There are plenty of ways to start training for a new career that works for you, even if you don’t think you have much time for it. These are some of our favorite fast career training programs that will allow you to study up and explore a new career path—often in less than one year.
Fast Career Training by Timeline
Training in One Month or Less
The short-term career training programs online don’t get much shorter than this! Here are some of the opportunities we can connect you with that take less than one month to complete:
- QuickBooks Certification: This short-term training program takes just one month and will help you learn the ins and outs of the most trusted accounting software on the market.
- ISTQB Software Testing Certification: This introduction to software testing takes three days to complete and will set you up with a certification that pays well in software development.
- Fundamentals of Graphic Design: This design-oriented course helps you learn about the principles of what makes graphic design effective—including image-making, typography, composition, and more—to become a great graphic designer.
- NMLS-Approved Licensing: This 10-day course allows you to learn about the essentials of mortgages and lending so you can learn to become a mortgage loan officer and take your NMLS exam.
- CompTIA A+: Eager to start a career in tech support? This four-week course helps you prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exam and gain new skills for technical support.
3-Month Career Training Programs
Willing to take a bit more time to learn a new skill and enter a new career path? Here are some of the opportunities ahead of you in technology, skilled trades, healthcare, and more that take up to three months to complete:
- Software QA Course: QA experts help make apps easier to use. This six-week course is designed for people who love getting under the hood of applications to see exactly how they work.
- Solar NABCEP Associate Exam Prep: Looking to learn a new skill that keeps the world lit up for tomorrow? This six-week course teaches you everything you need to know about solar power, including how to mount and wire the systems to connect them to the electrical grid.
- Electronic Medical Records: In as little as three months, you can prepare for the National Healthcareer Association CEHRS exam to become an electronic medical records technician with this online course.
- Human Resources Essentials: Human resources specialists keep companies running. This three-month intensive course will help you learn everything you need to get started with a stable career in HR.
- Distribution and Logistics Management: Logistics management is essential for keeping products in stores that help people live their lives. In this 12-week course, you’ll learn all about how to develop schedules, order and manage inventory, and more.
- Certified Supply Chain Certification: Supply chain management is more essential than ever! This two-month course helps you learn about demand forecasting, capacity planning, and other essential information.
6-Month Career Training Programs
These six-month career training programs dive into everything you need to get started in a new career, with a more immersive course that allows you to learn all the fundamentals of your new career. Some of the options available include:
- Medical Billing Specialist: Medical billing specialists help keep the back offices running at clinics and hospitals. By learning the finer points of medical coding with a 14-week course, you’ll be able to start your career in healthcare in the blink of an eye.
- IT Support: Our friends at Merit America help make this 14-week course happen, allowing you to learn how to resolve technical issues for users and explore solutions to complex problems.
- Back End, SQL, and DevOps Developer with Python: In 16 weeks, you can learn how to use some of the most essential programming languages to develop the back end of software systems, protect systems from hacking attempts, and more.
- Certified Medical Assistant: Clinics can’t run without these heroes of the healthcare space! This four-month online program prepares you for your medical assistant exam and guarantees clinical hours and career coaching.
- Insurance Pre-Licensing: This six-month course helps you achieve the baseline for starting your career in insurance. While every state has different requirements for becoming a licensed insurance agent, this will get you started on the path to an informed career.
1-Year Career Training Programs
These short-term courses to get a job in a variety of industries can help you get an immersive understanding of your career path in one year or less, often on your own schedule with their online flexibility.
- Full-Stack Engineering: This immersive 20-week program helps you achieve certifications you need to start as an entry-level software engineer. You’ll learn about programming languages like HTML 5, JavaScript, jQuery, and more to build software from start to finish.
- Medical Assistant: This online medical assistant program from Futuro Health is ideal for anyone wanting to jumpstart their career in medicine. Over the course of 8–12 months, you’ll learn how to handle administrative and clinical duties for physicians, getting an introduction on how to help people live happier lives.
- Software Engineering Bootcamp: Everything you need to know about software engineering will be encompassed in this nine-month training program, including how to analyze user needs and develop software.
- DevOps Engineer: DevOps engineers are essential for building and maintaining the code for the software that helps the world run. One $400 one-year course can help you start a lucrative career in testing and monitoring software.
5 Short Certificate Programs That Pay Well
1. Software Engineering
So much of our world operates on technology and software today. That’s why full-stack software engineers tend to make over $120,000 per year as a median salary. For a relatively short amount of time and a little investment in a software engineering bootcamp course, you could soon be on the way to earning a six-figure salary every year.
2. Mortgage Pre-Licensing
As more people buy homes or properties, mortgage loan officers are becoming more important. With a median income of over $65,000, you can start to learn about the principles and practices of mortgage lending. These courses work with general knowledge of uniform state content, meaning you can use these skills virtually anywhere after receiving your certification.
3. Human Resources
HR specialists can earn $64,000 as a median salary, making the two-month course to get your certification well worth the investment. These courses are designed to help those who are new to the HR profession, so practically anyone can benefit from these courses to jumpstart their career in human resources.
4. IT Support
IT support is ideal for the problem-solvers of the world who want to help others become more familiar with the technology they use. With a median salary of almost $58,000 per year, it’s a great way to use your investigative skills and get your CompTIA A+ certification. Even more, it’s free—and that’s a great price.
5. Graphic Design
Art is everywhere, and graphic design is the backbone to everything from the logos on your favorite clothing brands to the layout of websites and applications. Graphic designers can earn roughly $58,000 as a median salary and use software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to create each piece in their portfolio.
How to Find Short-Term Career Training Programs Near You
Many local colleges, training centers, and trade schools offer short-term career training programs locally. But, how do you know if a program is right for your—or that it’s legitimate?
Most reputable short-term training programs have credentials from larger governing bodies and associations for their industry. For example, mortgage loan certification courses will typically have accreditation from state mortgage associations, while CMA and medical coding courses have state- and national-level bodies they must be in good standing with to provide certification.
Online Career Training
With online courses, it’s easier than ever to change your career. While not every career is suited to online training, the majority of classroom work can be done online, allowing you to fit your coursework into your schedule. Every single course we’ve listed is available online and to learners in most states, but we always recommend checking to see if the course fits your local and personal requirements before getting started.
