7+ Healthcare Jobs You Can Start with No Experience or Degree

Looking for an entry-level job in healthcare but not sure where to start?

You don’t actually need formal experience or a degree to get hired.

There are plenty of in-demand jobs that you can start immediately or with a modest amount of training.

You can do these jobs while you’re in nursing school or even just to see if the field is right for you, with no long term commitment.

In this article, we’ll cover the most accessible care jobs for people with little or no experience, what they pay, and how to get started.

1. In-home senior caregiver

Of all the care jobs available with no experience, in-home senior caregiving has one of the lowest barriers to entry.

There's no certification required, no clinical training, and no minimum hours to complete before you can start working.

You can also create your own schedule, so you can work around school or other commitments.

While in-home caregivers do not offer medical care, caregiving builds the communication and observational skills that translate directly to clinical work.

You’ll also get paid a solid hourly rate while you figure out your next step.

In-home Helpers offer:

• Companionship and social engagement
• Transportation to appointments and errands
• Help with meals and light housekeeping
• Assistance with bathing, dressing, and personal care
• Medication reminders
• Post-discharge support after a hospital stay or surgery
• Specialized support with things like home dialysis, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, mobility support or transferring, and more

If you have informal experience caring for a family member with a specific condition, like dementia, post-stroke recovery, or dialysis-related needs, you’ll already stand out as a candidate.

Herewith’s platform makes it easy to find your first home care job. You can create a free profile, browse local families looking for support, and apply to jobs that fit your schedule and interests.

Typical pay

$20-$30+ per hour on Herewith, depending on location and experience.

How to get started

Create a free Helper profile on Herewith, pass a background check, and start applying to jobs near you.

When you sign up, you automatically qualify for free access to CareAcademy online courses, a membership valued at $1,400 a year, covering general caregiving skills, CNA coursework, and dementia care specialization.

2. Home health aide

Home health aides provide personal care and basic health-related support to older adults and people with disabilities, primarily in their clients' homes.

Demand for this role is also increasing rapidly compared to other occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The work usually includes:

• Assisting with bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Helping with mobility and transfers
• Monitoring and reporting changes in a client's condition
• Basic health tasks like checking vital signs, under the supervision of a nurse

Training requirements vary by state. Most require at least 75 hours of training, and many employers, particularly home health agencies, provide that training for free when you're hired.

Typical pay

$15–$20 per hour depending on location and employer

How to get started

Search for home health aide positions on hospital and home health agency job boards in your area.

Look specifically for postings that mention paid training or no experience required, as many agencies actively recruit and train new hires.

3. Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Direct Support Professionals support people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in group homes, community programs, and sometimes private residences.

No degree or clinical background is needed, with most employers only requiring a high school diploma and background check before you can start.

The work typically includes:

• Helping with daily living activities like meal preparation, hygiene, and household tasks
• Supporting community outings and social activities
• Providing companionship and emotional support
• Documenting and reporting changes in the person's wellbeing
• Most employers provide on-the-job training, and some offer paid certification programs once you're hired.

As a DSP, you'll build confidence working one-on-one with people who need consistent, reliable support. This experience transfers naturally into any care role.

Typical pay

$17–$22 per hour depending on location and employer

How to get started

Search for Direct Support Professional or DSP positions through your state's disability services agency, local group home operators, or job boards like Indeed.

4. Hospital transporter

Hospital transporters move patients between rooms, departments, and treatment areas within a healthcare facility.

While you won’t be providing any direct care in this role, it’s one of the best ways to get a feel for how a clinical environment operates.

This role includes:

• Safely moving patients in wheelchairs or on gurneys
• Transferring patients to and from treatment areas, imaging, or surgery
• Communicating with nursing staff and other departments
• Maintaining patient comfort and dignity during transport

Becoming a hospital transporter is a great way to get some patient interaction under your belt so you can decide if a healthcare or caregiving career is a good fit.

Typical pay

$15–$20+ per hour depending on location and facility

How to get started

Apply directly through hospital career pages. Most positions require only a background check and basic physical fitness. Some may require a high school diploma or equivalent.

Search for "patient transporter" or "transport aide" on hospital websites or job boards like Indeed.

5. Unit secretary or medical receptionist

Unit secretaries and medical receptionists handle the administrative side of a healthcare setting.

If you’re organized, good with people, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment, this role may be the perfect entry point for you.

The work usually includes:

• Scheduling appointments and managing patient check-ins
• Answering phones and coordinating between departments
• Maintaining patient records and handling paperwork
• Supporting nursing staff with non-clinical administrative tasks

This role doesn’t provide direct care, but you'll be embedded in a clinical environment every day.

Exposure to medical terminology and patient flow is excellent experience if you're planning to go further in the field.

Typical pay

$16–$22 per hour depending on location and facility

How to get started

Search for "unit secretary," "medical receptionist," or "medical office assistant" on hospital and clinic job boards.

Most positions require only a high school diploma and strong communication skills. Prior experience in any customer-facing or administrative role is helpful but rarely required.

6. Patient Care Technician or Associate

Patient Care Technicians, sometimes called Patient Care Associates or PCTs, assist nursing staff with direct patient care in hospital settings.

It's a step up from a hospital transporter in terms of patient contact and clinical exposure, and while some employers require certification, many hire with no experience and provide training on the job.

The work typically includes:

• Assisting with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene
• Taking and recording vital signs
• Helping patients move, transfer, or ambulate
• Collecting samples and assisting with basic procedures under nursing supervision

The role puts you directly alongside clinical staff, which makes it one of the better entry points for anyone seriously considering nursing or another clinical career. Many nursing programs look favorably on PCT experience during the admissions process.

Typical pay

$16–$21 per hour depending on location and facility

How to get started

Search hospital career pages directly for "patient care technician," "patient care associate," or "nurse aide trainee."

Look for postings that mention on-the-job training or no experience required. A short PCT certificate program, available at many community colleges, can strengthen your application significantly and may be required by some employers.

7. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

A CNA is the most credentialed role on this list, but it's also one of the most direct pathways into clinical care.

The certification program is short, typically four to twelve weeks for most full-time programs, and no prior healthcare experience is required to enroll.

Many employers, including nursing homes and hospitals, will sponsor your training in exchange for a commitment to work with them after you complete it.

The work typically includes:

• Assisting patients with bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Taking and recording vital signs
• Helping patients move, transfer, and ambulate
• Reporting changes in patient condition to nursing staff
• Providing emotional support and companionship

CNAs work in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and rehabilitation centers. The role carries clinical weight and is widely recognized on nursing school applications.

Typical pay

$18–$25 per hour depending on location and setting

How to get started

Look for CNA training programs at your local community college or vocational school. Many run four to twelve weeks and include both classroom instruction and clinical hours.

How to become a senior caregiver with no experience

Signing up as a Helper on Herewith is a great way to start working directly with people in a care setting with no experience.

Herewith’s online platform connects older adults and their families with local, background-checked Helpers for in-home support.

You can browse senior care jobs near you, apply to the ones you’re interested in, and work on a schedule that fits around school and other jobs or commitments.

Families on Herewith look for help with a range of non-medical tasks, including:

• Companionship and social engagement
• Transportation to appointments and errands
• Help with meals, light housekeeping, and personal care
• Post-discharge support after a hospital stay or surgery

Once you sign up as a Helper, you’ll have access to CareAcademy online courses, a membership valued at $1,400 a year, covering general caregiving skills, CNA coursework, and dementia care specialization.

Call 415-506-9776 to get set up, or browse Helper opportunities on Herewith to get started.

Further reading:

How to Become an In-Home Caregiver in 2026: a Complete Guide

Private Caregiving Vs. Agencies: Pros and Cons for Caregivers

Dialysis Jobs: How to Break into This Growing Industry

Frequently asked questions

Can I be a caregiver with no experience?

Yes. In-home caregiving and other senior care jobs are some of the most accessible roles available, with no prior experience or certification needed to get started. What matters most is reliability, genuine enjoyment of working with people, and a willingness to show up consistently.

What is the difference between a caregiver and a home health aide?

A caregiver provides non-medical support, helping with things like companionship, transportation, meals, and errands. A home health aide performs similar personal care tasks but can also carry out some basic clinical duties, like checking vital signs, under the supervision of a nurse. Home health aides typically need to complete a short training program before working with clients at Medicare or Medicaid certified agencies.

Do I need a certification to work as an in-home caregiver?

No. In-home caregiving through a platform like Herewith does not require any formal certification. A background check is required, and free training through CareAcademy is available once you create your profile. If you want to pursue a more clinical role over time, certifications like CNA are a natural next step.

Is caregiving good experience for nursing school?

Yes. Caregiving puts you in regular contact with people managing real health challenges, builds the communication and observation skills clinical roles require, and demonstrates commitment to the field. It's also flexible enough to work around a school schedule and pays well enough to help cover tuition while you study.