How to Start a Healthcare Career While Working Full-Time
Starting a healthcare career while working full-time doesn’t necessarily mean quitting your current job. Some healthcare training programs let you complete coursework around your work schedule and other responsibilities.
But how do you balance a full-time job with healthcare training? This guide covers which careers you can train for while working, how long training can take, and ways to make both fit into your schedule.
Can You Train for a Healthcare Career While Working Full-Time?
Yes. You can train for some healthcare careers without leaving your full-time job. Online coursework can be completed outside of work, and self-paced programs give you more control over when you study.
That doesn’t mean every part of training will be flexible. Some programs include an externship, hands-on training, certification exams, or other requirements that may need to happen at specific times.
Before you enroll, look at the entire program schedule. Make sure you have enough time for the coursework as well as any in-person, clinical, or certification requirements.
How Online Training Can Make It Easier
What Should You Check Before Enrolling?
- How many hours you can realistically study each week
- Whether there are fixed deadlines or live sessions
- Whether you’ll need to complete an externship or hands-on training
- What certification or state requirements apply to the job
Which Healthcare Careers Can You Train for While Working?
If you want to start a healthcare career while working full-time, some training options are easier to fit around a job than others. Online, self-paced coursework can give you more control over when you study, but you’ll also want to check whether hands-on training or an externship needs to be scheduled separately.
ACT offers several programs that can be completed online and on your own schedule. Here’s how the options compare.
| Training Path | ACT Training Time | Main Focus | Hands-On Planning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | As little as 8 weeks | Clinical and administrative skills | Externship opportunities may require separate scheduling |
| Patient Care Technician | As little as 8 weeks | Direct patient care and clinical support | Optional externship may require separate scheduling |
| Pharmacy Technician | As little as 12 weeks | Medications, calculations, and pharmacy operations | Optional externship may require separate scheduling |
| Phlebotomy Technician | As little as 8 weeks | Blood collection, specimens, and patient safety | Hands-on experience may need to be planned separately |
| Physical Therapy Technician | As little as 8 weeks | Rehabilitation and patient support | Optional externship may require separate scheduling |
| Medical Terminology | As little as 4 weeks | Medical language and healthcare terminology | No clinical role qualification on its own |
Medical Assistant
As little as 8 weeksMedical assistant training covers both patient care and administrative work. You’ll learn skills used for tasks such as taking vital signs, preparing patients, working with medical records, and supporting the day-to-day work of a medical office.
Patient Care Technician
As little as 8 weeksPatient care technician training focuses more heavily on direct patient care. Coursework covers patient care fundamentals, safety, communication, and skills used when supporting patients and clinical teams.
Pharmacy Technician
As little as 12 weeksPharmacy technician training covers medication safety, pharmacy calculations, prescription processing, and pharmacy operations. This path is different from roles centered on direct bedside patient care.
Phlebotomy Technician
As little as 8 weeksPhlebotomy training is more focused. You’ll study blood collection, specimen handling, safety procedures, and how to work with patients during the collection process.
Physical Therapy Technician
As little as 8 weeksPhysical therapy technician training covers rehabilitation support, patient assistance, safety, and working with a physical therapy team. It does not qualify you to become a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
Medical Terminology
As little as 4 weeksMedical terminology can help you learn the language used in healthcare, including terms related to anatomy, diagnoses, procedures, and medical documentation. It can be useful if you’re completely new to the field and want to build a foundation before taking your next step.
Before choosing a program: Check the full training requirements, not just the online coursework. An externship, hands-on experience, certification exam, or state requirement may take additional time and may need to be planned around your current job.
How Much Time Should You Expect to Spend on Healthcare Training?
If you’re planning a healthcare career while working full-time, the number of weeks listed for a program is only part of the picture. You’ll also need to think about how much time you can study each week, exam preparation, and any hands-on requirements.
Your timeline can look different from someone else’s, especially if you’re fitting training around a full-time job.
Think about how many hours you can realistically set aside each week. Someone who can study most evenings may move through coursework differently than someone who only has a few hours available on the weekend.
Program length gives you a useful starting point, but a minimum completion time isn’t a deadline you have to meet. Your actual timeline will depend on the program and how quickly you work through the material.
If your career path includes a certification exam, leave time to review after completing the coursework. You may want extra study time before scheduling the exam rather than trying to take it immediately.
An externship or other hands-on experience can add another scheduling step. Those hours may take place during normal business or clinical hours, so check the requirements early if you plan to keep working full-time.
Self-Paced vs. Scheduled Classes
How a program is structured can make a big difference when you’re balancing training with a job.
Self-Paced Coursework
You have more control over when you study and how quickly you move through the material. That can be useful when your work schedule changes from week to week.
Scheduled Classes
Classes may meet at set times and have fixed deadlines. Before enrolling, check whether those times work with your job and other responsibilities.
Give yourself a realistic timeline. A program advertised as taking as little as eight or twelve weeks does not mean every student will finish in that amount of time. Your study schedule, exam preparation, externship plans, and other responsibilities can all affect how long training takes.
How Can You Fit Healthcare Training Around a Full-Time Job?
If you’re planning a healthcare career while working full-time, start with the time you actually have available each week. A study schedule that’s realistic for your work and personal life is more useful than trying to finish as quickly as possible.
Evenings and weekends can work well for online coursework. Instead of studying whenever you happen to have time, choose a few regular study blocks that you know you can usually keep.
Build Your Weekly Training Schedule
Select the days you could realistically study, then choose how much time you could spend on training each day.
Choose the days you could regularly set aside for training to see your planned weekly study time.
Make Your Schedule Easier to Stick With
Choose Study Times You Can Actually Keep
If you know you’re exhausted after a late shift, don’t build your plan around studying that night. Pick times that are more likely to work week after week.
Don’t Fill Every Free Hour
Leave some room for busy workweeks, family responsibilities, and unexpected changes. An aggressive schedule may look good on paper but can be difficult to maintain.
Use a Target Date, Not a Deadline
Pick a date you’d like to finish your coursework, but give yourself room to adjust it. Your actual completion time will depend on your program, study pace, and other requirements.
Plan for Hands-On Requirements Early
If your program includes an externship or other hands-on experience, find out when those hours can be completed. They may require more planning than online coursework, especially if you’re working during normal clinical hours.
Your weekly study plan is only a starting point. Certification exam preparation, externships, and other program requirements may require additional time outside the hours you set aside for coursework.
What Should You Look for in a Healthcare Training Program?
If you’re preparing for a healthcare career while working full-time, don’t compare programs based on length alone. Look at how the training will actually fit into your week and what you’ll need to complete before you’re ready to pursue certification or start applying for jobs.
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Flexible Scheduling
Check whether you’re expected to attend class at certain times or whether you can complete coursework around your work schedule.
Ask: Are there required class times or live sessions? -
Online Coursework
Online coursework can make training easier to manage when you’re already commuting to work. Find out which parts of the program can be completed online and which, if any, require you to be there in person.
Ask: Is the entire program online, or are some parts in person? -
Self-Paced Learning
Self-paced doesn’t always mean there are no deadlines. Check how much control you’ll have over your pace and how long you’ll have access to the coursework.
Ask: Can I move through the coursework on my own schedule? -
Student Support
Find out who you can contact when you have a question about the material, certification process, or next steps. This can matter even more when most of your studying happens outside normal class hours.
Ask: What kind of academic or instructor support is available? -
Certification Exam Preparation
If the job you’re preparing for uses a certification exam, check whether exam preparation is built into the program. Practice tests, review materials, and clear exam guidance can help you plan what comes after the coursework.
Ask: Which certification exam does the program prepare me for? -
Clear Program Requirements
You should know what you’re signing up for before you enroll. Look for clear information about program length, coursework, costs, exams, prerequisites, and any additional requirements.
Ask: What will I need to complete from enrollment through certification? -
Externship and Hands-On Training Details
Don’t assume that online coursework means every part of the program happens online. If an externship or hands-on experience is available or required, find out how placement works and when those hours typically take place.
Ask: Will I need to complete hands-on hours, and how are they scheduled?
Before You Enroll
Think about the whole program, not just how quickly the coursework can be completed. A program that fits your actual work schedule may be more manageable than one with a shorter advertised completion time but less flexibility.
When Should You Start Applying for Healthcare Jobs?
You don’t have to wait until the end of your training to start thinking about your job search. Looking at healthcare jobs early can help you see what employers are asking for and give you time to prepare before you’re ready to apply.
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1Early in Training
Check Job Requirements
Look at job postings for the role you want in your area. Pay attention to the certifications, skills, experience, and other qualifications employers commonly list. You don’t need to apply yet—the goal is to understand what you’ll need.
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2During Training
Start Updating Your Résumé
Build a healthcare-focused résumé before you finish training. Include relevant coursework and skills you’re learning, along with useful experience from your current or previous jobs.
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3Closer to Completion
Identify Employers and Potential Roles
As you get closer to finishing, start making a list of employers and positions that match your training. Read each posting carefully to see whether certification is required when you apply or before you begin working.
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4When You Meet the Requirements
Start Applying
There’s no single point in training when everyone should begin applying. Follow the requirements in each job posting and apply when your education, certification status, and other qualifications match what the employer is looking for.
Don’t Leave Your Current Experience Off Your Résumé
Changing careers doesn’t mean your previous experience is irrelevant. Depending on your background, you may already have skills that are useful in a healthcare workplace.
- Customer Service
- Communication
- Organization
- Scheduling
- Teamwork
- Attention to Detail
Start looking before you start applying. Reviewing job postings early can help you understand what employers want, while the right time to submit applications will depend on the requirements of each position.
Should You Quit Your Current Job Before Starting a Healthcare Career?
You don’t necessarily have to leave your current job before you begin healthcare training. Whether working during the transition makes sense depends on your finances, your schedule, and the requirements of the program you’re considering.
Before making a change, look at what the entire transition could involve, from starting training to eventually accepting a healthcare position.
What Would Leaving Your Job Mean Financially?
Consider your regular expenses and how you would cover them while training and searching for a healthcare job. Staying employed may provide income while you complete the transition.
Can Training Fit Around Your Current Schedule?
Look at when coursework needs to be completed and whether there are fixed class times. Online or self-paced coursework may be easier to fit around a job than training with a set class schedule.
Will You Need Time Away for Hands-On Training?
An externship or other hands-on requirement may take place during normal working hours. Find out how those hours are scheduled before deciding whether your current work schedule can accommodate them.
When Will You Be Ready to Apply?
Completing coursework doesn’t always mean you’ll be ready to start a new job immediately. You may still need to prepare for a certification exam, complete other requirements, and go through the hiring process.
Could You Transition After Receiving a Job Offer?
Another option is to remain in your current position while you train and begin your job search, then make the transition after you’ve secured a healthcare position. Whether that’s possible will depend on your situation and the requirements of the new role.
Think about the full transition, not just the training. Your current income, available study time, hands-on requirements, certification timeline, and job search can all affect when it makes sense to move from your current job into healthcare.
Train for a Healthcare Career With Advanced eClinical Training
If you’re balancing healthcare training with a full-time job, Advanced eClinical Training offers online, self-paced programs that let you complete coursework around your schedule. Programs include certification exam preparation, and several offer externship opportunities for hands-on experience.
Minimum completion times vary by program and do not mean every student will finish within that timeframe. Your pace, certification preparation, externship plans, and other program requirements can affect how long training takes.
Find a Program That Fits Your Schedule
Compare ACT’s online healthcare training programs, program requirements, and career paths to see which option fits your goals.
Explore Online Healthcare Training Programs →FAQs About Starting a Healthcare Career While Working Full-Time
Yes. Some healthcare certification programs offer online and self-paced coursework that can be completed around a full-time work schedule. Keep in mind that externships, hands-on training, or certification exams may need to be scheduled separately.
Yes. Many healthcare certification programs offer online coursework. Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) offers 100% online, self-paced healthcare certification programs that can be completed around your schedule. Some programs also offer externship opportunities, so be sure to review the hands-on requirements for the program you choose.
It depends on the career and program. At Advanced eClinical Training (ACT), some healthcare certification programs can be completed in as little as 4 to 12 weeks. Your actual timeline will depend on your study pace, exam preparation, and any externship or hands-on requirements.
Possibly. It depends on your work schedule and when the externship site offers clinical hours. ACT offers externship opportunities with several of its certification programs, but these hours may need to be scheduled separately from your online coursework. If you work full-time, plan for this part of your training early.
Medical assisting, patient care technician, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, and physical therapy technician are examples of healthcare paths with shorter training options than many degree-based careers. ACT offers programs in these areas that can be completed in as little as 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the program and your pace.
Not necessarily. Some people continue working while completing healthcare training and begin their job search as they get closer to finishing. ACT’s online, self-paced coursework can make it easier to fit training around a job, although externships and other hands-on requirements may require additional scheduling.
Yes. Many entry-level healthcare training programs are designed for people who are new to the field. ACT’s certification programs can help students build the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for entry-level healthcare roles and applicable certification exams.
Learn From Experienced Healthcare Instructors
ACT students are supported by experienced healthcare practitioners who bring clinical knowledge and real-world perspective into the learning experience.
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- One-on-one instructor support
- Virtual office hours
- Interactive case discussions
- Certification-exam preparation sessions
- Personalized feedback
- Guidance as students prepare for certification and clinical experience
- Pre-health mentorship with MD/PA advisors
