One of the most persistent myths about healthcare careers is that they all take years. Some do. Becoming an RN takes two to four years of schooling. Becoming a physician takes a decade. But there's a whole tier of healthcare careers that get you working in weeks or months — and they pay well.
All five of the following paths are available right now in Palm Bay at Coastal Technical Institute.
1. Home Health Aide — 3.5 Weeks, $745
The fastest path into healthcare CTI offers. The Home Health Aide program is 91 clock hours over 3.5 weeks. You'll learn personal care assistance, mobility support, vital sign monitoring, nutrition assistance, infection control, and patient-family communication.
Where you'll work: home care agencies, hospice services, assisted living facilities, and directly with private clients throughout Brevard County.
Median salary: $31,400/year in Florida (BLS, May 2023). Entry-level positions in the $27,000 to $33,000 range, with higher pay in specialized settings.
HHA is also the most natural first step toward CNA certification — many students complete HHA, work for a few months, then enroll in the CNA program to advance.
2. Certified Nursing Assistant — 6 Weeks, $1,180
The CNA is one of Florida's most in-demand healthcare credentials. The 6-week, 120-hour program at CTI includes 40 clinical externship hours in real hospital and long-term care settings.
After program completion, you'll sit for the Florida Prometric CNA Examination. CTI's first-time pass rate: 89.06% (2025 data, 128 test-takers).
Where you'll work: hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies. Demand is constant across Brevard County.
Median salary: $35,390/year in Florida (BLS, May 2023). Experienced CNAs and those working in specialty settings earn more.
3. Phlebotomy — 6 Weeks, $1,125
If you want to work in a lab or clinical setting without becoming a nurse, phlebotomy is your entry point. The 148-hour program teaches venipuncture technique, capillary draws, pediatric blood draw procedures, specimen handling, documentation, and infection control.
Graduates are prepared for the MedCA Phlebotomy Technician Certification Examination — a nationally recognized credential.
Where you'll work: hospitals, diagnostic labs, plasma centers, outpatient clinics, physician offices, and mobile blood drive services.
Median salary: $38,200/year in Florida (BLS, May 2023).
4. Practical Nursing (LPN) — 13 Months, $13,640
LPN is the longest of the five, but still dramatically faster than an RN degree and significantly more affordable. At 56 weeks and 1,354 clock hours, the CTI LPN program prepares you for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam with a 94.12% first-time pass rate (2025, vs. 86.06% national average).
An LPN can do everything a CNA or HHA can do, plus administer medications, perform more complex patient care procedures, and carry a broader scope of practice.
Starting salary in Brevard County: $42,000 to $62,000. Median in Florida: $52,270/year (BLS, May 2023).
13 months is under the 6-month headline, but it belongs on this list because the timeline relative to becoming an RN (2–4 years) or a physician (10+ years) makes it a genuinely fast path to a substantial nursing career.
5. Medication Aide (coming soon)
While CTI's current lineup focuses on the four programs above, medication aide training is a logical next step for CNAs looking to expand their scope. Florida Medication Aides administer medications in assisted living facilities under nurse supervision — an add-on credential that increases earning potential without returning to school full-time.
Which Path Is Right for You?
If you want to start working this month: HHA or CNA.
If you want to maximize long-term earning potential while moving fast: LPN.
If you want a lab-focused, non-nursing healthcare role: Phlebotomy.
All four active programs run from CTI's campus at 1470 Treeland Blvd SE, Palm Bay, FL. New cohorts start throughout the year — see upcoming start dates.
Call (321) 914-3041 or take the program match quiz to find out which track fits your goals.
Ready to get started?
Next cohort starts November 9, 2026. Call (321) 914-3041 or apply online.
