In the last post we discussed jobs that would see an increase in need for workers in 2012, and that have been increasing in recent history. Many jobs that will experience a boom require advanced education, such as a Master’s degree or doctorate, or at the very least, a difficult Bachelor’s degree. However, there are a few jobs that will increase in in the near future that require less intensive education.
Many of these jobs are also in the field of healthcare. Although becoming a doctor requires many years of education, doctors are assisted by a whole host of technicians that probably received no more than four years of schooling after high school, and some even less than that.
Dental Hygienists and Assistants:
When you go to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned, it’s likely that the person who does the actual cleaning is not an actual dentist, but a dental hygienist. Becoming a dental hygienist requires an Associate’s degree, which takes about two years to accomplish. After earning the Associate’s degree, dental hygienists begin working with a dentist’s office, and clean teeth under the authority of a dentist. This means that they will handle most duties of cleaning teeth, taking x-rays, and doing basic examinations, while the dentist will double-check the cleaning of teeth, read and examine the x-rays, and do a more thorough examination of the teeth, if problems are suspected.
Physical Therapist Assistants:
Physical therapy is usually part of the recovery process after someone heals from an injury or a major surgical operation. However it can also be part of the daily life of a person in an aging population, either because of the aforementioned reasons, or as preventative medicine against such things. In 2012, physical therapy is expected to remain very relevant as a career field, as an increased number of people are expected to need such care.
While a physical therapist requires a four-year bachelor’s degree at the very least, and some have up to a doctorate level of education, a therapist assistant takes only a two year associate’s degree. However, even with this minimal level of training, therapist assistants can expect good pay and excellent prospects for employment.