Career Opportunities - Start a Career With Built-In Updward Mobility

Let me guess: you needed to start working yesterday, but you don't want to take a dead-end job leading nowhere just to get a few bucks in your pocket. You want to find a career that you can start quickly, but that will offer you chances to grow, advance and increase that weekly paycheck.

You came to the right place, my friend. I've got just the thing for you: 3 rewarding career paths that you can start quickly and grow in while you work.

Dental Career path

Start here: Dental Assistant
With strong growth predicted for the entire dental industry, becoming a dental assistant is a great way to get your foot in the door. Get started by completing a dental assistant program, which is usually offered by community and junior colleges, trade schools, and technical institutes. While these programs typically take one year, you can also elect to enroll in a two-year associate's degree program offered by community and junior colleges. Either way, you'll be prepping patients and assisting dentists in no time.

End up here: Dental Hygienist
While you're working as a dental assistant and getting valuable experience under your belt, you can study to become a dental hygienist. Hygienists are those professionals who spend their afternoons polishing our teeth and making our smiles beautiful. To become a dental hygienist, you need an associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene from an accredited dental hygienist program. Once you've got that diploma in hand, you'll also need to take a licensing exam for the state in which you plan to work.

Estimated Earning Potential: In May 2008, the median annual wage for dental assistants was $32,280, while the median annual wage for their dental hygienist colleagues in the same month was $66,570, or more than double. Makes that dental hygienist certification sound like a good investment, doesn't it?

Added Bonus: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one third of all dental assistants work part-time, which leaves you plenty of time to go to school, care for your family, or pursue another job. In addition, both dental assistants and dental hygienists experience a high degree of flexibility in their careers, with the option to work nights and weekends if that fits into your schedule better.

Accountant Career Path

Start here: Bookkeeper
If you've got a high school diploma and a passion for numbers, you can start a career as a bookkeeper. Bookkeepers update and maintain financial records for virtually every industry out there. In addition, they may also handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, and keep track of overdue accounts. One thing to note: an Associate's degree in accounting or business is slowly becoming more desirable for these positions, which can typically be earned in two years.

End up here: Accountant
Bookkeepers who work towards a Bachelor's in accounting can become accountants when they graduate. Accountants work with companies and organizations to make sure that their taxes are paid on time, their records are kept accurately, and their finances are in order.

Estimated Earning Potential: In May 2008, Bookkeepers made a median annual salary of $32,150. In the same month, accountants took home a median wage of $59,430 for the year.

Added Bonus: More and more schools are offering accounting programs online, making it easy to earn your accounting degree while you work.

Nursing Career Path

Start here: Licensed Practical Nurse
You can get started as a licensed practical nurse (also known as licensed vocational nurse) by enrolling in a state-approved nursing program. These programs are typically offered by community and junior colleges and should take about a year to complete. Once you complete the program, you'll need to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to get your license. When you're done, you'll be ready to help registered nurses and doctors care for patients on a daily basis in a wide variety of settings.

End up here: Registered Nurse
While you're working as a LPN, you can study to become a registered nurse. There are three educational paths to choose from: earn a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN), an Associate's degree in nursing, or a diploma from an accredited nursing program (usually offered by hospitals). Any of these programs will allow you to practice as a registered nurse after you graduate (and pass the NCLEX-RN examination). In addition, many schools offer an LPN to RN program to specifically aid this transition.

Estimated Earning Potential: In May 2008, licensed practical nurses took home a median annual wage of $39,030. Meanwhile, registered nurses were compensated an annual wage of $62,450 in the same month.

Added Bonus: The advancement opportunities for nurses are endless. For registered nurses who don't have a BSN, there are plenty of programs that make earning your bachelor's in nursing easy. Once you have your BSN, you can choose to pursue a Master's in nursing, which will allow you to enter specialized fields and become an advanced practice nurse (APN). (APNs typically become nurse practitioners, certified nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, or certified nurse midwives.) If you want to go into teaching or research or a leadership, you can further your career by pursuing a doctorate in nursing. Plus, once you have your BSN, many graduate nursing programs are offered online, making it easy to continue your education. At the end of the day, a nursing career can go as far financially and professionally as you want to take it.

To find out more about any of these career paths and how to get started, visit the myFootpath career profiles page.

Noel Rozny writes the bi-weekly career blog mypathfinder for the myFootpath website. myFootpath is a resource to help you in your search for a college, degree program, career, graduate school, and non-traditional experiences. Visit http://www.myfootpath.com to start your college or degree program search.

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