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Pursuing a career in healthcare is appealing to many students. From helping to relieve the pain of suffering patients to welcoming new babies into the world, there aren’t many careers more rewarding than that of a healthcare career. However, one of the biggest deterrents for students considering entering the field is the math and chemistry generally required. These courses can be challenging, and certain students simply have no interest in them. Thankfully, there are several career options in healthcare that don’t require math or chemistry. Let’s take a closer look at some of these careers, what they entail, and what you can expect to earn.
Ultrasound Technician
Ultrasound technicians use sound waves to examine internal body structures or a developing fetus in the womb. Becoming an ultrasound technician generally requires an associates or bachelor’s degree specifically in diagnostic medical sonography. The prerequisites for this degree usually don’t require math and if they do, it’s usually only one basic course. Chemistry is normally not required at all in ultrasound tech programs, making it a great option for those looking to avoid these classes.
Average Annual Salary: $80,850
Radiology Technologist
Radiologic techs are responsible for helping perform imaging studies such as X-ray’s, MRI’s, and CAT scans. These professionals prepare patients for these exams, perform exams, maintain the equipment, and communicate with the physician reviewing the results to ensure the test was performed correctly. Becoming a radiologic technologist requires either an associate or a bachelor’s degree in radiography from a traditional or online radiology tech program. Some courses may have a math prerequisite, but math and chemistry are not typically part of a radiography degree.
Average Annual Salary: $47,940
Medical Social Worker
Medical social workers help to provide support to patients and their families. These social workers also help to coordinate care for patients with the hospital or practice in which the social worker is employed. From helping patients access available community resources to obtaining assistance for them when they are unable to take care of their medical needs themselves, medical social workers provide a variety of essential services. Entry level medical social worker jobs require graduating from an in-person or online bachelor’s degree in social work program. This could be an education in psychology or sociology, but more commonly will be specifically in social work. Some of these programs may have a math prerequisite, but most don’t require any math or chemistry to graduate.
Average Annual Salary: $67,430
Medical Secretary
Medical secretaries perform clerical work for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. Becoming a medical secretary doesn’t require any specific degree, although a degree may help. While there are certification courses that you can take to increase your likelihood of obtaining a medical secretary job, ultimately, you only need a high school diploma or GED. Certification courses for medical secretaries generally don’t include a math or chemistry component.
Average Annual Salary: $47,940
Dental Assistant
Dental assistants provide basic assistance to dental patients in areas that do not require a clinical license, such as reviewing their records, handing the dentist tools, and preparing rooms for patients. Dental assistants are separate from dental hygienists, who do perform clinical tasks. Becoming a dental assistant doesn’t require any advanced education beyond a high school diploma or GED, although many who wish to enter the field do complete a certification program. These certification programs normally don’t involve a math or chemistry component.
Average Annual Salary: $46,540
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists are medical personnel who perform venipuncture; the drawing of blood from a vein or an artery. Phlebotomists may also have other specimen collection duties, depending on their specific job. Technically, it only takes a high school diploma or GED to become a phlebotomist in most states, but almost all employers will require completion of a phlebotomist certification program. These programs rarely include a math component and typically never include chemistry.
Average Annual Salary: $41,810
Medical Assistant
Medical aassistants work with doctors to provide support services that don’t require a medical license. Medical aassistants take patients’ histories, perform basic tests such as blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate, assist doctors during procedures, and administer medications in some situations. Becoming a medical assistant doesn’t require a degree but does require completing a certification program that will typically take six-to-nine months. There may be some simple math involved in this certification covering determining doses of medications, but this math will be very basic and will only be a very small part of the certification process. Chemistry is not typically addressed in a medical assistant certification program.
Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Medical Transcriptionist
Medical transcriptionists listen to recordings of doctors dictating and transcribe these recordings into written form. Becoming a medical transcriptionist doesn’t require a specific degree, although a high school diploma or GED are generally considered necessary. While becoming a medical transcriptionist does not explicitly require any further education, most employers will require a certification from an accredited medical transcription training program that generally takes six months to complete. These programs almost never require any math or chemistry work.
Average Annual Salary: $37,060
