Online Education

Are you a new high school or college graduate? A young mom who wants to return to the workforce? Perhaps you’ve recently been laid off. If you have been looking for a job during the recession, you know how tough it is. And there are thousands of Americans in the same boat. As economists analyze the job market, the unfortunate fact is that some of the jobs our parents did are never going to come back.

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But there is good news! Despite job losses in many sectors, some career fields are growing. Opportunities exist right now for people who are motivated and who have the right training. To qualify for a new job you may have to acquire new skills ? but that’s not going to stop you, is it?

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You have choices. You can study online while you keep your current dead-end job. Financial aid is often available for those who qualify. And most accredited career schools offer job placement assistance. They cannot guarantee you a job, but they’ll help you get trained and point you towards appropriate job opportunities.

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Which Careers Are Growing in 2010??

The U.S. government tracks employment and careers. The government regularly publishes the results. Here are some of the fastest growing careers for the current decade from 2008 to 2018 as revealed by the U.S. government’s own publications.*

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1. Self-enrichment teachers

Do you enjoy educating children and adults? Self-enrichment teachers provide instruction on a wide variety of subjects that students take for fun or self-improvement such as cooking, personal finance, photography, pottery, and painting. ?Or you can provide one-on-one instruction in a variety of subjects, including singing, or playing a musical instrument, To qualify to teach, you need to be an expert in your field, and part of your training may include the appropriate certificate or degree.

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2. Financial examiners

If you like working with numbers and are detail-oriented, you may benefit from training as a financial examiner. These professionals oversee compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and real estate transactions, and financial and securities institutions. They examine and establish authenticity of financial records. And in this era of increasing federal and state financial regulations, expect employment growth both of financial examiners and of compliance officers with bachelor’s degrees.

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3. Biomedical engineers

Biomedical engineers combine their knowledge of biology and medicine with engineering to develop devices and procedures that provide medical and health-related solutions. They perform research to develop products and systems including prostheses, artificial organs, medical instruments, and health management and care delivery systems. Many biomedical engineers have a master’s degree or even a doctorate.

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4. Skin-care specialists

Do you enjoy helping people look and feel their best? Skin-care specialists, or estheticians, cleanse and beautify the skin. Estheticians give head and neck massages, facials, full-body treatments, and even apply makeup. Employment of personal appearance workers is expected to grow by 38 percent from 2008 to 2018 ? much faster than the average. You may need to be state-licensed and have a certificate or associate degree.

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5. Network systems and data communications

Do you enjoy working with computers? Network systems and data communications analysts design, test, and evaluate systems such as the Internet, corporate intranets, wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), and other data communications systems. According to the U.S. government, this dynamic career is expected to grow 23 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than average for all occupations. You can enter this career field with many different levels of formal education.

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6. Medical scientists (except epidemiologists)

Are you interested in helping to eradicate serious diseases? Medical scientists study human diseases in order to improve human health, and they carry out biomedical research on bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents. For most prospective medical scientists, Ph.D. in a biological science is the minimum education required.

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7. Dental assistants

Oral health is important to overall health! Working under the supervision of dentists, dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. An increasing number of dental assistants are trained in one-year programs offered by community and junior colleges, trade schools, technical institutes, or the Armed Forces. Many states require dental assistants to obtain a license or certification. According to the U.S. government, dental assisting is expected to be among the fastest-growing occupations over the 2008-18 projection period, with employment expected to grow by 36 percent.

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8. Physician assistants

Unlike medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks, physician assistants (PAs) provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. From 2008 to 2018, job opportunities for PAs are expected to grow by 39 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. While requirements vary by state, physician assistants generally have a college degree and a two-year PA program degree.

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9. Biophysicists and biochemists

Biophysicists research how physics, including mechanical and electrical energy, is connected to living cells and organisms. Biochemists research the chemical composition of living organisms. To enter this growing field you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but to perform research or work in development positions, biological scientists typically need to hold a Ph.D. in biology or one of its subfields.

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10. Physical therapist assistants

If you enjoy helping people recover from illness or injury, you may enjoy this growing career field. Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants provide part of a patient’s treatment including massages, exercises, electrical stimulation, hot and cold packs, traction, paraffin baths, and ultrasound. The projected rate of growth for this career? Twenty-nine percent, much faster than the average for all occupations.

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Here are a few more careers that are expected to grow in the current decade:

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? Veterinarians

? Athletic trainers

? Computer software engineers, applications

? Self-enrichment education teachers

? Veterinary technologists and technicians

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Many of these growing careers require job training or an advanced degree. How do you get the training you need? It’s easier than you may imagine. A good place to start is with a reputable college and career school directory. Log on, enter your search terms (career field, degree required, or even geographical location), and identify four or five colleges that meet your needs. You can easily compare programs and other features, and make the choice that’s right for you.

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* U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment Projections to 2018.”

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