What you pursue in life as a career depends on a mix of your passion and needs. While you can go the conventional route and earn a college degree for your career, you can also do quickfire certification programs of 3 to 7 months that help you land a job much quicker.
We have researched various online forums data sets to create a list of quick certifications that lead to high-paying jobs.
Paramedics and EMTs
As an emergency medical technician (EMT), you must do a physically and mentally strenuous job. A typical workday includes shifts ranging from 9 hours to 24 hours, where they provide basic first-aid treatment, CPR, etc. A paramedic’s work is rewarding in terms of satisfaction and salary.
Median Pay: $44,780 per year (2023)
Massage Therapists
A massage therapist is a professional who relieves a patient of muscle stress and pain. If you pursue a career in massage therapy, you need to learn a variety of treatments for your patients, in a matter of a few weeks. While the courses can vary from weeks to more than a year, they are all equally rigorous.
Median Pay: $55,310 per year (2023)
Real Estate Brokers
Being a real estate broker is a lucrative career. You can comfortably earn over $50,000 a year even with the shortest courses. As a real estate broker, you must help your clients buy, sell, and rent real estate properties. The job is not 9-5, and you can set your working hours at your convenience.
Median Pay: $56,620 per year (2023)
Insurance Sales Agents
You can sell several insurances as an insurance sales agent. You will assess your customers’ needs and offer them suitable plans that will cover their needs. However, you need a certification and license to sell each type of insurance.
Median Pay: $59,080 per year (2023)
Surgical Assistants
Before doctors perform surgery on a patient, a surgical assistant sterilizes the room and keeps all necessary operating tools handy. The job market for surgical assistants is currently on the rise, as it is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032. Hospitals prefer surgical assistants to have certifications for the job.
Median Pay: $60,370 per year (2023)
Plumbers
Only some people can become a high-earning plumber. If you want clients to consider you for installing or repairing pipes and fixtures in your home, you will require a certificate. There are multiple affordable certifications can help kickstart your plumbing career.
Median Pay: $61,550 per year (2023)
Court Reporters
You can fetch a job in the legal field with certification courses, as well. If you want to be a part of legal proceedings, you can apply for various NCRA Certifications like Registered Skilled Reporter, Certified Realtime Reporter, etc. As a court reporter, your job will be to transcribe word-for-word conversations and verdicts at a trial.
Median Pay: $63,940 per year (2023)
Flight Attendants
As a flight attendant, you will have to be punctual and well-accustomed to the operations inside an airplane, about traveler satisfaction. There are various quick certification courses that you can undertake to be a part of an airline as a flight attendant. You can opt for 30-70-hour courses like One Flight Attendant Onboard or Multiple Crew Onboard.
Median Pay: $68,370 per year (2023)
Technical Writers
For a technical writer, work is as rewarding as it is demanding. On the one hand, you need to be confident about your knowledge of industries like SAAS and fintech. On the other hand, most tech companies put their technical writers among the most valuable employees. You can undertake quickfire certification courses like the ones at Technical Writer HQ or the Professional Technical Writing Course on Udemy.
Median Pay: $80,050 per year (2023)
Computer Programmers
Becoming a computer programmer is a good option if you like software and want to make a career out of it. A computer programmer writes codes for any computer software, from computer games to software like Excel or Word. While you can get the usual college degree over a four-year course, you can also opt for shorter courses that let you earn a certificate to land a job.
Median Pay: $99,700 per year (2023)
Data Scientists
One of the most in-demand professions across the world, data scientists can take multiple courses to pursue a career in data science. You will have to combine data science with probability and machine learning in an exciting work that goes beyond the usual tech-industry job.
Median Pay: 108,020 per year (2023)
Air Traffic Controllers
Even though previous work experience is preferred, you may get a job as an Air Traffic Controller with a quick certification. You will often have to work nights and weekends and monitor air traffic to guide pilots in emergencies. ATCO Initial Training and Air Traffic Controller Professional Certification courses are among the ones that will give you a headstart.