A friend of mine working in the taxi industry recently approached me and shared his concerns. He had worked in the industry for over eight years before the advent of disruptive technologies like Uber and Lyft joined the cab business. As it turns out, those who were in the business before these revolutionary technologies have seen the industry become less profitable. The future seems even bleaker for the human driver who, in a few years, will be replaced by some algorithms driving the autonomous cars.
This friend of mine shared with me his desire to switch industry. The biggest problem is, he is a family man with a lot of financial obligations. He can’t afford the time and cost of getting a new college degree, which would enable him to switch to a new industry
That got me thinking, aren’t there industries that you can get quick certification and start earning decent pay? Well, it turns out, there are quite a handful of industries that pay well, and one can get certification in a matter of months if not weeks. The following is a list of quick certifications to jobs that pay well:
- 1. Web Developer
These days, ICT is all the rage. Businesses, government institutions, and individuals who want to reach out to the masses must have an online presence. While in the past one needed to go for a technical degree in say, computer science, for several years. Today, you can get certified and accredited from multiple online education platforms. You can also attend reputable web dev boot camps by tech companies like Google, Facebook, Oracle, and Microsoft among others. While there are many opportunities for web developers, such boot camps expose you to the cutting edge web development standards. According to Glassdoor, web developer experts make between $50,000 to $117,000 annually. Interestingly attending a coding school is much cheaper and takes less time than the 4-years or more you would spend in college.
- 2. Automotive Technology
Sure, at some point, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics will replace human drivers behind the wheel, but replacing the mechanic will take a bit longer, if at all. Armed with automotive technology certificate, you qualify to work on car engines, run drivability diagnostics, check on the drive train and chassis systems of vehicles. Automotive technicians have a lot of demand in the market and need about six months of training to get the certification.
- 3. Flight Attendant
This career path comes with a lot of traveling benefits and in 2016, had a median salary of $48,500. The job tasks include serving foods and drinks to aircraft passengers. As well as other further assistance the passengers may need. If the idea of traveling to different parts of the world and being away from home during the nights, weekends, and even on holidays is okay with you, then getting flight attendant certification – a course that runs for about three weeks – is the job for you. Some notable institution for this type of certification includes Inflight Institute and The Travel Academy. The career growth outlook for flight attendants stands at 10%, meaning there is some good demand in this industry.
- 4. Physical Therapy Assistant and Aide
A physical therapy assistant or aide works under the directives of a physical therapist to help patients recover from various ailments and injuries. The job entails setting up equipment and helping patients move around, among other administrative tasks. The median salary for physical therapy aide in 2016 stood at $45,290. You need certification and in some states licensing to begin working as a physical therapy aide. One reputable institution for this certification is the U.S. Career Institute. However, you need to be a people’s person; have the ability to create friendship and getting along well with other people.
- 5. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
There is a lot of demand for HVAC technicians in the market. These are professionals who install and fix major heating and air condition systems in homes, hospitals, and office buildings. They also work on refrigeration and ventilation systems. The ideal work time is when there are fewer people on the premises. Thus you will find yourself working at odd hours and days like nighttime, weekends, and public holidays. When the premises are less busy. The median salary for HVAC technicians is $45,910, and a certification course takes less than six months. Some noteworthy institutions providing this training in America include Ashworth College and The Refrigeration School.
- 6. Personal Trainer
A personal trainer is a professional who provides physical fitness techniques to your clients. It requires a background in nutrition and exercise science, among other related fields. Though the national average salary for personal trainers is $21 per hour, you have the potential of making higher depending on the type of clients (or organizations) you server and how much you grow your client base — the certification for personal trainer range from 3-month certificate programs, 6-month certificate, or even shorter. You will be required to be fit yourself and stay up-to-date with the latest development in the fitness and nutrition world. Your workspace may include public gyms, private fitness centers, or clients’ private premises.
- 7. Medical Coder
With an average national salary of $21.64 per hour, Medical Coders make a decent amount per month compared to the duration it takes to get certified. Their demand is on the rise, given the number of healthcare organizations looking for professional coders to translate and communicate medical content. To qualify as a medical coder, you first need a high school diploma or (its equivalent) and pass through a medical coding certification course provided by the AAPC. The job task includes typing detailed reports on medical procedures and billing insurance companies for the amount owed to the hospitals. You will also be required to have a good grasp of medical jargon, health records, and database management.
- 8. Air Traffic Controller
This job does not require any formal education or certification, but it is quite sensitive. Thus the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires you take health and wellness (including mental stability) tests. Since you will be exposed to high-stress working conditions. The job description includes monitoring and directing air traffic, checking on the arrivals and departures of aircraft. You will also be tasked with guiding pilots in the event of emergencies. To make it in this industry, one must have strong organizational and critical-thinking skills. Communication skills are also critical. You also need to remain calm, collected, and sharp in situations where most people would be panicking and acting frantically. An air traffic controller, on average, makes $47,202 yearly, but those working in high traffic airports can make as much as $100,000 annually.
- 9. Real Estate Broker
With the right experience and skills, a real estate broker can make a six-figure salary, but the nationwide average stands at $71,287 annually. To qualify as a real estate broker, you only need a high school diploma (or its equivalent); a college degree might be an added advantage. However, you must get your real estate certification, which will require you to attend a few classes. Though the certification requirements vary across the states. Also, you can get some of the certifications, both online and in-class. A real estate broker job includes selling houses and filing the paperwork for transactions. You will also have to guide clients looking to invest in real estate through a list of available properties. The key to making it in this industry is strong interpersonal skills, being organized, and aggressive.
- 10. Paralegal
If you are the kind of person who is keen-on-details, then paralegal clerical work would be a perfect match for you. There are multiple courses available exclusively online and in-class courses which could see you become certified to take up paralegal works. On average, paralegals can earn $40,000 annually. Senior and experienced paralegals can earn as much as $60,000 to $70,000 annually. To get paralegal certification, you could spend anywhere between $1,300 to $2,000 and takes as little time as a month.
The above are some of the well-paying jobs that you can get certified for within a shorter time. Whatever your reasons for seeking a new career path, one thing is for sure. We all want proper remuneration for our efforts. Even in cases where you are driven by passion, it would be difficult to keep going if your efforts are not commensurately compensated.
Just as I believe the list above will prove beneficial to my friend looking to jump ship from a declining industry to hopefully one more promising career line. That transition needs to be as short as possible so you can keep meeting your financial obligations.