6 Month Certificate Programs That Pay Well
It is no secret that if you want to earn a good living, you need to have more than just a high school diploma. Even though an associate degree doesn’t take long to achieve, there are faster ways to start your path to a career that pays well. However, not everyone has the desire or can afford to spend the next four years attending a traditional college to attain a bachelor’s degree. In this article, you will find a listing of several degrees or short career certificate programs that you can earn in one year or less. You may also find an online certificate program that might interest you. We gathered average salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Online Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.Highest Paying Trade School Careers Summary
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist
- Flight Attendant
- Electrician
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- Physical Therapy Assistant and Aide
- Surgical Technologist
- Carpenter
- Commercial Truck Driver
- Welder
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
- Bookkeeper
- Travel Agent
- Dental Assistant
- EMT and Paramedic
- Phlebotomy Tech
- Medical Assistant
- Pharmacy Technician
Fast Track Certificates – Trades You Can Learn in 6 Months or Less
1. Flight Attendant
2020 Median Salary: $59,050
Quickest Program Length: 3 weeks
Career Outlook: Expected to increase by 17% – Much faster than average
If you are searching for a career with travel benefits, consider becoming a flight attendant. In this career, you will serve aircraft passengers food, drinks and provide assistance. You will travel all over the world. However, because travel happens at all hours of the day and night, you will have a varied schedule, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays. If you love to travel this is a good certification to have.
Certificate Opportunities:
2. Electrician
2020 Median Salary: $56,900
Quickest Program Length: 4 months
Career Outlook: Expected to increase by 8% – Much faster than average
As an electrician, you will be responsible for installing, maintaining, and fixing electrical wiring in homes and/or buildings. In addition, you may be the person who installs monitoring systems, smart gadgets, cameras, and more. You will constantly be working in a different location or different job in this position. However, there are times when you will be working in extreme temperatures, in order to finish a job. This is a high-paying trade, which makes it a top certification to have.
Certificate Opportunities:
3. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
2020 Median Salary: $50,590
Quickest Program Length: 10 weeks (typically 6 months)
Career Outlook: Expected to increase by 4% – As fast as average
As an HVAC technician, you will be the person who installs and fixes major heating and air conditioning systems. HVACR technicians also work on ventilation and refrigeration systems. In this position you will work in homes, office buildings, hospitals, and more. Because these are public places, you may have to work some irregular hours in order to test and fix system problems. Before choosing this trade certificate, find out what type of training program your state requires.
Certificate Opportunities:
4. Physical Therapy Assistant and Aide
2020 Median Salary: $49,970
Quickest Program Length: 4 months
Career Outlook: Expected to increase by 29% – Much faster than average
As a Physical Therapy Aide or Assistant, you will work with physical therapists to help patients recover from an illness or possible injury. You may be the person who is setting up equipment, moving patients as well as working on administrative tasks. In this position, you may be required to work a variety of shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. This is a good career that offers quick schooling. Before choosing this career, be sure to check your local state’s licensing requirements. With expected job growth of 29% in the next ten years, there will plenty of opportunities in this field.
Certificate Opportunities:
5. Carpenter
2020 Median Salary: $49,520
Quickest Program Length: 4 months
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 0% – Little or no change
If you enjoy working with your hands, choosing to be a carpenter might be the perfect career for you! You will be building homes, buildings and framework for other types of structures. Carpenters also do plenty of repairs. This trade school career requires a great deal of physical strength and stamina. You will also spend the majority of your time working outdoors, in the elements.
Certificate Opportunities:
6.Commercial Truck Driver
2020 Median Salary: $47,130
Quickest Program Length: 2 weeks
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 2% – Slower than average
Almost everything consumers purchase is taken to the store via truck. Truck driving may involve long-hauls, which involve at least one overnight stay; or maybe short-haul, which is a short driving distance. As a truck driver, you will spend most of your time sitting. However, this is also a great way to see many different places, while getting paid to work. Becoming a truck driver is one of the highest paying trade school careers that you’ll find.
Certificate Opportunities:
7. Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
2020 Median Salary: $44,050
Quickest Program Length: 6 months
Career Outlook: Expected to decrease -4% – Decline
Love cars? Consider a career as an automotive service tech or mechanic. In this trade school career, you will work on different makes and models of cars and light weight trucks. You will diagnose and repair issues, as well as handle routine maintenance. Some people choose to work in auto shops as employees, while others prefer to open their own shop.
Certificate Opportunities:
8. Bookkeeper
2020 Median Salary: $42,410
Quickest Program Length: 5 months
Career Outlook: Expected to decrease -6% – Decline
As a bookkeeper, you will be responsible for keeping track of finances for a company. You will audit records, keep track of receipts and purchases. You will also make sure that payroll is completed timely and accurately. Addition duties may include journal entries, closing books, and keeping computerized notes of financial transactions. If you are money-minded, this is one of the best certifications to have.
Certificate Opportunities:
9. Travel Agent
2020 Median Salary: $42,350
Quickest Program Length: 4 months
Career Outlook: Expected to decrease -26% – Decline
A career as a travel agent could be an ideal choice if you love learning about other places and enjoy helping people. In this position, you will provide details and advice to travel seekers. You may plan the trips as well. It may also be your job to create an itinerary for the traveler. Most travel agents work for travel companies. However, there are several that work from home. This is one of the easier trade certifications you can attain.
Certificate Opportunities:
10. Dental Assistant
2020 Median Salary: $41,180
Quickest Program Length: 10 weeks
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 7% – Faster than average
As a dental assistant, your tasks may vary quite a bit. You may spend part of your day helping to check patients in, scheduling visits to taking x-rays of patients. This career is a good choice if you like to add variety to each day and you enjoy working with others. While this is one certification program that pays well, we advise you to check your state for licensing requirements.
Certificate Opportunities:
Stratford Career Institute
11. EMT and Paramedic
2020 Median Salary: $36,650
Quickest Program Length: 2 weeks
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 6% – Faster than average
Choosing to become an EMT or paramedic is one of the best trades to get into if you enjoy helping people and can handle a high-stress environment. A typical day in this trade may start out slow, with you stocking the ambulance, but in an instant, you could be saving a child from drowning or rushing a heart attack victim to the hospital. In this medical certification program, you will learn to stabilize patients, deliver babies, manage fractures, insert IV lines and more. You will also learn how to provide oxygen as well as deliver CPR. This fast-paced career provides a level of excitement that you rarely find in the workforce.
Certificate Opportunities:
EMT & Fire Training Incorporated
National Medical Education & Training Center
12. Phlebotomy Technician
2020 Median Salary: $36,320
Quickest Program Length: 10 weeks
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 17% – Much faster than average
As a phlebotomy technician, you will spend your days drawing blood from people. You may be collecting the blood for individual testing, research or possibly for donations. You will have the opportunity to explain to the patient why and how you will be taking their blood. There are plenty of employment opportunities to consider for phlebotomists. You may work in labs, donor centers as well as doctor’s offices and hospitals. This is a quick certification that pays well.
Certificate Opportunities:
Contra Costa Medical Career College Online
13. Medical Assistant
2020 Median Salary: $35,850
Quickest Program Length: 6 weeks
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 19% – Much faster than average
A career as a medical assistant allows you to help people stay well. In this medical certificate program, you will learn how to take a proper patient history, take an accurate temperature and perform administrative tasks as well. You may also be the person who teaches the patient how to dress their own wounds, take certain medications or find a specialist. You will be face to face with a variety of patients, who will also bring in a variety of germs. Keeping up to date on vaccinations is important, as well as eating healthy, taking care of yourself, and having excellent hand washing hygiene. This is a quick healthcare job certificate that pays well.
Certificate Opportunities:
Online Medical Assistant Programs
Become a Medical Assistant in 6 Weeks
14. Pharmacy Technician
2020 Median Salary: $35,100
Quickest Program Length: 4 months
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 4% – As fast as average
One of the top healthcare certifications in demand is for pharmacy technicians. Your job role, in this career, you will help people to understand their medications, as well as filling their prescriptions. You will also have the opportunity to explain medication, possible interactions, and side effects with customers. In this career, you will also help clients locate over-the-counter remedies such as vitamins and herbal remedies. Other duties may include scheduling and supervising pharmacy staff members. You can find careers for pharmacy techs in hospitals, grocery stores, clinics, prisons, and more. Check your state’s licensing and requirements for this certification career, before you choose your school.
Certificate Opportunities:
Short-Term Career Training Programs – 9-17 months
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist
2020 Median Salary: $70,261
Quickest Program Length: 17 months
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 8% – Faster than average
Choosing a career as an electroneurodiagnostic tech will provide you with the chance to help both doctors and patients. You will be able to help calm patients that are having neurodiagnostic testing while explaining the procedure. Many people in this fieldwork in clinics or labs; however, you can also find careers in sleep centers as well as in hospitals, where you may monitor patients during surgery. Because of these options, you will have the ability to find a flexible schedule as well as a work environment you enjoy. An associate’s degree is not required for this certificate.
Certificate Opportunities:
Surgical Technologist
2020 Median Salary: $49,710
Quickest Program Length: 12-18 months
Career Outlook: Expected to increase 7% – Faster than average
Getting your surgical technologist certificate will allow you to help doctors, nurses, and patients. In this career, you may be preparing an operating room one day while sterilizing and arranging surgery equipment the next day. You will be assisting doctors who are performing surgery, gathering any needed tools, disposing of items, and transporting patients to the recovery room. Each day and each surgery will be different. To do this job you must have a strong stomach and think quickly on your feet. Besides working in a hospital, you can also find jobs in dental practices, vet practices, and selling surgical equipment.
Certificate Opportunities:
Nashville State and Community College
Welder
2020 Median Salary: $44,190
Quickest Program Length: 9 months
Career Outlook: Expected to increase by 3% – As fast as average
Welding is a top-paying trade where you can work your way into different positions. You may start out as a welding apprentice, but you have the opportunity to work up to a senior welder or underwater welder. In this trade school career, you can work in a variety of fields that include sales, project management, engineering, and more. Shipyards offer jobs as well, and include housing for welders, due to busy schedules. You may be putting together a pipeline, or possibly the next aircraft carrier. You may also find yourself working on a cruise ship, performing routine maintenance and repairs.
Online Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.Certificate Opportunities:
College of Southern Nevada
Further Reading: Careers for college dropouts and non-college graduates
