September 2008

The economy might be in the dumps, but that doesn’t mean that your job has to go down the tube too! It seems that job security is more important than ever before, but there are a few fail-safe occupations that will survive even the worst recession.

Think about it—no matter what the economy is like, everyone will still need quality health care. That’s why health care is one of today’s fastest growing industries! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, seven of the top twenty fastest growing careers are related to health. In fact, over the next eight years, jobs in health care are expected to grow twice as fast as those in all other areas of the economy. Check out some of the top five career choices in the field of medicine:

1. Health care aid
Anticipated job growth: 53%
Salary range: $17,895 to $23,481

There is a huge demand for qualified health care aids these days. Home care aids are individuals who provide in-home care for people who are disabled. They can help by performing a variety of tasks that include laundry, cleaning, and cooking. Additionally, some health care aids may advice patients and their family about nutrition and other general-health issues.

2. Medical assistants
Anticipated job growth: 36%
Salary range: $24,317 and $36,987

Medical assistants help with a variety of tasks in hospitals and clinics. They may be responsible for doing a wide range of tasks that include updating medical records to taking patients’ vital signs.

3. Physical therapists
Anticipated job growth: 33%
Salary range: $44,762 to $61,139

If you have ever been injured, you might have seen a physical therapist. These people help patients recover from injuries and work to prevent new ones. A physical therapist should get a college degree before they get started on their career, but they can begin earning up to $60,000 a year right after certification!

4. Pharmacy technicians
Anticipated job growth: 32%
Salary range: $30,085 to $40,285

Pharmacy technicians have a very important job! Since they help to dispense medicine to people, they need to be sure that the proper medications reach the right patient. They also help the pharmacist organize patient records, stock inventory, and organize insurance forms.

5. Dental hygienists
Anticipated job growth: 31%
Salary range: $60,654 and $93,475

Dental hygienist clean teeth, look for signs of oral disease, and provide preventative dental health care. Since they frequently work with delicate medical equipment like X-ray machines and syringes, dental hygienists need to complete a certification before they begin work.

Spotlight: Optometry School
If you care about people and their vision, and want an exciting career where you can make a difference in the lives of those you help, you may want to go to optometry school.

To become a Doctor of Optometry, you must attend one of the 16 accredited schools of optometry in the United States. Because the field is so popular and competition to get into the schools is tough, most of the schools expect students to have an undergraduate degree in order to apply, such as biology, chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, social science, English, or microbiology. Potential students also need to already have some knowledge about the field and take what is known as the Optometry Aptitude Test (OAT).

There are several degrees in optometry one can go for, including Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree, Associate of Science in Optometric Technology/Opticianry (A.S.). One can also earn a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (M.S., Ph.D.) degree, which is meant mainly for those who wish to go into researching and teaching the field of vision. Some optometry schools will offer several bachelor courses for those who have entered the Doctor of Optometry program without first having completed a bachelor degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Optometry (B.S.).

Courses involved in earning an optometry degree are varied, depending on the level
of degree you are pursuing. Some examples of courses include office procedures, ophthalmic procedures, contact lens methods and procedures, lens finishing, through to basic introductions to vision science, refractive anomalies, retinal imaging, ocular surfaces, diseases of the eye and surgery.

Because graduates are in such demand, most optometry schools will have some
form of employment placement program to help graduates find a work. Financial
aid is usually available and many have robust student service and alumni
programs available.