Don’t you love when spring is in full bloom? The sun shines a little brighter, the grass grows a little greener, and our time enjoying the beautiful outdoors lasts a lot longer. This season, why not celebrate your love for our land by digging into a green career? Take a look at these up-and-coming eco-friendly careers, and get inspired.

Green career: Water Resource Specialist
Green job description: If you want to protect one of our most precious natural resources – H2O – this is the green job for you. This fast-growing career involves designing or implementing programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Green degree requirements: There are quite a few master’s degree programs in water resources engineering coming down the pike, covering all aspects of fluid mechanics, hydrology, water quality management, and geomorphology. Why not jump into this environmental protection career with both feet?

Green career: Energy Engineer
Green job description: Energy engineering is all about designing, developing, and evaluating energy-related projects and programs to reduce energy costs and boost energy efficiency during the designing, building, and remodeling stages of construction. These green jobs run the gamut from HVAC and electrical systems to air quality and energy procurement.
Green degree requirements: Get into this green career with an engineering degree, which will give you a solid foundation in physics, chemistry, math, and electrical and mechanical engineering. Go a step further and specialize in renewable energy engineering, which includes courses such as photovoltaics, wind power, biofuels, green building, and more.

Green career: Forest and Conservation Technician
Green job description: If you want to get your hands dirty and crunch numbers at the same time, this green job could fit you like a glove. These green workers compile data on the size, content, and condition of natural lands, doing everything from measuring timber and tracking wildlife movement to assisting in road building operations and locating property lines and features.
Green degree requirements: Your best bet for becoming a forest tech is to get an associate degree or a certificate in applied science or science-related technology. In a good green program, you’ll learn how to gather data on water and soil quality, disease and insect damage to trees and other plants, and conditions that may pose a fire hazard.

Green career: Wind Turbine Service Technician
Green job description: The wind energy industry in the U.S. is relatively young, but sources are already reporting a shortage of trained wind techs. Wind techs inspect, maintain, and repair complex wind turbines, working on behalf of the original equipment manufacturer or an outside company that specializes in turbine maintenance.
Green degree requirements: Head to a community college or technical school to enroll in a certificate or associate degree program in wind turbine maintenance. You’ll learn basic turbine design, diagnostics, control and monitoring systems, and basic turbine repair. You can also get hands-on training with the school’s turbines and machinery.

Whether you’re working toward a career that directly benefits the environment and conserves natural resources or a career with just a touch of green, remember that all eco-minded efforts make a difference.

Enjoy the wonders of spring!

-Robyn Tellefsen

Donning that cap and gown soon? Here’s another reason to smile: Your chance of getting hired is greater than those who earned their degrees last year.

The good news comes from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, whose recent survey found that employers plan to hire 21 percent more recent college graduates this year than they did in spring 2010. That’s up from a 13.5 percent increase in college hiring that employers said back in August they expected.

Maybe you’re seeing more recruiters on campus, a sign of hiring activity. And if you get an offer, it might be more than your friends were being offered last year. Pay is rising, with the average salary for all 2011 graduates at $50,462, up 5.9 percent from last year, according to NACE’s Spring 2011 Salary Survey.

Engineering majors are going to have a better chance of finding a high-paying job upon graduation. The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Spring 2011 Salary Survey reported that the 10 top-paid majors for the class of 2011 were:

Chemical engineering
Average salary offer: $66,886

Computer science
Average salary offer: $63,017

Mechanical engineering
Average salary offer: $60,739

Electrical/electronics & communications engineering
Average salary offer: $60,646

Computer engineering
Average salary offer: $60,112

Industrial/manufacturing engineering
Average salary offer: $58,549

Systems engineering
Average salary offer: $57,497

Engineering technology
Average salary offer: $57,176

Information sciences & systems
Average salary offer: $56,868

Business systems networking/telecommunications
Average salary offer: $56,808

Now that you’ve gotten the encouraging news, do something about it! Pursue jobs and network with potential employees knowing that many are on the lookout for well-educated workers to help their companies grow.

-Lori Johnston

Here’s the funny thing about the nursing profession: with three very different education paths to take, you’ll end up with the same job no matter which one you choose. Whether you earn a diploma in nursing, an associate degree in nursing (ADN), or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), once you pass the National Certification Licensing Examination (NCLEX), you can become an RN. Are all nursing education paths equal?

“The BSN is better.”
The American Nurses Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching say no. In line with its latest nursing education study, the Carnegie Foundation recommends that the BSN become the entry-level qualification for nurses – no nursing diploma or ADN program options in sight. And, similar to teachers, RNs should be required to earn a master’s degree within 10 years of licensure.

With more than 60 percent of new nurses being educated at community colleges, pro-BSN professionals say this translates into the lion’s share of nurses being less qualified for advanced education opportunities. All of the advanced practice nursing specialties – clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners – require a master of science in nursing (MSN) for entry. And perhaps more to the point, without an MSN, a nurse cannot move into a faculty position – a key issue, given that nursing school applicants are being turned away because of the nursing faculty shortage, which in turn perpetuates the nursing shortage.

In addition, these nursing organizations cite research that shows that lower patient mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive care outcomes are linked to nurses trained at the BSN and MSN levels.

“The ADN is essential.”
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing take a decidedly different stance. In a recent policy brief, the AACC contends that both ADN and BSN programs teach students the competencies necessary to become an RN, as demonstrated by comparable pass rates on the NCLEX as well as hiring statistics. Plus, ADN programs educate the majority of RNs in rural settings, and they also provide the greatest number of minority RNs. Minorities in nursing are instrumental when it comes to understanding and addressing the care needs of our diverse population.

These nursing organizations also point out the lack of a valid correlation between nursing education level and patient outcomes. In other words, a bigger degree does not necessarily make a better nurse.

What’s a nurse to do?
Is advanced nursing education valuable for its own sake? Will you be a better nurse if you get a bachelor’s degree instead of an associate degree?

Obviously, there are no easy answers, but whichever nursing education program you’re leaning toward, there are a few key considerations to factor into your decision. Make sure the program is accredited, and that the NCLEX pass rate is high. If you choose an ADN program, look for a community college that has an articulation agreement with a four-year nursing school so that you can seamlessly transition into a BSN program if you choose. Look into RN-to-BSN programs… or bypass the BSN altogether by enrolling in an RN-to-MSN program. You might even be able to get tuition assistance if you continue your nursing education after you become an RN.

For now, you can still choose your own nursing education adventure – so choose wisely!

-Robyn Tellefsen

Our hearts go out to the families of those who died or were injured in Japan’s massive earthquake. The amazing thing when tragedies like this occur is to see news reports that show workers from the U.S. who swing into action and travel to the areas hit to assist the immediate rescue and relief efforts.

Videos and photographs of these workers reinforce that if you have a heart for people and desire to help, emergency and disaster relief occupations are possible career paths for you.

The earthquake in Japan joins other recent tragic events, such as the 9/11 attacks, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005, and Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, that have brought attention to the variety of occupations that help people prepare or deal with manmade or natural disasters.

These can be exhausting professions with long hours and difficult conditions, but the rewards are numerous in being able to provide aid and comfort to individuals impacted by emergencies and disasters.

Here are some of the professions where jobs are in demand for individuals willing to serve others in the wake of major disasters around the globe.

Emergency management

Federal and local emergency management agencies need workers in a variety of functions, from planning to safety to security to communications. If you visit FEMA’s website, you can pull up videos of workers that give you a glimpse into their jobs and responsibilities.  U.S. News & World Report identified an emergency management specialist – described as someone who creates disaster response plans and training, and coordinates with state and local emergency personnel – as one of the 50 best jobs for 2011. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for emergency management specialists will grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. For this and other emergency management positions, employers want to see a desire for helping people, along with a bachelor’s degree and often certification from the National Incident Management System, according to U.S. News.

Emergency medicine

Physicians, nurses, and others working in the health care field often are among the first called upon to provide assistance in the U.S. and overseas in the wake of a tragedy. Workers also who have degrees in public health are necessary to provide expertise related to medical needs in a crisis.

Nonprofit organizations

Nonprofit organizations also are essential to helping communities recover and rebuild after disasters. If you desire to work for major organizations such as the American Red Cross or local groups, you’ll definitely need to be passionate about helping others. Often workers in the nonprofit sector have received their education in fields such as business and the liberal arts, according to a Wall Street Journal story. The exciting thing about working for nonprofits is the ability to constantly touch the lives of those you are serving, and you could be involved in all aspects from working with volunteers to fund raising. When tragedy hits, nonprofits often excel at having the resources in place to provide for needs, with workers energized by the idea of serving others.

Working in the emergency and disaster profession can give you a sense of purpose while responding to those in a crisis.

-Lori Johnston

I was at a salon in my town the other day, and a massage therapist I know mentioned one of the big changes she’s making in her life: going back to school to pursue a career as a physical therapist.

She was explaining that she has been a massage therapist for 10 years (she’s 31 now) and was looking for a change. She still loves having a relationship with her clients and by providing massages, she’s in a profession where she creates a relaxing, rejuvenating environment for her clients. And often people schedule massage to treat pain and for the rehabilitation of sports injuries, recognizing its medical benefits.

Her decision to pursue physical therapy allows her to be in a career with a hands-on touch, and she’s enjoying the fact that she’s learning more about the human body with classes like anatomy. Physical therapists are focused on providing care to people suffering from burns, amputations, conditions such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, stroke, back and neck injuries, and muscle and bone sprains and fractures.

Going back to school isn’t an easy road, but my massage therapist is making it a little easier by selecting a new career that is still in health and wellness arena where she is already working.

It could be that your next career move is not so far away from the field where you’re working now. If you enjoy the industry you’re in, but are looking for more career opportunities, higher pay, or just a change of work life, look to springboard to an occupation in the same industry or a complimentary industry. It may take away some of the fear in your quest for a new career, too!

-Lori Johnston

If you’re looking for a new career, or want to see if you made a good choice with the career field you’re in, a great place to look is U.S. News and World Report’s list of the 50 Best Careers. The annual report provides job outlook data and advice on landing a job in these career fields.

Just think, that’s a whopping 50 career fields where people are hiring, and where career education will prepare you to excel! Here are five of those fun and fast-growing jobs where career education is essential:

1. Film and video editor: Check into training from film schools to learn the skills and degrees to snag work as a film and video editor. The magazine reports that jobs are expected to grow by 3,000 between 2008 and 2018, but “only the most skilled, persistent, and adept at using technology will land salaried positions or attract enough work to freelance full time.” Many make more than $50,000, and there’s also some jobs in the six figures.

2. Commercial pilot: Soar into a successful career as a commercial pilot with training from a professional flight school. The magazine reports that a 19 percent growth is expected in commercial pilot jobs from 2008 to 2018. The duties can range from flying people and cargo from place to place, or dusting crops, or working in rescue situations, or test flying planes, the magazine says. It cites government data showing the median 2009 income for commercial pilots was $65,840.

2. Dental hygienist: One of the many health care-related jobs on U.S. News’ list of 50 best career is dental hygienist. It reports that there are an estimated 30 accredited dental hygiene programs, many of which grant associate’s degrees for dental hygienists. Graduating from an accredited dental hygienist school will help you earn your license to practice, too. There’s plenty of focus in career education on dental hygienists because of the demand for professionals. Job growth is expected to jump from 174,000 in 2008 to 237,000 jobs, the magazine reports, citing government data. Median annual earnings are about $67,000, the magazine says.

4. Radiologic technologist: Learn how to take X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans and important tests like a mammography from radiology technology schools, and you’ll be on the track to landing an in-demand career. The magazine reports that there will be a 17 percent increase in radiology technician and radiologic technician jobs from 2008 to 2018, and the median 2009 salary was $53,240 while top paid professionals earn more than $75,000. You’ll find programs offered by colleges and universities, and vocational and technical schools with associate degrees as well as the opportunity to earn your bachelor’s or master’s degrees for career advancement.

5. Biomedical engineer: The biomedical engineer job will have the most job growth of any jobs (wow!) over the next decade, the magazine reports. It cites government data projecting a 72 percent growth in jobs from 2008 to 2018. It’s no surprise, really, since there have been and people want more advances in the field of health care. So as a biomedical engineer, you can have a role in coming up with the technology, equipment and devices so we can live healthier and longer lives. The jobs pay well, with $78,860 in 2009 median annual wages, according to the magazine’s data. Accredited biomedical engineering colleges offer undergraduate degrees and also the opportunity for graduate degrees.

These and other careers on the list might have you thinking about new opportunities that could be professionally and financially rewarding!

I was chatting with a fitness instructor at the gym the other day, and she mentioned that she was teaching at her classes on a different day and time because she had started back to school. It turns out that she’s a nursing student at a local technical college who started the program this fall.

Stepping into the classroom was a big move for her, and she quickly realized some of her fears were unfounded.

She shared with me a couple of the things she’s already learned about being a non-traditional student.

She wasn’t the oldest
The fitness instructor, who is in her 40s, was pleasantly surprised to find that she was far from the oldest student in her class. In fact, she said that average age in her nursing class was 32, far from what she expected. That was her biggest worry, she was telling me, and it gave her a boost of confidence in the classroom. She realized she didn’t have to worry about being out of touch.

Data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing shows that almost 73 percent of undergraduate students are considered nontraditional, due to factors such as older individuals getting into the profession after competing responsibilities such as jobs and families and reaching an independent financial status.

She and her female classmates weren’t alone
Plenty of guys are in the nursing program with her, too. In fact, of the 40-plus students in her class, she estimated that 16 of them are guys. She wasn’t expecting so many men in the class make-up, but it’s not surprising because of the high-demand for jobs in the nursing industry. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 581,500 new RN positions will be added through 2018 (a 22 percent increase in jobs).

If you’re thinking of returning to school, don’t be frightened by the idea of being the oldest or most unprepared for your subject area or being a student again. Maybe when you’re at the gym or running errands, you’ll find others in the same situation.

-Lori Johnston

With all the headlines about health care reform, one group of people really stand to benefit: those considering entering the health care profession.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about one of every four new jobs created through 2018 in the U.S. will be in the health care and social assistance field. In addition to health care reform, you have aging baby boomers to thank.

Hot career lists often include not just one, but numerous medical jobs. As Eileen Habelow with Randstad, a global staffing and human resources consulting firm, told CNN Money earlier this year: “The move toward universal health care – adding 30 to 40 million people to the ranks of the insured – will give rise to even more jobs than we thought, in government and elsewhere.”

A variety of career options in health care don’t require spending years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to attend medical school. Instead, some entry-level jobs, such as medical billing and coding and patient care technician, could require only a few months of training and education to get land you a position in a hospital, doctor’s office, dental office or medical firm. Institutions such as Ultimate Medical Academy, which has locations in Tampa and Clearwater in Florida, offer the specialized training to help people get quickly into one of these fast-growing careers.

Which jobs have some of the highest growth potential?

Dental assistants are expected to be the one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S., from 2008-2018, with a projected 36 percent spike in jobs, according to government data. As in other areas of medicine, the focus on preventative care is attributing to the surge in jobs.

If the idea of being a medical assistant is appealing, you’re on a good path to another area where job growth is expected to be faster than average – 39 percent from 2008-2018.

When you’ve gotten a prescription filled recently, did you notice the demand for people working behind the pharmacy counter? The government projects a 25 percent increase in pharmacy technician jobs from 2008 to 2018.

These excellent job prospects can keep you focused when gaining the education and training to make a difference in the field of health care.

-Lori Johnston

CollegeSurfing.com and The CollegeBound Network are offering you an exclusive opportunity to win a full scholarship* to attend Animal Behavior College (ABC), where animal lovers pursue animal careers via convenient, local hands-on training using the latest training techniques.

At Animal Behavior College, animal lovers can pursue their professional certification in any of these three exciting careers – Dog Trainer, Pet Groomer, and Veterinary Assistant. With more than 1,000 locations nationwide, ABC is the leader in animal career vocational training.  With 13,000+ students enrolled since 1998, ABC is dedicated to helping animal lovers make their passion their profession.

How To Enter:
Write an essay explaining why you would like to become a Certified Dog Trainer, Certified Vet Assistant, or Certified Groomer and how you will use your education to change your life and the lives of animals.

Essays should be submitted by September 30, 2010 to Shelly@dawgbiz.net, and have a maximum of 500 words.  One winner will be selected on October 15, 2010, and will be awarded a full scholarship to one ABC program. This includes the total tuition cost; no additional costs will be incurred throughout the program.

For more information on Animal Behavior College, please visit www.AnimalBehaviorCollegeCourses.com, and click on your program of interest.

* The contest will be administered and winners will be solely determined by ABC. The CollegeBound Network is not involved in contest judging or winner selection.

It’s National Nurses Week, and like many others this week, we’re thankful for this in-demand profession. I’ve recognized the importance of nurses many times in my life, such as when I had appendicitis and had to be rushed to the hospital to take out my appendix before finals my junior year of college.

Since then, the number of nurses has grown, with the projections that more than 2.9 million registered nurses will be employed in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our recent story notes that “making a difference” is probably one of the most popular reasons why people get into the nursing profession.

Probably the most recognized nurse was Florence Nightingale, whose birthday is May 12, now known as Nurses Day, which is celebrated across the world.

Why? She was the founder of trained nursing as a profession. In the 1850s, she learned about nursing at the Institution of Protestant Deaconesses at Kaiserswerth, Germany, then a decade later, she established the Nightingale School for Nurses at St. Thomas’s Hospital.

Although the need exists for people to follow in the footsteps of Florence Nightingale, we wanted to give you an idea of what it takes to give birth to a career in nursing.

You can plan to get a three-year RN degree, but you may need to be prepared to earn a bachelor of science degree, which groups such as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing recognizes as the minimum educational requirement for professional nurses.

You may need to use patience – a skill you’ll need to have when helping patients as well – when pursuing getting admitted to schools. The AACN found that nearly two-thirds of nursing schools that responded to a 2009 survey cited faculty shortage as the reason for not accepting more applicants.

If the idea of being a nurse gets your blood pumping, it’s worth researching the nursing profession, and this annual week devoted to nurses is a perfect time to do it.

-Lori Johnston