If you need a better-paying job soon, a full degree program may not be realistic. The good news is that several quick certifications that pay well can get you qualified in weeks or months. Some take as little as a few weeks of training plus an exam; others take most of a year but lead to jobs that pay above the typical high school graduate.
Below are seven credentials worth comparing, with the official requirements to earn each one and the median pay for the job it leads to. We focused on credentials with clear, published rules, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026. Pay figures are May 2025 medians from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Requirements come from the agency or organization that issues each credential.
The 7 certifications at a glance
| Certification | Who issues it | What it takes | Median pay of the job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial driver’s license (CDL) | Your state, under federal rules | Entry-level driver training + knowledge and skills tests | $58,640 (truck drivers) |
| EPA Section 608 | EPA-approved certifying organizations | Pass an EPA-approved exam | $61,010 (HVAC technicians) |
| Welding certification | American Welding Society (AWS) and others | Training + a hands-on welding test | $53,750 (welders) |
| Pharmacy technician (CPhT) | PTCB | Recognized program or 500 hours of work + exam | $45,750 (pharmacy technicians) |
| Phlebotomy technician (CPT) | NHA and other national bodies | Training program + 30 blood draws + exam | $45,230 (phlebotomists) |
| Emergency medical technician (EMT) | Your state; many use the NREMT exam | State-approved EMT course + exam | $44,470 (EMTs) |
| Certified nursing assistant (CNA) | Your state | At least 75 hours of training + competency exam | $42,260 (nursing assistants) |
Pay: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 medians. Requirements: issuing organizations (details and links below).
For comparison, the median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980. Three of these jobs pay above that line; the healthcare roles pay a little less, but they’re among the fastest to qualify for and have a large number of openings every year.
The best-paying quick certifications
1. Commercial driver’s license (CDL)
Time: truck driving programs typically last 3 to 6 months, according to the BLS.
Pay: $58,640 median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
Since February 7, 2022, anyone getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time must complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a provider listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry. A school that isn’t on the registry can’t certify your training, so check it before you pay. Trucking also has one of the largest numbers of openings of any job, about 214,500 a year. Our guide on how to get your CDL explains the classes and each step.
2. EPA Section 608 certification
Time: one exam; no minimum training is required by the EPA.
Pay: $61,010 median for HVAC technicians.
Anyone who services equipment containing refrigerants needs this federal certification. There are four types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure equipment), Type III (low-pressure equipment) and Universal, which covers all three. According to the EPA, the credential does not expire.
Be realistic about what it does on its own: EPA 608 is required for HVAC work, but it doesn’t make you an HVAC technician. Most employers also want a training program or on-the-job experience. Think of it as the fastest first step into a trade that pays well. Our guide on how to become an HVAC technician covers the rest of the path.
3. Welding certification
Time: varies by program and by the type of weld you certify in.
Pay: $53,750 median for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers.
Welding certifications are performance-based: you prove your skill by producing a weld that passes inspection for a specific process and position. Our guide on how to become a welder explains the full path. The BLS notes that some employers require certification for certain jobs, and that some states and cities require welders to be licensed. Job growth is slow (2% over the decade), but about 40,300 openings a year are expected as current welders retire or change jobs.
Fast-track healthcare certifications
These four pay less than the trades above, but they’re some of the quickest ways into steady work, and many people use them as a step toward nursing or other higher-paid roles.
4. Certified pharmacy technician (CPhT)
To sit for the PTCB exam, you need either a PTCB-recognized education or training program or at least 500 hours of work experience as a pharmacy technician. The exam has 90 multiple-choice questions, takes about two hours, and costs $129. Median pay is $45,750, and the BLS notes that most states regulate pharmacy technicians, so check your state’s rules too. Our guide on how to become a pharmacy technician compares the PTCB and NHA exams.
5. Certified phlebotomy technician (CPT)
For the NHA’s CPT, you need a high school diploma or equivalent, a phlebotomy training program completed in the last five years (or one to two years of supervised work experience), and proof of at least 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on live people. The exam lasts two hours. Phlebotomists earn a median of $45,230, and the job is projected to grow 7%, much faster than average.
6. Emergency medical technician (EMT)
EMT programs typically take less than a year, according to the BLS, and lead to state certification. Many states use the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. EMTs earn a median of $44,470. Our guide on how to become an EMT walks through the course, the exam and state licensing. Going further to become a paramedic takes longer, but the median jumps to $60,600.
7. Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
Federal rules (42 CFR 483.152) require nurse aide training programs to include at least 75 clock hours, with at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Many states require more. After training, you pass your state’s competency exam and are added to the state registry. Median pay is $42,260, and nursing assistants and orderlies together have about 203,300 openings a year.
Exam and training requirements compared
| Certification | Minimum training rule | Exam | Expires? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL | ELDT from a registered provider | State knowledge + skills tests | License renewed by your state |
| EPA 608 | None required | EPA-approved test | No |
| CPhT | Recognized program or 500 work hours | 90 questions, about 2 hours, $129 | Renewal required |
| CPT (NHA) | Program + 30 venipunctures + 10 capillary sticks | 2-hour exam | Renewal required |
| CNA | At least 75 hours (16 supervised practical) | State competency exam | Depends on state registry rules |
Sources: FMCSA, EPA, PTCB, NHA, 42 CFR 483.152. Renewal rules change, so check the issuing body’s site.
How to avoid a bad “fast” program
Speed is attractive, which is exactly why some programs oversell it. Before you pay, check:
- Does it qualify you for the exam? Ask the certifying body (PTCB, NHA, your state) whether that specific program meets its eligibility rules.
- Does it include the hands-on part? Online-only phlebotomy or CNA courses can’t give you the supervised practice those credentials require.
- Is it on the official list? CDL schools must be on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry; CNA programs must be state-approved.
- What’s the full cost? Ask for tuition, books, uniforms, background checks and exam fees in writing.
- Are there jobs nearby? Check local postings and use the CareerOneStop salary finder to see what the job pays where you live.
If you’re still deciding between a short program and a longer path, our comparison of trade school vs. college breaks down cost, time and pay. And if you’re willing to train longer for more money, see the highest-paying trade jobs without a degree.
Sources
- BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook (pay, outlook and training for each job).
- FMCSA, Entry-Level Driver Training.
- EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements.
- PTCB, Certified Pharmacy Technician.
- NHA, Certified Phlebotomy Technician.
- 42 CFR 483.152, nurse aide training requirements.
Requirements, fees and pay change over time and vary by state. Always confirm the current rules with the issuing organization before enrolling in a program.