We can’t all afford to go back to school, and even if we could, many of us don’t have the time to spend years in a program before we can get a job. We have to find a job relatively quickly with a low barrier to entry.

It’s true that you won’t become a doctor or a lawyer with just a few thousand dollars and a few months, but there are plenty of other careers you can start when you don’t have a lot of time or money.

Three popular choices include:

• Real estate agent
• HVAC technician
• Web designer

Real Estate Agent

Becoming a real estate agent isn’t as easy as rolling out of bed and deciding you’re going to sell houses. There are steps you need to take, but they are relatively quick, and they don’t cost a lot of money.

You can take a California real estate crash course, or quick classes in other states, with relatively little money that will help you prepare for the licensing exam. No degree is required. All you have to do is pass the licensing exam to start selling houses.

HVAC Technician

If you’re on the hunt for a job that lets you use your hands, and you want to be sure that you’ll have a job in the future, you may want to consider a career as an HVAC technician.

It’s true that the title of HVAC technician isn’t as glamorous as some other careers, but you’re guaranteed to have a job because people will always need to be able to heat and cool their homes and businesses.

HVAC also happens to have great earning potential. Wages are competitive because HVAC systems are so essential, and you have the ability to earn more as your career progresses. Owning your own contracting business is also an option that comes with a hefty salary.

Web Designer

If you’re looking for a work-from-home job with the lowest barrier to entry possible, consider becoming a web designer.

There’s no need to obtain a degree or get any specific certifications. Instead, you can use YouTube tutorials, online classes, and even Google articles to learn how to design websites. You can get started as soon as you feel confident enough to design a website for someone else for the first time.

Other Careers to Consider

These aren’t the only jobs you can consider if you’re looking for a career with a low barrier to entry! A few other careers you may want to consider include:

• Truck driver
• Emergency medical technician (EMT)
• IT support technician
• Medical biller and coder
• Software developer
• Sales representative

You don’t have to have a lot of time or a lot of money to start a new career. You just have to know which careers don’t require degrees. Then, it’s just a matter of figuring out which one is a good fit for you. With a low barrier to entry, there’s no reason why you can’t give one of the ideas on this list a try!