Working in healthcare may be your dream, but if you don’t have the money or time to commit to nearly a decade of expensive schooling, you can pursue many other career options. While nursing and radiology are two traditional paths into the healthcare arena, a few emerging healthcare careers desperately need dedicated individuals. While all require some kind of advanced education, it may be simply a college degree or even the completion of a certificate program. If you love the idea of working with medical professionals, check out these emerging healthcare jobs that won’t cost you a fortune to get started.

Medical Scribe
Hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices increasingly rely on scribe or dictation services. A scribe is a professional writer/note-taker who accompanies a doctor on his rounds, takes notes, and enters everything into the patient or hospital database. You work alongside a doctor, interact with patients, and support individualized patient care. An associate or college degree and some training in medical terminology are needed. Still, you can be qualified in under a year if you take the suitable classes. Companies like Provider’s Choice scribe services now offer medical scribe services nationwide.

Home Health Care
Elderly individuals, those with physical or mental impairments, and those recovering from major physical trauma, surgery, or illness need compassionate in-home care. Most home health workers have at least a practical nursing degree. A home health care position may be the answer for anyone who prefers working one-on-one with others. You`ll get to know the people you care for personally and can work specific hours. Many home health care workers will tell you they grow quite close to the people they care for, establishing lasting friendships.

Medical Writer
If you understand medical terminology and love to write, consider working as a medical writer. It takes skill to take complex, often confusing, information and transform it into a clear and easy-to-understand article. For those who want to start a medically-affiliated job while using their background in the liberal arts, medical writing is an excellent option.

Doula or Midwife
Doulas have been around in some capacity for centuries but had fallen out of favor in modern times. A doula offers physical and emotional support to expectant mothers leading up to and during childbirth. A midwife provides the same support and has the additional medical training needed to increase the chances of a medically safe delivery. A midwife has to have a certificate demonstrating she`s completed training in handling obstetric emergencies. With renewed interest in natural childbirth and childbirth at home, doulas and midwives are in high demand.

Exploring any of these increasingly popular healthcare professions can lead you to a rewarding medical career without committing to a decade of learning and years of debt.