There are lots of hot, high-growth jobs out there - and you can prepare to pursue them in as little as two years with an associate's degree.
Do you feel like your professional life is not getting the attention
it needs, but you don't want to spend years in school to earn a
four-year degree and change paths? Believe it or not, you can prepare to pursue an in-demand - possibly even a high-growth - career in as little as two years.
How? There are plenty of great careers out there that require only an
associate's degree. If you're intrigued, read on to learn about five
growing careers and the associate's degrees you can earn to pursue each
of them.
In-Demand Career #1 - Dental Hygienist
Job Growth Rate from 2010 to 2020*: 38%
The demand for dental hygienists is skyrocketing. And if you want to
be a part of it, then you might want to prepare for a career as a dental
hygienist by earning your associate's degree in as little as two years.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, some of your daily tasks
as a dental hygienist might include removing tartar, stains, and plaque
from teeth, applying sealants and fluorides to help protect teeth, and
teaching patients how to brush and floss correctly.
Little Schooling, Lots of Potential: The Department
of Labor states that research linking oral health and general health
will increase demand for preventative dental services - meaning more
jobs for dental hygienists.
According to Ron Caruthers, president of Ducerus.com, a college
planning company for high school and college students, and author of
"What Your Guidance Counselor Isn't Telling You," dental hygiene
programs could be completed in as little as two years because classes
center on specific skills you'll need for the career, without spending
time on extraneous topics you'd study for a bachelor's degree. "This is a
specific program, focused on the requirements of the job," he says.
Education Requirements: If you're ready to join the
front lines in the fight against gum disease, you'll typically need an
associate's degree in dental hygiene to get started, the Department
says. You'll also be required to have a license.
In-Demand Career #2 - Computer Programmer
Job Growth Rate from 2010 to 2020: 12%
As businesses increasingly depend on computers for everything from
connectivity to creating a web presence, computer programmers are going
to have a place at the table. And with the right experience, you could
prepare to pursue this career in as little as two years.
Wondering if this is the right field for you? According to the U.S.
Department of Labor, as a computer programmer you might write code to
create software programs, update and expand existing programs, or debug
programs by testing and fixing errors.
Little Schooling, Lots of Potential: "As more and
more businesses move toward web and mobile apps, we'll need more
computer programmers," says Caruthers. "Employers aren't looking for
four-year degrees," Caruthers adds, noting that the technical skills and
know-how to get the job done are more important than a specific degree.
"You can prepare for this career with little schooling, because
you're skipping all the general education classes and focusing on the
classes you'll need for your career," he says.
Education Requirements: According to the Department
of Labor, while most computer programmers do have a bachelor's degree,
some employers will hire workers with an associate's degree. Most
computer programmers earn their degree in computer science or a related
subject.
In-Demand Career #3 - Paralegal
Job Growth Rate from 2010 to 2020: 18%
The legal system is at the heart of America - but you don't need to
go to law school to play a key role in it. Prepare to pursue a growing
career as a paralegal by earning your associate's degree in paralegal
studies.
Two years is all it could take to prepare for a career where you
would be fully immersed in legal cases. According to the U.S. Department
of Labor, as a paralegal you might investigate the facts of a case,
draft contracts or other legal documents, get affidavits to be used as
evidence in court, and even help lawyers during trials.
Little Schooling, Lots of Potential: "As the result
of firm downsize, we saw a shift in the demands of paralegals to take
over some tasks which had formally been parsed out to attorneys," says
Lindsey Wagner, a labor and employment law attorney at Cathleen Scott
& Associates.
So what kinds of things do paralegals learn in paralegal studies programs that could help them prepare for this field?
"Most paralegal courses, be they certificate or associate's degree
programs, skip the general education portion and focus on legal
education and legal requirements," says Caruthers.
In other words, you could earn your associate's in as little as two
years, because these programs focus on the specific knowledge you'll
need to pursue this career, without spending time on things like art
history or calculus.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Paralegal Program.
Education Requirements: Ready to join the ranks of
paralegals at the heart of our legal system? You might consider pursuing
an associate's degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree in
another field with a certificate in paralegal studies, as according to
the Department of Labor, most paralegals take one of these educational
paths.
In-Demand Career #4 - Construction Manager
Job Growth Rate from 2010 to 2020: 17%
As we pull out of the recent housing crisis, construction is picking
up again. And, as the U.S. Department of Labor notes, when building
activity increases, more jobs may open up for construction managers. If
you've got experience in construction, consider preparing to pursue this
career in as little as two years by earning an associate's degree in
construction management.
According to the Department of Labor, you might prepare and negotiate
cost estimates, budgets, and work timetables; supervise construction
personnel and activities onsite; and collaborate with architects,
engineers, and other construction and building specialists.
Little Schooling, Lots of Potential: "Construction
projects seem to be picking up again, so that's what's pushing the
current trend of growth in this career," says Caruthers.
Caruthers explains that an associate's degree can give someone who
already has a good background in construction the skills they'll need to
move into a managerial position in the field.
"This degree preps them for things like OSHA requirements, hiring and
firing, etc.," he explains. "Things they wouldn't have learned as a
construction apprentice."
Education Requirements: The Department agrees that
employers increasingly prefer candidates with both work experience and a
bachelor's degree in construction management, construction science,
engineering, or architecture. However, an associate's degree combined
with work experience may be sufficient for some positions, the
Department adds.
Degree #5 - Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Job Growth Rate from 2010 to 2020: 19%
One of the newer medical careers to experience excellent growth is
nuclear medicine technologist. And you can prepare to pursue this
high-growth career with an associate's degree in as little as two years.
Wondering what nuclear medicine technologists do on a day-to-day
basis? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, as a nuclear medicine
technologist, you might use scanners to produce images of numerous areas
of a patient's body, prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to
patients before their scans, and monitor patients to check for unusual
reactions to drugs.
Little Schooling, Lots of Potential: "More and more
of the medical advances rely on things like CAT scans and MRIs," says
Caruthers. Because of this, he says, the demand for nuclear medicine
technologists is extremely hot right now - so it's no wonder people are
surging into nuclear medicine technology programs.
"An associate's degree gets you trained for this good-paying job in
around two years," Caruthers says, noting that the program covers all
the technical know-how for the profession without wasting time on
"general ed" classes that might not have anything to do with the career.
"You'll learn all the technical stuff, from basic bio and chem classes
to how to administer doses."
Education Requirements: If this sounds like the
right path for you, you'll typically need an associate's degree in
nuclear medicine technology to get started, according to the Department
of Labor. Technologists must also be licensed in some states, the
Department adds, so check your state's regulations.