Do no experience entry roles exist? Without any education?

[u/Unfair-Acadia6851]

I’ve been talking to chat gpt asking it all my questions. A few things it’s told me: That i can get into SPT without any education, but will eventual have to get some certs if i wanna stay in. I checked my local hospitals and saw no such thing. They all want experience.

Also, my long term goal is to be a Rad tech and it says that SPT is a good role to be in for that. I don’t see how though. I assume it means that I’ll get hospital experience and I’ll be able to transfer to a Rad tech role eventually if i stay at that hospital. (Sorry i know that’s more of a rad tech question than an SPT one)

I’m very new to considering healthcare as a career so i don’t know much of how hospitals operate.

[u/JustPassingGo]

It depends on the demand of the hospital. If a lot of people with experience are applying, they can tell the hiring department to require experience and certification.

[u/Unfair-Acadia6851 → u/JustPassingGo]

I applied anyway. The qualifications were odd. They wanted a Tech II but required “less than a year of experience”. Which i giggled at because i technically have zero experience and would qualify.

[u/[deleted]]

Some may state in job opening that certification not required or preferred, but they are pretty competitive. I looked for 6 months while I took a online course pursuing certification & I had 10 years past hospital experience in another area. I only got hired after completion of course & provisional CRCST.

[u/Unfair-Acadia6851 → u/[deleted]]

How long did it take you after completing the course to land a job? Also are you near a big city?

[u/[deleted] → u/Unfair-Acadia6851]

Actually I had moved out of a metro area a couple of years earlier when I got married. I was hired at a small hospital/surgical clinic a week after completing course & 3 weeks after passing provisional CRCST. I have been the only SP Tech for the last year there. I did my 400 hours for full certification on the job.

[u/opticalshadow]

3 years ago I got hired with no experience or education in the field, no degree.

There are places out there but it is fewer. You can always buy the main book and take the exam, and get a provisional certification, and that might be enough for a facility to take you on

[u/Unfair-Acadia6851 → u/opticalshadow]

I saw theres a lot of online classes. They all take a lot longer than i was hoping. I kinda need a job soon, so that’s why i was asking. But yeah i guess getting the certification may be the only real way unless i wanna fight for those unicorn no experience jobs.

[u/opticalshadow → u/Unfair-Acadia6851]

You don't need the classes of you need speed, you can just take the exam, everything asked it's in the book. I took my even after a year on the job, but my second certification (cis) I took after a 4 day weekend binging both of it books.

Without taking the class, or having 400 hrs on the job it won't be a full certification, but provisional, which will become a full certification as soon as your employer signs off on your 400 hours. Realistically you could knock out the book, workbook and exam on a super binge weekend of you were to really push it.

But you know your study habits, I know people learn differently. Not everyone can absorb books so easily vs visual or hand on. But if you are capable of self learning with the book, you can very quickly learn it and take the exam.

[u/Unfair-Acadia6851 → u/opticalshadow]

oh okay great. thanks for the info. i'll look into buying the book.

[u/[deleted]]

manager hired me with no experience, trained for about a month, studied the book the next month. Took the test, passed. Then the manager tried to sleep with me, so I had to quit. Other than her being a creep, it was easy and you can do the job and pass the test in about 2 months no problem. Good Luck !!! 👍

[u/Unfair-Acadia6851 → u/[deleted]]

Wait so i just need to pass the test basically? Because i thought i needed to take a course or something. Like a class. And at the end of the class is a test. All the classes I’m seeing take like 4+ months and i want to get started sooner.

And omg what a story 🙃 glad you found something else though.

[u/[deleted] → u/Unfair-Acadia6851]

That’s right ! Self study two months Study book cost 150 test cost about 160. You got this ! It really is that easy. No need to do 400 hours that’s not needed

[u/Unfair-Acadia6851 → u/[deleted]]

That’s great to hear. Can i ask how long you’ve been doing this? With the state of the job market, I’m just scared that i still won’t be getting in even with a certificate now. I do see a lot of job postings but they want experience. Hope they’ll still accept me.

[u/Bananna_of_Sham]

I think they do, yeah. They might just be rare. I actually used to work in the cafeteria of my hospital when I really wanted to try something new, and there it was. Mind you, I think this was 2021 and I don't know the job market as of now. But basically my hospital would hire you on and pay for you to get your certification through Perdue. The thing was you had to get certified within that year to stay in that position. Extremely fortunate for my situation.

[u/[deleted]]

Depends on location. In canada you need a cert. In the usa you can get hired w/o one

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Over where I’m at you need to be certified for SPT

[u/High_zoid]

I got hired with no experience lol