Jobs in Hospitals Without a Degree

According to the United States Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare industry will generate more than 3 million new jobs between 2008 and 2018 and the fastest growing occupations in America will be healthcare-related. The growth of this industry is courtesy the aging Baby Boomers. Some of the top paying jobs without a degree will be found in this industry. If you are someone who wants to make a career in this industry, then we would like to tell you that this is one field where workers are always in demand and you can very easily grab an entry-level job. You can look for advancement opportunities as the career prospects are bright in this industry. So, let us take a look at some jobs in hospitals without a degree.

Hospital Jobs Without a Degree

Jobs offered to individuals who do not have a college degree mostly don't involve interaction with patients. These entry-level jobs can be thought of as the back-end jobs of healthcare industry. Hospitals need individuals who can help in running the hospital smoothly and this is where you can step in. Let us take a look at the job description of some jobs that don't require a college degree.

Medical Billers/Coders
Medical billers and coders are responsible for maintaining the records of a patient which includes filling forms for claims, insurance and settlements. They document every transaction that takes place between the insurance agency and the hospital and are responsible for proper disbursement of payments. Medical billers/coders are either employed in hospitals or they can also work from home. Although medical billers are not required to have a college degree, employers prefer applicants who have completed a medical billing and certification program. The average salary of medical billers/coders in the range of $30,000 to $40,000.

Medical Receptionists
Medical receptionists are the first point of contact between the patient and the hospital. The job role of a medical receptionist involves answering the queries of the patients and their relatives, transferring calls to the right department and fixing patients' appointments. Medical receptionists work in an environment which involves considerable interaction with customers, both directly and over the phone. Therefore, they are required to be patient and courteous with an excellent command over the language. Becoming a medical receptionist doesn't require a degree as such, but effective communication skills, a pleasant personality and a previous experience as a receptionist can give a boost to the career prospects. The average salary of a medical receptionist is in the range of $25,000 to $30,000.

Medical Transcriptionists
Medical transcriptionists or MTs listen to audio recordings made by physicians and doctors and translate them into grammatically correct correspondences and medical reports. They listen to these recording via a headset and then type the text in a standard form, so that it can be added to a patient's file. Medical transcriptionists play an important role in preparing documents related to physical examination, prescriptions, autopsies and these documents become a part of the patient's medical history. Most MTs employed with hospitals have completed a one-year medical transcriptionist programs. The average salary of MTs is in the range of $30,000 to $35,000 per year.

Medical Assistants
Medical assistants are individuals who help doctors and physicians in carrying out the daily tasks in a hospital. Some of the duties and responsibilities of a medical assistant are scheduling appointments, helping patients with their queries, helping in maintaining records, writing down patient's medical history, looking after the tax and insurance claims etc. The job description of medical assistants is generic and their duties depend on the hospital that they are working with. The average salary of medical assistants is in the range of $30,000 to $35,000.

Vocational Nurses
If you are an aspiring nurse and want to get a first-hand account of a nursing job, then you can try working as a vocational nurse. You need to complete a one-year training program after the completion of which you would become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The job role of a LVN is similar to that of a registered nurse and involves activities such as monitoring the progress of patients, ensuring that they take medications on time, collecting lab samples etc. The average salary of vocational nurses is in the range of $35,000 to $45,000.

These were some of the jobs in hospitals without a degree. As mentioned earlier, healthcare industry is all set to boom in the coming years and will provide numerous growth opportunities to people employed in this sector. If you are looking at a career in this industry and don't have a college degree, now is the best time to join as with a few years of experience, you will be eligible for numerous career advancement opportunities.