Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Health care careers require a variety of degrees and/or certifications. In fact, many people in the health care industry return to school for updated training or certification. Commonly offered degree and certification programs include:
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- PhD
- Career-Specific Certification
With our baby boomer generation aging, the health care field is growing exponentially. From an increased need for pharmacists and technicians to growing demand for medical records specialists, there are jobs related to health care throughout the nation. You can make yourself a more marketable candidate by returning to school and broadening your knowledge base.
Because there are so many different types of degrees available in the health care world, it also means that it can take a varied amount of time to get certified or start your career. Many technicians can get their certificates in one or two years, but a large percentage of workers return to school to get additional training or a degree. Generally, the more education completed, the higher the salary.
How to Become a Psychologist
When you choose a career in psychology you will dedicate your life to helping people adapt their individual behavior. Psychologists formulate theories based on their observations and recordings of the behavior patterns of an individual and help them concentrate on how their beliefs and feelings affect their actions.
An Education in Psychology
To become a psychologist you will need at least a master’s degree in psychology; a doctoral degree is required to work in a private practice. Because admission to psychology graduate programs is very competitive you will need to maintain high grades throughout your college career in order to be accepted in a master’s degree program. Typical coursework will involve extensive classes in physical, social, and biological science as well as psychology; usually applied experience and an original research project thesis will also be required. At the doctorate level you will need to complete five years of graduate work including computer-based analysis, quantitative experimental methods, and a dissertation on your original research.
Psychologist Salaries
Psychologist salaries vary depending on the type of work they do and where they are employed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the median annual clinical, counseling, and school psychologist salary in 2008 was $64,140 with the lowest ten percent earning under $37,900 and the highest ten percent earning over $106,840. For those working in industrial-organizational areas the median annual psychologist salary was $77,010, with the lowest ten percent earning under $38,690 and the top ten percent of psychologist salaries being over $149,120. Approximately 34 percent of all psychologists are self-employed. (Salary data retrieved 6/25/11)
To get started on your way to a career as a psychologist, find a degree program today!