Cert 3 in Pathology Collection or Cert 3 in Sterilisation Services?
Hey everyone,
I’m 25, male, Asian, and I’ve got an Associate Degree in IT. I’ve recently got my P1 driver’s licence and I’m at a bit of a crossroads career-wise. I’m seriously considering moving into healthcare instead of staying in IT, but I’m trying to be realistic about employability and long-term opportunities before I commit.
I’m mainly looking at two pathways at the moment: Cert 3 in Pathology Collection and Cert 3 in Sterilisation Services.
With pathology, I know the market is a bit oversaturated right now. I do have long-term plans of eventually progressing into nursing and becoming an EN, so pathology feels like a potential stepping stone. But at the same time, I’ve seen people doing Cert 3s whilst also studying Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine, which honestly makes me feel like I’d be competing against people with much stronger qualifications. That’s been making me a bit hesitant and unsure if I’d realistically be able to get my foot in the door.
On the other hand, Sterilisation Services also interests me, but from what I’ve researched, the job market seems quite limited. I’m also not really in a position to relocate interstate, as I’ve got my partner here in SA. I’ve worked in retail/customer service for about 4 years, so I’m used to being on my feet for long shifts and that side of the work wouldn’t bother me.
At the end of the day, I’m trying to make a decision that isn’t just based on interest, but also on actual employability and financial stability. I don’t want to put time and money into a course and then struggle to find work afterwards.
For anyone already working in either pathology or sterilisation (especially in SA), I’d really appreciate any honest advice on which pathway has better job prospects or opens more doors long-term.
Thanks in advance, I genuinely appreciate any insights.