Hot Careers Requiring a 2-year Degree or Less

While most states still don’t have formal requirements for education, employers are increasingly hiring those with a certificate, diploma or associate degree.

The opportunities for medical assistants typically fall into three categories: clinical, administrative, and specialized. Clinical MAs are focused on primary care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or group homes. Those in administrative positions are tasked with responsibilities such as maintaining records, setting appointments, handling the front office area and billing or record keeping. Specialized MAs who complete additional certifications can be found supporting doctors in areas of optometry, podiatry, geriatrics, pediatrics, oncology and OB/GYN.

Students who select the diploma or certificate route typically complete their studies in one year, while those on the associate degree path spend about two years in school. Throughout their educations, learners delve into topics such as medical terminology, pharmacology, diagnostics and testing, medical office procedures, and laboratory procedures. Students also undertake an on-site clinical experience at a hospital or care agency to gain further skills.

• Positions for medical assistants are set to rise by 23 percent – or the equivalent of nearly 140,000 roles in the coming years (BLS).

• MAs can also expect to make decent living wages, which currently sit between $27,000 for recent graduates and $44,000 for seasoned professionals (BLS).

Associate degrees gained from community colleges are the most common path to this career.

Though most people outside the field may think of paralegals solely working in law offices, there are lots of other specialized areas they may pursue. Thousands of corporate paralegals can be found reviewing contracts and researching regulations at large companies, while real estate paralegals work with individuals or companies on the legal side of buying property. Other common areas include family law, immigration, intellectual property, litigation, and estate planning.

Throughout their two years of full-time study, learners cover topics ranging from legal research and writing to corporate and international law. While certificates are also available, these are more commonly completed by individuals with bachelor’s degrees in an unrelated subject who want to enter the field.

In addition to being a broad ranging field where individuals with varied interests can find their niche, paralegals also enjoy substantial salaries and opportunities for growth.

• The median salary in 2015 was nearly $49,000, while those in the upper echelons took home nearly $80,000 (BLS).

• After being in the role a few years, some paralegals elect to take on managerial positions.

Although lots of registered nurses now hold a bachelor’s degree, plenty are still completing associate degrees in nursing (ADNs) or diplomas to enter the field.

The options for nurses with diplomas or associate degrees are truly staggering, with placements available in areas ranging from ambulatory care and midwifery to summer camps and the military. Whether a nurse wants to travel to faraway places providing much-needed care or work with new mothers struggling to lactate, these roles and many more are available.

Typically completed in two to three years of full-time learning, students in diploma and associate degree paths study foundational topics such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, patient care and nursing skills alongside general education topics. Programs require students to gain clinical experience to qualify for graduation.

The sheer number of opportunities make it appealing to many who may want the freedom to work in different settings throughout their career. Registered nurses interested in completing further education after a few years also have lots of opportunities for upward mobility via roles as nurse practitioners.

• According to Payscale, newly minted RNs can expect to make approximately $60,000 in their first year, while those who have been in their positions 20 years or more bring home $72,000.

Like most creative industries, degrees in interior design are by no means an absolute but they are becoming increasingly more common. Associate degrees are a standard path to gaining entry-level roles.

Because interior design is an intricate art requiring knowledge of different spaces and materials, there are lots of specializations available. While some designers elect to focus on bathrooms or kitchens, others work to incorporate green products or provide calming spaces for healthcare centers.

Most two-year curriculums require students to take a range of topics related to drawing, color theory, design concepts and computer aided design (CAD) software. While not always required, learners who complete an internship with a local interior designer will gain valuable hands-on experience.

A career for the creative eye, interior designers enjoy working with lots of different types of spaces and people, thus ensuring the work never gets old.

• The average salary in 2015 for interior designers was nearly $50,000, with those at the height of their careers making more than $91,000 annually (BLS).

The most common education held by web developers is an associate degree, though many individuals also enter the field with high school diplomas, certificates or bachelor’s degrees as well.

Web developers have lots of options when it comes to deciding how they want to spend their days. While front-end developers work on the parts of websites frequently seen by visitors, back-end developers oversee things like servers, security, and data management. Other common titles include full-stack developer and app developer.

Associate degrees in web design take approximately two years to complete and cover topics such as interface design, web user experiences, interaction, and web development.

Web developers often have lots of flexibility in their jobs, with options to work with lots of clients via a design firm, a single client as an in-house developer, or even start their own freelance development company.

• The median salary for this position is currently $65,000 annually (BLS).

Available at community colleges, career/technical schools, and even a few universities, associate degrees in dental hygiene are the most common educational path for this career.

Roles for associate degree-level dental hygienists are typically divided into three categories: clinical, corporate or public health. Clinicians typically work in dental practices, clinics or hospitals, while those in corporate roles are focused on things like sales and administration. Public health hygienists work with government or nonprofit agencies in a variety of positions.

Because associate degrees in dental hygiene include instruction via the classroom, clinic, and laboratory, most take three years to complete. Faculty are tasked with covering anatomy, pathology, periodontics, nutrition, radiography, and patient records. All states also require dental hygienists to be licensed.

• The current median pay is more than $72,000, while those established in their roles command salaries in excess of $98,000 (BLS).

• It’s also a growing field, with 37,400 new roles expected to be added in the coming years (BLS).

Most states require individuals to complete a non-degree program, such as a diploma or certificate, to enter this field.

In addition to supporting general dentists, dental assistants may also complete further certifications to work with specialized dentists, including orthodontists, endodontists, periodontists or oral maxillofacial surgeons.

Whether studying at a community college or vocational school, students complete one year programs that cover foundational studies of dental terminology, nutrition, cavity classification, infection control, radiology and dental materials.

• Dental assisting provides a stable income of between $36,000 to $51,000, depending on how long an individual has been in their career (BLS).

• With the role set to grow by 18 percent between 2014 and 2024, dental hygienists also have great job security (BLS).

Although these roles traditionally have not required education outside high school, increasingly professionals in this field are gaining certifications or associate degrees in areas of exercise science, kinesiology or physical education.

Whether a personal trainer wants to work for a gym, corporate fitness program, sports club or for themselves, the wealth of positions available mean personal trainers can choose from many paths. Aside from location, trainers can also elect to specialize their training in areas of corrective exercises, nutrition, group training, weight loss or senior fitness – to name a few.

These one-to-two-year programs cover topics including anatomy, physiology, nutrition, health and wellness, methods of teaching and fitness assessment.

• Personal trainers often enjoy great flexibility in their days, be they coaching an individual client or leading a group session.

• The median pay for personal trainers in 2015 was $36,000, with those at peak performance earning more than $70,000 each year (BLS).

Most professionals in this field complete an associate degree program that’s accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

X-ray technicians and radiologic technologists can select from lots of different advanced certifications after gaining their initial licensure, including options in bone densitometry, mammography, sonography or even quality management for individuals who want an administrative role.

Radiologic technology associate degrees cover topics ranging from radiographic procedures and imaging techniques to anatomy and pathology. In addition to classroom learning, students also spend time in laboratories and in clinical rotations.

• Aside from providing lots of different career options, x-ray technicians are in high demand. Nearly 21,000 new roles will be added in the coming years and offer a median salary of more than $58,000 annually (BLS).