcare industry but don’t want to spend years on an expensive degree? Never fear! Foundation Education has you covered. 

A lot of people live under the impression that you need a university degree to work in the healthcare industry. After all, it's a tough industry, filled with highly talented and qualified people carrying out incredibly difficult tasks daily. 

However, you don't necessarily need a university degree in the healthcare industry. In fact, you can work some awesome (and very important) jobs without having university-level qualifications. So, if you want to make a difference in a highly rewarding role, read on and discover the healthcare jobs that don't require a degree, and how you can secure your new dream role with Foundation Education. 

Administrative and support roles

Career outcome: Medical Administrator 
Average salary: $895 per week*

Any health institution is only as good as the people behind the scenes. Without the highly valued administrative support roles that keep the ship afloat, frontline medical professionals wouldn't be able to do their jobs.

Administrative support officers are one of the first roles that come to mind when we think of healthcare jobs with no degree needed. In this job you may have a wide variety of tasks to take care of. That’s because the roles vary so much between private practices, hospitals, research labs and other institutions.

People in administrative support roles don't provide direct patient care. Their job is to keep all the cogs in the background running smoothly. This involves: 

• managing patient records 

• appointment scheduling 

• several other administrative duties

Many of the qualifications for administrative and support roles can be acquired through online courses or vocational schools. Some qualifications, such as the HLT47315 Certificate IV in Health Administration, can be acquired through Foundation Education.

Some of the roles that you can take in administrative, and support services include: 

• Medical Secretary 

• Admission Clerk 

• Ward Clerk 

• Medical Record Section Leader 

For more info about administrative and support roles, why not check out our guide to becoming a Health Administration Worker. 

Allied Health Assistant

Career outcome: Allied Health Assistant 
Average Salary: $1,144 per week*

Allied Health care roles fulfil a critical role in the medical industry without extensive medical qualification requirements. These jobs aren't physicians, nurses or surgeons, but they provide a critical supporting role that is of great value to most healthcare institutions. 

Allied healthcare practitioners provide diagnostic support, including testing and analysis, as well as therapeutic care.

It’s likely one of the most in-demand medical jobs that don’t require a degree. Many of these roles require some level of qualification however, such as a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance – but this qualification can set you up for so many different careers in the medical field.

Medical assistants, medical technicians and a range of different types of technologists are all roles that fall within the allied health arena. Working in these roles, you’ll interact with several highly qualified medical professionals in diagnostic and therapeutic tasks.

Assistant in Nursing

Career outcome: Assistant in Nursing and Personal Care Worker 
Average salary: $1,282 per week*

It’s possible to enter some assistant in nursing careers without a university degree. This role involves working with patients under the supervision of registered nurses or other medical professionals and only requires a certificate rather than a bachelor’s degree. You can also work in assisted living situations relating to the elderly.

Dental Assistant

Career outcome: Dental Assistant 
Average salary: $1,102 per week*

Dental Assistants are a necessary part of the medical industry, and it’s a wonderful medical job that doesn’t require a degree - however, you will need some qualifications.

Dental Assistants play a crucial role in the operation of most dental practices. From scheduling appointments to managing patient relations, you’ll have a very varied role. Dental Assistants help prepare dental surgeries for procedures and often operate technical equipment, as well as being on-hand during dental procedures.

A HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting can set you up for a career as a Dental Assistant. There are also several other dental assisting courses, some quite specialised, which can help you more easily find a role.

Occupational Therapy 

Career outcome: Occupational Therapy Assistant 
Average salary: $1,015 per week*

An Allied Health qualification can take you far in the healthcare field. A HLT43015 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Occupational Therapy) can set you up for a career in helping improve the well-being of patients and clients by assisting them perform day-to-day tasks more confidently and comfortably.

The number of roles available in the occupational therapy field has exploded recently, and there is significant demand for people with these qualifications. If it’s something that interests you, now is the perfect time to enter the industry.

Management

Career outcome: Health Practice Manager 
Average salary: $1,233 per week* 

There are several management-focused healthcare jobs that don’t require a degree. Many of these roles are highly critical to the continued operation of hospitals, general practices and related healthcare institutions. Gaining basic management qualifications can set you up for a successful career in any industry and can provide you with the skills and insight to understand the ins and outs of the place you work. 

A HLT57715 Diploma of Practice Management is specifically designed to equip you with management capabilities that apply to the medical and healthcare industry. It will ensure you have the leadership and management skills to manage staff and implement a range of policies to ensure that the patients at your practice get a great experience and are well looked after. 

With this qualification and some experience in a related role, you can position yourself favourably for high-paying, more advanced positions later in your career. 

Salary information has been sourced from SEEK.* 

If you want to set yourself up for a successful career in the healthcare industry without the time and expense of a university degree, enquire now or call us on 1300 616 197 to speak to one of our Careers Advisors. We’ll discuss your options and help you develop a plan to get you where you want to be.

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