Continuing job training is no longer optional in today's global economy. To keep pace with technology and competition, keep your skill set honed and relevant. The right certificate or associate degree can keep you on the cutting edge of your career. In as little as six months, you could be bringing more value to your employer and more money to your family.
The future of continuing education
Vocational certificates and associate degrees offer the applied training you need to boost your professional prospects -- and your earning power. A July 2009 report from the White House Council of Economic Advisors found that "by 2016, occupations demanding an associate's degree or advanced vocational training will grow twice as fast as jobs with lower qualifications." To prepare for this future, education leaders are calling for more online vocational training programs for working adults.
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Full speed ahead with career training
The following vocational certificates and applied associate degrees should give you an edge in tomorrow's labor market -- and a boost in your paycheck.
1. Reboot your technical career
IT professionals already understand the importance of professional certification -- continuing education is practically part of the job description. Depending on your role, you can benefit from technical technical IT and CIS certification courses in:
- Networking
- Database management
- Web developer
- MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer)
Oracle DBAOther high-value IT certifications focus on a particular application or technology, such as: Microsoft .NET, SQL or Java. IT project manager professional (PMP) certificate: PProject management certification equips you with a versatile credential. The program builds leadership and planning skills, with training in budget forecasting, risk management and using technical PM applications such as Microsoft Project. You'll also qualify for Project Management Institute certification. PMP certification can upgrade your career from IT specialist to management. IT managers earned a median salary of $118,710 in 2008.
2. Revive your health care career
Continuing education also plays a crucial role in the health care sector, where up-to-date medical knowledge can be a matter of life and death. You can breathe new life into your health care career with a certificate or associate degree in nursing. Nursing is the fastest growing occupation in the U.S., with 587,000 new RN jobs forecast for the 2006 to 2016 period.
Licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate: A one-year practical nursing certificate from a vocational or online college can set you up for a licensed practical nursing career. LPNs earned a median annual wage of $40,110 in 2008.
Associate degree in nursing (ADN): Your next step up the nursing career ladder is a two-year associate degree in nursing. The degree prepares you to become licensed as a registered nurse, boosting your salary into the neighborhood of $65,130, the 2008 median income for RNs.Nursing also offers a series of continuing education certificates in particular areas of medical practice, such as geriatric care, cardiovascular care and oncology.
3. Reinvent your science career
Science and engineering careers also reward professionals with advanced training. The Council of Economic Advisors report singles out environmental engineering as a particularly strong area of certificate-fueled opportunity, stating: "Many of the fastest growing jobs--including environmental engineering technician jobs--will require the completion of an associate's degree or certificate program."
Environmental science certificate: Principles include hydrology, environmental policy, LEED design, environmental safety and health management, conservation and more. AAS in environmental science: The associate of applied science in environmental studies can help you reinvent yourself as an environmental science and protection technician. This career path ranks among the Department of Labor's thirty fastest-growing occupations, with nearly 30 percent growth projected between 2006 and 2016. In as little as 18 months, you could raise your salary to the 2008 median of $43,180.
4. Redesign your art and media career
Artists have a central role to play in today's digital media culture. The catch: You need to bring not only talent but applied technical skills to the design table. You'll find a range of online technical certificates and graphic design programs to help you build your creative skill set.
Design certificates: This certificate includes coursework in Web design, multimedia, 3D design, and animation training, with programs in particular design technologies such as Quark XPress, Flash, Dreamweaver and Fireworks. Associate degree in graphic design : This two-year degree can get you started in a digital design, multimedia, or web design career. The program offers comprehensive technical training as well as core visual communications courses. Graphic designers earned a median wage of $46,750 in 2008.
5. Reenergize your business career
How do you advance in the competitive sphere of global business? Bring value to your company through an advanced business credential. Your options include:
Business certificates: Certificates are available in specialized areas such as risk management, financial planning, marketing and more. Or brush up on comprehensive management and leadership skills with Six Sigma certification training. AAB in business: The associate degree in business develops critical transferable skills such as communication, problem solving and critical analysis. If you don't have this fundamental credential, you'll hit a glass ceiling in your business career.
M.B.A.: If you do have a college degree, the best mid-career boost you can give yourself is a master's degree in business administration. Widely available online, the M.B.A. is designed for working business professionals looking to advance their careers. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts an annual survey of M.B.A. graduates, reports an average salary boost of 35 percent upon graduation.
Business salaries vary depending on your position in the hierarchy. Marketing managers, who typically have an M.B.A., earned $118,160 in 2008.
It's pretty simple: To boost your earning power, boost your value as a career professional. Today's colleges and vocational training centers are responding to the demand for a skilled workforce with a range of practical career training programs. Choose the certificate or degree that suits your goals, and recharge your career in as little as six months.
