What is the quickest career to get? Top fast-track jobs you can start in under 6 months

Want to change careers but don’t have years to spend in school? You’re not alone. More people than ever are skipping traditional degrees and jumping straight into jobs that pay well and don’t require a four-year commitment. The truth? Some careers now take less than six months to break into - and you can do it entirely online.

Why speed matters in today’s job market

The old model of "get a degree, then get a job" is fading. Employers care more about what you can do than where you went to school. A 2025 LinkedIn report showed that 62% of hiring managers in tech and healthcare now prioritize skills over degrees. That means if you can prove you know how to do the job, you’re in.

Online courses have made this possible. You can learn real, in-demand skills from home, build a portfolio, and apply for jobs before your friends even finish their first semester.

Top 5 fastest careers you can start in under 6 months

• Medical Coding Specialist - Learn how to translate medical procedures into standardized codes. Most programs take 4-6 months. You’ll need to pass a certification exam (like the CCS or CPC), but prep courses are fully online. Starting salary: £28,000-£38,000 in the UK. Demand is rising as NHS digital records expand.
• IT Support Specialist - Fix computers, set up networks, help users troubleshoot. Google’s IT Certificate on Coursera takes about 6 months part-time. It’s accepted by over 150 US companies and growing in the UK. No degree needed. You’ll learn Windows, Linux, cloud basics, and helpdesk tools. Entry-level roles pay £25,000-£32,000.
• UX/UI Designer - Design websites and apps people love. FreeCodeCamp, Udemy, and Skillshare offer full pathways in 12-20 weeks. You don’t need to be an artist. Tools like Figma and Adobe XD are easy to learn. Build 3-5 projects, put them on a portfolio site, and start applying. Average starting pay: £30,000-£40,000.
• Digital Marketing Specialist - Run ads, manage social media, write email campaigns. Google’s Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate takes 6-10 weeks. HubSpot Academy offers free certifications in inbound marketing, SEO, and content strategy. Many employers hire based on campaign results, not resumes. Start at £22,000-£30,000.
• Bookkeeper - Manage finances for small businesses. QuickBooks and Xero certifications take 8-12 weeks. You’ll learn invoicing, payroll, bank reconciliation. No accounting degree required. The UK has over 5 million small businesses - most need help with books. Freelance or full-time, you can start earning £20,000-£35,000.

What makes these careers fast-track?

These jobs share three key traits:

1. Clear certification paths - You don’t need a degree, just a recognized credential. Employers know exactly what these certs mean.
2. Low barrier to entry - No lab equipment, no clinical hours, no licensing exams beyond one or two.
3. High demand - Businesses are short on people who can do these tasks. The UK government’s Skills for Life program lists all five as priority occupations.

Compare that to nursing (3-4 years), law (5+ years), or architecture (6+ years). There’s no contest.

How to pick the right one for you

Not all fast careers are right for everyone. Ask yourself:

• Do you prefer working with people or machines?
• Are you comfortable with numbers, or do you like design and creativity?
• Do you want to work remotely, or in an office?

If you like structure and details, go for medical coding or bookkeeping. If you’re creative and enjoy problem-solving, try UX/UI or digital marketing. If you like helping others fix tech problems, IT support is your sweet spot.

Try a free intro course first. Most platforms offer the first module for free. Spend a weekend on it. If you’re still excited after that, you’ve found your path.

What you’ll need to get started

You don’t need much:

• A laptop or tablet
• Stable internet
• 2-3 hours per week to study
• A willingness to build real work - not just take quizzes

Forget expensive software. Most training uses free tools: Figma, Canva, Google Sheets, Trello. Your portfolio is your resume. One client project, one ad campaign, one cleaned-up bookkeeping spreadsheet - that’s enough to land your first job.

Real stories from people who did it

Emma, 32, was a retail manager in Manchester. She spent £120 on a Google IT Certificate. Six months later, she got hired as a junior IT support tech at a local clinic. Her salary went from £18,000 to £29,000.

James, 28, quit his warehouse job after a 12-week UX course on Udemy. He built three mock apps, posted them on Behance, and landed a freelance gig. Within four months, he was working full-time for a SaaS startup.

These aren’t outliers. They’re becoming the norm.

Pitfalls to avoid

Not all "fast career" courses are worth it. Watch out for:

• Courses that promise "guaranteed job" - no one can guarantee that
• Programs that cost over £500 without a refund policy
• Training that doesn’t include portfolio building or real projects

Stick to platforms with proven reputations: Coursera, edX, FutureLearn, Google Career Certificates, HubSpot Academy. These are trusted by employers.

What’s next after you land the job?

Don’t stop learning. The fastest career is just the starting line. Once you’re in, aim for:

• Advanced certifications (like CompTIA A+ for IT, or Certified Medical Coder)
• Networking - join local tech meetups or LinkedIn groups
• Specializing - become the go-to person for a niche skill

Many people who start in IT support move into cybersecurity. Those in digital marketing become specialists in paid ads or SEO. The door opens - you just have to walk through it.

Final thought: Time isn’t your enemy - inertia is

The biggest barrier to a fast career isn’t money, age, or background. It’s waiting. Waiting for the "right time." Waiting to feel "ready." Waiting for someone else to tell you it’s okay.

You don’t need permission to start. You just need to begin.

Pick one of the five careers above. Enroll in the free intro. Spend 30 minutes this week. That’s all it takes to turn "I wish I could..." into "I did it."