Careers In 6 Months Or Less

Training for a High Paying Career in 6 Months or Less

Training for a High Paying Career in 6 Months

Training for a great career doesn’t have to take years. Many careers only only require six months of local training and there are dozens of online training programs too.

Some of these courses even take just as few as 6 weeks, like certain medical career programs or long haul CDL driver! A few of these programs can set you on the road to some of the highest-paying trade school careers.

Find a trade school or college near you now.

Skilled Trades

HVAC Technician: There are a few different options for going into HVAC. The quickest training program for HVAC technicians is a certificate program. These are common at a trade school, where you can become career-ready in as few as 6 months. The average pay in 2023 was $59,620*. Find a local HVAC school now.
Truck Driver: Depending on the program you attend, you can get your CDL in as few as 160 training hours. In 2023, CDL-A drivers earned an average pay of $55,990*. Find a truck driving school near you.
Diesel Mechanic: Diesel mechanic maintenance training takes as few as 6 months to a year to complete. The median diesel mechanic pay in 2023 was $59,920 to work on trucks, buses or other diesel vehicles*. Find a diesel mechanic school near you.
Wind Turbine Technicians: This is one of the fastest growing careers (predicted 45% increase by 2032), and it doesn’t take too long to get your training. There are certificate programs lasting anywhere between three months to two years. The 2023 average annual wage was $65,380*.

Read about skilled trade, construction and manufacturing careers.

Skilled Trade Career Quiz

Medical Careers

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA): Train in as few as 2 months for this essential job and work in doctors' offices, hospitals, and more. CMAs take medical histories, record vital signs, prep patients for exams, provide treatment and procedure explanations, and assist the doctor during exams. CMA average pay in 2023 was $43,350*. Read about 6 week online CMA programs.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): With a high school diploma or GED, you are ready to start your 6-12 weeks of CNA training. In 2023, nursing assistants earned an average pay of $39,610*.

EMT: You can become an emergency medical technician in as few as 6 weeks of training. In 2023, the average annual pay for an EMT was $43,100*.

Home Health Aide: Train on the job to become a HHA. You can work at a home health or hospice agency. Your minimum requirement is a high school diploma or GED. Everyone has to pass a competency exam; further requirements differ by state. In 2023, HHAs earned an average annual pay of $33,380*.

Medical Transcriptionist: Some medical transcriptionist programs can be completed in as few as 6 months, while others could take up to a year. You will take voice recordings and turn them into written records. In 2023, medical transcriptionists earned an average annual pay of $53,690*.

Phlebotomist: Train in approximately 4-8 months. Some people use phlebotomy as a stepping stone toward other medical careers, while many others stay in this career forever. You’ll need to get certified and licensed in accordance with state mandates. In 2023, phlebotomists earned an average annual salary of $43,130*.

Certified Cardiographic Technician: Some certificate training programs allow you to join the workforce in as few as several weeks; alternately, some students may choose to get an associate degree, which takes two years. The average salary for CCTs in 2023 was $70,270*.

Read about medical and healthcare careers.

Medical Careers Quiz

Aviation

Flight Attendant: Training takes several weeks, and some preparation can even be done online, at schools like Inflight Institute. There is a minimum age requirement; depending on the airline, it could be 18 or 21. You’ll also need a high school diploma or GED. In 20223, the average annual pay for flight attendants was $70,980*, and you can't beat all the traveling you'll get to enjoy!

Criminal Justice

Court Clerk: Be trained on the job as an intern. Many courts require you to have only a high school diploma or GED. Be aware that this isn't the case for all court systems—some will require you to have an associate or bachelor's degree in some areas of criminal justice. In 2023, the average annual salary for court clerks was $48,760*.

Security Guard: Generally speaking, you’ll receive on-the-job training through the hiring company. You'll need to be interviewed, pass a background check, and once you are hired, you will receive training. Security guards in 2023 earned an average salary of $40,440*.

Criminal justice is a popular online program, though most take longer than 6 months to complete. Search for criminal justice schools.

Health and Fitness

Massage Therapist: The average amount of training involved is between 500-600 hours, which takes several months to finish if you attend classes full time. Once your training hours are complete and you receive your state license, you’re good to go! In 2023, massage therapists brought in an average annual pay of $62,560*.

Personal Trainer: If you love everything about working out, you can turn that into a career and share your love of fitness with paying clients. PT training programs last up to 6 months, and you’ll need to take a certification test after you complete your program. On average, personal trainers earned $51,270* in 2023. Very successful ones can earn much more.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Technician: Training should only last approximately 15 weeks if you choose to go to a vocational school. The average annual pharmacy technician pay was $43,330 per year in 2023*. Find a pharmacy technician school now.

Technology

Computer Technician: Computer techs work in a variety of industries, from small business to government. Certificate programs take less than a year to complete but you can study longer; it's up to you. A computer tech program is a great way to start off in the IT field.

Extra: Programs From Six Months to One Year

Certified Coding Specialist & Medical Billing: Medical billing and medical coding are two separate careers. You can become a medical biller in less than a year, and a coder in the same amount of time. Medical billers earned on average, $47,120 per year* as of 2023. Medical coders earned $53,690* on average in 2023. Find a medical billing or online medical coding course now.

Dental Assistant: Dental assistants work directly with dentists, as they help examine patients and perform procedures. Dental assistant training can last anywhere from 10 months to 2 years. In 2023, Dental assistants earned an average of $47,350*.

Aircraft Mechanic: Program lengths vary greatly for aircraft mechanics. Some programs are as short as seven months while others are as long as two years. The average yearly salary in 2023 was $76,260*, and the top ten percent earned $114,750 or more*.

Auto Mechanic: Go to trade or vocational school, and you can be career-ready in as few as nine months. The average pay for auto mechanics in 2023 was $51,940*. Find a local auto mechanic school.

Electrician: An electrical training program at a trade school can take as few as 10 months. The average electrician salary in 2023 was $67,810*. Many electricians can earn more. Find electrician training near you.

Plumbing: Some programs, such as the Porter and Chester plumbing course, are longer but can still have you career-ready in approximately 6-12 months. Plumbers earned an average of $67,840* in 2023, but your earning potential can be even greater.

Read about different computer and IT careers.