Healthcare Technicians – Stable Careers in an Uncertain World

Author: Anthony Rodriguez, MPH | Published August 5, 2025

It’s no secret that the average person is struggling in today’s economy – groceries are still expensive ¹, the average person is unable to afford a $500 emergency ², and Americans are in record levels of credit card debt ³. On top of that, people across the country are having a very difficult time finding jobs; CNBC corroborates the recent trend, reporting that there was a sharp slowdown in job growth in July 2025 ⁴.

Why is Healthcare a Stable Industry?

Despite all of the economic challenges, healthcare has remained relatively unscathed as an industry and continues to see above average projected growth compared to nearly all other industries. Healthcare technicians and technologists are expected to see a 7% yearly job growth rate from 2023-2033 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ⁵. This expected growth is refreshing to see, but not surprising since the healthcare industry is literally essential for human health and longevity. Healthcare is especially important to the increasingly older U.S. population.

The 2020s and 2030s are expected to host a myriad of challenges regarding resource allocation and workforce development as baby boomers continue to age, take up social security and healthcare resources, and stop contributing to the economic productivity of the country. According to the United States Census Bureau, the U.S. population age 65+ grew nearly 5x faster than the total population over the past 100 years, the demographic went from making up 4.7% of the population in 1920 to 16.8% in 2020 ⁶. As the U.S. population continues to skew older in demographics, we can expect to see unprecedented strain on our healthcare system and demand for healthcare and allied healthcare jobs.

How Do I Get a Healthcare Technician or Technologist Job? 

The good news is that it’s relatively easy to become a technician or technologist. Most pathways involve schooling, certification, and potentially the completion of clinical hours. Education and training to become a technician or technologist typically takes less than 2 years and costs less than a college degree, which makes it an attractive alternative for high school and junior college graduates.

Here are the timelines for our programs as an example:

• Sterile Processing & Distribution Technician:
  • Schooling: 8-12 weeks
  • Certification Exam: 1-3 weeks after graduation
    • Note: Depending on your location, uncertified SPD tech positions may be available. These positions are virtually nonexistent in California.
  • Externship (optional): 3-6 months average for placement & completion
• Electrocardiogram Technician:
  • Schooling: 6-10 weeks
  • Certification Exam: NCCT exams may be scheduled at any time after graduation.
  • Externship (optional): 2-4 months average for placement & completion
    • Note: Many EKG Tech graduates are able to find employment without certification or externship in the Central Valley, particularly Bakersfield. The defining factor is whether applicants can identify rhythms correctly.
• Tech in Surgery:
  • Schooling: 8 months
  • Certification Exam: NCCT exams may be scheduled at any time after graduation.
  • Externship: 4-8 months for placement & completion

New graduates may have difficulty finding jobs due to lack of experience, but patience is key! Many schools, including ours, have an interest in helping our graduates land jobs, so don’t be afraid to reach out to the institution that trained you for help in your job search. Once you land your first job, it’s usually smooth sailing from there.

Is AI Going to Replace Technician and Technologist Jobs?

At the moment, there are no AI tools available on the market to threaten healthcare technicians, since many of them perform onsite work that cannot be replicated by automation with our current technology.

• Sterile Processing & Distribution Technician: Human oversight, judgement, and dexterity are required for this job. AI tools currently have no way to effectively clean, sterilize, store, and redistribute surgical instruments.
• Electrocardiogram Technician: There is no doubt that AI tools are highly capable of identifying abnormal rhythms, especially when provided baseline data; many newer smartwatches can perform EKGs ⁷. However, there is currently no way to fully automate the clinical EKG process which includes the precise placement of leads on a patient, running stress tests, and identifying rhythms within the proper contexts. 
• Surgical Technologist: While AI has the potential to change the operating theater, its biggest impacts are in the realms of diagnoses and prognoses rather than participating in surgery ⁸. Scrub techs will remain an essential staple of the OR for the foreseeable future.

If you’re interested in becoming a Sterile Processing & Distribution (SPD) Tech, Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) Tech, or a Surgical Technologist, feel free to reach out to Altamont Healthcare for information on our programs! We serve the Central Valley of California with locations in Stockton and Bakersfield.

Stockton: 2027 W March Lane Suite 3 Stockton, CA 95207

• 209-817-8035
• [email protected]

Bakersfield: 2601 F St Bakersfield, CA 93301

• 661-230-6316
• [email protected]

References

1. https://time.com/7304646/climate-change-food-prices-extreme-weather/
2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2016/01/06/63-of-americans-dont-have-enough-savings-to-cover-a-500-emergency/
3. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/13/credit-card-debt-hits-record-1point21-trillion-new-york-fed-report-finds.html
4. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/us-job-market-jobs-report-july-2025.html
5. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/about/data-for-occupations-not-covered-in-detail.htm#292099
6. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/2020-census-united-states-older-population-grew.html
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10145690/
8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10839429/