14 Healthcare Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree

Want a career in healthcare? Here are 14 healthcare jobs at Intermountain that offer career potential and don’t require four-year degrees.

As college costs rise and the COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to rethink their jobs and careers throughout the nation, many people are seeking jobs with on-the-job training and career potential that don’t require graduating from a four-year college or university. 

Many job seekers might assume all hospital and healthcare jobs require a college degree and that health facilities only hire doctors and nurses. That’s not true.

Intermountain Healthcare has openings for many types of jobs that don’t require a college degree in clinical and non-clinical areas. Some jobs offer help with training prior to getting hired. 

“In the new job economy, Intermountain is thinking creatively and working with education partners to offer job training and education assistance for job applicants and current employees,” said Heather Brace, senior vice president and chief people officer at Intermountain Healthcare. 

“There are some jobs available that don’t require previous experience. Intermountain also increased its minimum wage to $16 an hour. This helps us continue to attract and retain talent for jobs in that pay range.”

“There are also many Intermountain job opportunities that require specific certifications or training that can be completed in short periods, such as within four weeks, 10 months, 16 months or two years. Some of these jobs have sign-on bonuses,” she added.

A few examples of these jobs include: 

• phlebotomists, who collect blood from patients for laboratory tests.
• surgical technologists, who are responsible for instruments during surgery and hand them to surgeons.
• central processing technicians, who sterilize, assemble, and distribute medical and surgical equipment for hospitals.
• orderlies, who transport patients to operating rooms.
• medical assistants, who prepare patients for visits with providers, take vital signs, measure height and weight, administer immunizations and perform basic clinical and clerical duties.
• patient care technicians (certified nursing assistants), who assist nurses with patient care, change bed linens, bathe patients, monitor vital signs, transport patients, document care, and assist with record-keeping.
• registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, who provide care for patients in hospitals and clinics.
• imaging technologists, who perform diagnostic imaging for patients, to create images for things like x-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scans and also help maintain imaging equipment.
• information and digital technology specialists, who provide computer-related support for clinical and non-clinical areas. 
• patient service representatives, who assist with patient registration and coordination, schedule appointments, work as cashiers and answer phones.
• workers in nutrition services, environmental services (housekeeping) and central laundry.

“Employees who work in these types of jobs have opportunity for career advancement whether it be in management within their job scope—or as they see people working in other departments—they may want to further their education and train in a different healthcare career area,” added Brace.

For current Intermountain caregivers who are benefits eligible and work at least 20 hours per week, education assistance is available upfront for numerous online programs at colleges and universities through traditional tuition reimbursement or Intermountain’s Pathway to Education, Advancement and Knowledge (PEAK) program. Through the PEAK program, employees can also gift their education benefit to one of their eligible dependents.

A list of the types of jobs available with brief job descriptions, responsibilities, minimum requirements and training information specific to the Utah market can be found here. Separate videos of what it’s like to work in many of these areas can be found here.

– Intermountain Healthcare