Training for a New Career
Last updated: November 15, 2026
Most careers start with one of three routes. Which one fits depends on the job, your budget and how soon you need to earn.
Three ways in
- Certificate programs (BLS calls them "postsecondary nondegree awards") at community colleges and technical schools. Many take a year or less: medical assistant, phlebotomy, EMT and commercial driving are common examples.
- Apprenticeships, where you are paid while you learn on the job with classroom training on the side. Electricians, plumbers and other building trades often start this way, usually over several years.
- Degrees (associate, bachelor's or higher) for careers such as registered nursing, dental hygiene, teaching and physical therapy, which also require a state license.
Careers you can usually start in under a year
- Construction Laborer: No single education requirement (BLS: see How to Become One); short-term on-the-job training (a month or less) · median $47,120
- EMT: Postsecondary certificate (BLS: postsecondary nondegree award); no on-the-job training period listed · median $44,470
- Medical Assistant: Postsecondary certificate (BLS: postsecondary nondegree award); no on-the-job training period listed · median $45,690
- Pharmacy Technician: High school diploma or equivalent, then moderate-term on-the-job training (1 to 12 months)
- Phlebotomist: Postsecondary certificate (BLS: postsecondary nondegree award); no on-the-job training period listed · median $45,230
- Truck Driver: Postsecondary certificate (BLS: postsecondary nondegree award), then short-term on-the-job training (a month or less) · median $58,640
Entry education from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; median pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Find a program near you
- CareerOneStop Training Finder (U.S. Department of Labor): certificate and degree programs by location.
- Apprenticeship.gov: registered apprenticeship openings.
- American Job Centers: free local help, sometimes including training funds.
Before you enroll
- If the career needs a license, check the state board's rules first (our license lookup table links to each board). Some boards accept only approved or accredited programs.
- Ask the school for its completion and exam pass rates, and the total cost including exam and license fees.
- No program can guarantee a job or a license.