In Demand Careers for 2010

Rather than wrestling with resolutions you haven't been able to keep, why not spend 2010 completing your vocational education and launching an in-demand career? After all, assisting careers are projected to be among the fastest growing occupations through 2018. Check out five fields you can break into this year via short-term study.

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 483,600 jobs in 2008, and employment is projected to grow 34 percent by 2018. Median annual earnings were $28,300 in 2008; the highest 10 percent of medical assistants earned more than $39,570.

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 63,800 jobs in 2008, and employment is projected to grow 33 percent by 2018. Median annual earnings of physical therapist assistants were $46,140; the highest 10 percent earned more than $63,830.

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 295,300 jobs in 2008, and employment is projected to grow 36 percent by 2018.  Median annual earnings were $32,380; the highest 10 percent of dental assistants earned more than $46,150.

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 26, 600 jobs in 2008; employment is projected to grow 30 percent by 2018. Median annual earnings of occupational therapist assistants were $48,230; the highest 10 percent earned more than $65,160.

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 263,800 in 2008, and employment is projected to grow 28 percent by 2018. Median annual earnings were $46,120; the top 10 percent of legal assistants earned more than $73,450.

Happy new career year!

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

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