The results are in: Assisting Careers are projected to be among the fastest growing occupations through 2014. Rather than wrestling with resolutions you'll never keep, why not spend the new year completing your vocational education and launching an in-demand career?
Read on for an overview of the hottest fields you can break into this year via short-term study, complete with salary and employment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2006-2007 Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Work some magic with medical assisting careers. In this critical field, you'll record vital signs, collect lab specimens, administer medications, and much more. Though short-term study is all that's required, you can increase your marketability by earning the Certified Medical Assistant credential through the American Association of Medical Assistants, or the Registered Medical Assistant credential through American Medical Technologists. Medical assistants held about 387,000 jobs in 2004, with median annual earnings of $24,610, and the highest 10 percent earning over $34,650.
Perhaps you'd rather get fit with physical therapist assisting careers. This occupation encompasses the prevention and treatment of conditions associated with loss of mobility. With targeted vocational education, you'll learn how to teach patients exercises for mobility, strength, and coordination; you'll also learn the art of massage. Physical therapist assistants held about 59,000 jobs in 2004, with median annual earnings of $37,890, and the highest 10 percent earning over $52,110.
Why not sink your teeth into dental assisting careers? With vocational education, you'll acquire the skills needed to take dental X-rays, remove sutures, make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, make temporary crowns, and more. Dental assistants held about 267,000 jobs in 2004, with median hourly earnings of $13.62, and the highest 10 percent earning over $19.97. Plus, according to the American Dental Association, nine out of 10 dental assistants receive dental coverage.
Consider improving others' quality of life through occupational therapist assisting careers. Through vocational education, you can learn skills to help people achieve independence in all facets of life. You'll work with patients to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, and compensate for permanent loss of function. Occupational therapist assistants held about 21,000 jobs in 2004, with median annual earnings of $38,430, and the highest 10 percent earning over $52,700.
Not content to sit on the sidelines? Be part of the drama with legal assisting careers. Short-term study will prepare you to investigate and analyze cases, and prepare reports to help attorneys determine how to handle each case. And, if you want to up your career ante, consider earning the Certified Legal Assistant designation from the National Association of Legal Assistants. Legal assistants held about 224,000 jobs in 2004, with median annual earnings of $39,130, and the top 10 percent earning over $61,390.
Happy New Career year!
About the author:
Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.
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