Author Archives: Sagar Satapathy

Becoming a Dental Laboratory Technician

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Dental Laboratory Technicians work closely with the Dentists to assist them in treating the patients suffering from various dental ailments. They also create crowns, bridges and dentures based on the information received about the patients’ teeth. They play a key role during the restoration process by placing the corrective device in the patients’ mouth after the dental surgery in case of an accident or disease, which force the patients lose teeth.

The restoration process is typically complex and requires more skill and art to bring perfection. Dental Laboratory Technicians capture and recreate that perfection to make the smile look natural.

They use advanced materials such as ceramics, plastics and metal alloys during fixed restorations.  These professionals take instructions from the Dentists and then design dental replacements with care.

Education Requirements: The aspiring Dental Laboratory Technicians may have to go for a two-year high school diploma program at the community college, vocational school, technical college or dental school. They receive an associate degree upon the successful completion of the program.

After completing the degree, the aspiring Dental Laboratory Technicians must take up a certification program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA). Another certification program is being offered by the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBCDLT).

During the Associate’s Degree and Certification programs, students learn safety principles, laboratory equipment operation, denture and bridge construction, plaster use, anatomy, science and math.

Salary & Job Outlook: Job outlook for Dental Laboratory Technicians is not very good. The projected job growth is estimated at 3% during the period of 2012-22. The annual average salary for Dental Laboratory Technicians was $39,780 per year.

Becoming a Physical Therapist

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The Physical Therapists perform  a series of tasks, including applying exercise and rehabilitation techniques to treat injuries or abnormalities and reducing their pain and improve ability to move. They work with the patients to prevent disability and ensure healthy living for them. They generally deal in areas such as injuries, geriatrics, orthopedic, home care, neurology, pediatrics, sports etc.

Physical Therapists need to be very patient and understanding, as they may encounter many annoying and irritating, as well as ignorant patients during their work. They teach the patients about various exercises and techniques to improve their mobility and gain strength while preventing recurring injury.

Education Requirements:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: Aspiring Physical Therapists must complete a bachelor’s degree program without any specific major. The four-year bachelor’s degree program may include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics and psychology along with English proficiency. They can also try to volunteer at the physical therapy units of hospitals or clinics to get hands-on experience.

2. Graduate Degree: After completing a bachelor’s degree program, the Physical Therapists are required to complete a professional physical therapy degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The program may take 2-3 years for completion.

3. Licensure: All states in the United States require the Physical Therapists to have a license. They must clear the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

4. Residency Program: The residency programs help the Physical Therapists to boost their career and profile. The programs are typically comprised of 1,500 hours of clinical physical therapy practice. The duration of these programs may be 9-36 months. They get a chance to work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists during the period.

Salary & Job Outlook: The job outlook for Physical Therapists remains excellent with a projected growth rate of 36% during the period of 2012-22. The average salary of these professionals was $81,030 in May 2013.

Becoming an Emergency Management Specialist

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The Emergency Management Specialist fights the first battle in case of any disasters, whether they are natural or man-made. These professionals assist the Municipalities, Government Agencies and other organizations to prepare for the disaster. They review emergency plans and work in tandem with the relevant government and private officials to make sure that all the needs of the people are met during the disaster.

Key Requirements:

It’s not easy to become an Emergency Management Specialist even though you possess necessary educational qualification. A person without any criminal record, will excel as an Emergency Management Specialist. As they have access to sensitive information, the employers always do a background check before hiring these professionals.

Apart from clean criminal record, the aspirants must possess excellent English writing and presentation skills. All Emergency Management centers require these skills so that people in charge can address the audience properly.

Education Requirements:

1. High School Education: It’s must for the aspiring Emergency Management Specialists to complete the high school graduation first. They can select the courses and subjects as per the requirements. But, that’s not mandatory. They can choose any other subjects too.

2. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: As most employers prefer the candidates with bachelor’s degree, the aspirants can opt for a four-year degree program in emergency and homeland security subjects. The coursework will include disaster management, response and recovery, world politics, psychology etc.

3. Job Experience: Some employers look for Emergency Management Specialists with a minimum three years of experience. Training in disaster management or firefighting, experience in law enforcement agencies or program coordination, may serve as an added advantage to their profile.

4. Certification: The National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) offers a certification program that awards Specialist in Emergency Management (SEM) titles upon its successful completion. Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operates an Emergency Management Institute that offers free courses. These courses are offered to the Emergency Management Specialists as part of continuation of education.

Salary & Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for Emergency Management Specialists remain bright. The average salary of these professionals was $62,780 in 2013.

Becoming a Crime Scene Investigator

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Crime Scene Investigators are the trained police officers, who got complete training in performing the tasks related to forensic science, crime scene analysis and evidence collection. In some cases, civilians are also employed as Crime Scene Investigators. They collect fingerprints, footprints, fibers and biological evidences found at the crime scene and on victims’ body to help in criminal investigation process.

The Crime Investigators’ Job Responsibilities:

Rush to the crime scene to secure the venue
Take detailed measurements at the crime spot
Sketch and diagram the crime scene
Take photographs and make videos
Collect documentary evidences
Pack and label evidences before sending to the lab
Attend the autopsy process
File a report with a detailed analysis
Testify before the court with proper arguments and findings

Education Requirements:

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: The aspiring Crime Scene Investigators may not require to possess a Bachelor’s Degree, but it helps them to advance their career further. A Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a specialization in forensic technology, serves as a big advantage to them in their profession. Coursework during the bachelor’s degree program may typically include criminal psychology, investigation, law, ethics and research.

Complete a Police Academy: Many law enforcement agencies in the United States hire employees from their own payroll or people with police training. The aspiring Crime Scene Investigators must complete a police academy program if they are not from their background.

Work Experience: It is necessary for the entry-level Crime Scene Investigators to work under the supervision of Senior Investigators to get on-the-job training.

Certification: A Certification from the International Association for Identification (IAI) will help in boosting the profiles of Crime Scene Investigators. However, only people having at least one year experience in an area related to crime scenes, can apply for certification. A minimum of 75% marks are required to pass the IAI certification test.

Salary & Job Outlook:

The job outlook for this profession remains bright in the United States. The Crime Scene Investigators earn $27,683 – $ 52,471 on an average.

Becoming a Community Health Worker

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Community Health Workers are not trained medical professionals, but they are responsible for a series of tasks, related to health and nutrition. They also work for the healthcare of the community, where people are deprived of primary healthcare and basic amenities. They generally work for the welfare of migrant workers and immigrants who come from different ethnicity and culture. Dealing with such people, always remains a big challenge and Community Health Workers leave no stones unturned to revive them.

Job Responsibilities:

Treating minor diseases
Helping individuals, families, groups and communities
Assisting people in getting health insurance, quality healthcare and health information
Looking after pregnant women and newborn kids
Providing family planning services
Promoting sanitation, cleanliness and hygiene in public places and residential areas
Promoting health education activities
Screening infectious and communicable diseases and providing advice
Helping healthcare and social service systems
Doing Interpretation for clients and healthcare service providers
Providing informal counseling and support
Visiting the chronically ill patients and offering them support and advice

Education Requirements:

The aspiring Community Health Workers need to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree, which may include subjects such as social and human behavior as well as language proficiencies. The education requirements for Community Health Workers vary as per the employers’ requirements. The employers generally look for employees who can speak the language of the community for whom they will work.

Community Health Workers may also be required to undergo on-the-job training or a certification program in the related field.

Salary & Job Outlook:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job outlook for Community Health Workers remain bright and is expected to grow at 21% during the period of 2012-22. In 2012, the average salary of these professionals was $41,830 per year.

Becoming a Disaster Medical Specialist

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Disaster Medical Specialists treat people in case of emergencies, casualties and natural disasters. They also oversee treatment at the disaster scenes and ensure transportation of victims to hospitals or any other medical facilities for further treatment. They are entrusted with the task of providing accurate report to the physicians and surgeons to ensure patients’ well being.

Educational Requirements: A Diploma or Associate’s Degree in Medicine, is the entry level education to become a Disaster Medical Specialist. Many employers prefer a Bachelor’s Degree with a specialization in emergency care. It’s always advisable for the aspiring Disaster Medical Specialists to get the basic medical education plus on-the-job training to boost their career.

Medical School Training: A four-year medical school training may cover courses such as physics, chemistry, biology etc. along with English.

Residency Programs: Followed by a medical school training, the aspiring Disaster Medical Specialists need to go for residency programs, which usually take 3-4 years. They are required to complete field and classroom training and visit the sites to assist the disaster victims during the program.

Certification: Certification courses and proper training help the medical professionals become Disaster Medical Specialists. The American Academy of Disaster Medicine and American Board of Physician Specialties provide the certification programs.

Key Challenges:

Get updated about the recent happenings in your vicinity and collect the data on natural disasters to keep yourself prepared for any eventuality.

Learn how to use medical supplies and pain killers to provide immediate relief to the victims at the disaster site.

While visiting the disaster scenes, make yourself equipped with medical supplies such as oxygen kit, life-saving medicines, intravenous fluids etc.

Regular inspections of medical supplies and equipments to suggest improvements if any.

Consult with physicians and surgeons to offer assistance being the first point of contact with the patients.

Salary & Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Disaster Medical Specialist earns approximately $150,000 to $300,000 per year.The job outlook remains bright because of rising number of natural disasters and emergencies.

Becoming an Allopathic Physician

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Allopathic Physicians (M.D.) are the most sought-after healthcare professionals in the United States. They examine patients, diagnose their health issues, dig deeper into the medical histories and perform tests before prescribing proper treatment and medicines to cure their injury and disease. They counsel patients about illness, injuries and other peventive healthcare issues. They also conduct medical tests and get involved in research and teaching too.

The Allopathic Physicians have various specialties to choose from. They include Anesthesiology, Family and general medicine, General internal medicine, General pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry and Surgery.

Working Conditions: The Allopathic Physicians work in hospitals, nursing homes, healthcare settings, clinical settings, private organizations, Universities, public agencies, research laboratories etc. They also prefer freelance teaching, but most Allopathic Physicians are seen opting for private practice.

Education Requirements:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: To become an Allopathic Physician, a bachelor’s degree in general science with coursework in Chemistry, Physics, Microbiology and Anatomy is the first step of academic requirements. The course duration is four years. Some experience in laboratory work, may come in handy and boost their profile. Apart from college/graduate school certificates, the aspiring Allopathic Physicians must get good scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in order to get enrolled into a bachelor’s degree program.

2. Residency Program: After getting the Medical Degree, the students will have to go for residency programs to get experience at clinical settings. These programs may last from three to eight years.

Salary & Job Outlook:

The job outlook for the Allopathic Physicians remain excellent, as it is expected to grow at 18% during the period of 2012-22. They can earn in the range of $150,000 – $300,000. The average annual salary is $183,940 for family and general practice doctors and $235,070 for anesthesiologists.

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

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Nurse Practitioners provide care to patients of all ages and ensure their physical fitness and well being. They perform critical physical examinations and treat illness and injuries apart from providing immunization and care. They also manage the patients’ blood pressure, diabetes, depression and other chronic ailments. It is the responsibility of Nurse Practitioners to handle the reports of X-Rays and EKGs as well as other laboratory tests. They also educate and counsel patients and their families regarding healthy living.

Nurse Practitioners work in clinics, offices, care facilities, hospitals besides providing personal services at home. Their work places also include college campuses, non-profit organizations and government agencies.

Education Requirements:

1. Earn an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing. It’s mandatory for aspiring Nurse Practitioners to go for an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. The under-graduate degree program usually takes two years to complete.

2. Get a Bachelor’s Degree. A Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing is the next level when it comes to education requirements to become a Nurse Practitioner. The four-year program may consist of various subjects such as pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, pediatric nursing and community health.

3. Licensure: A license from the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is must for Nurse Practitioners to get employment in the United States. They must be proficient in Problem solving, decision making, written and oral communication skills.

Salary & Job Outlook: The career outlook for Nurse Practitioners remains excellent. In 2013, the average salary of Nurse Practitioners was $92,670 per year. Top Nurse Practitioners may earn up to $126,250 per year.

Becoming a Forensic Odontologist

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Forensic Odontologists use their expertise to help identify the bite marks on individuals and figure out the repercussions while prescribing treatments. They are capable of identifying human remains that cannot be identified through face recognition. They also identify bodies in case of mass casualties, such as plane crash, road mishap and natural disasters. The Forensic Odontologists also determine the source of bite marks to prove any suspected assault or abuse. They further estimate the age of skeletal remains, using their knowledge and expertise.

Apart from these tests, the Forensic Odontologists write detailed reports explaining the the events and suggested actions. They must be prepared to testify in the court and justify their findings. They usually work as regular Dentists at hospitals, medical facilities and law enforcement agencies.

Education Requirements:

A Forensic Odontologist must earn a Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree followed by extensive training in forensic odontology. Hands-on experience will be an advantage for the professionals.

They must do coursework in various subjects such as Biochemistry, Histology, Human Anatomy, Oral Surgery, Neuroscience, Physiology etc. A certification program from the American Board of Forensic Odontology or the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, may be desired by various states in the U.S.

Salary & Job Outlook:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for Forensic Odontologist may grow by 16% – greater than the average during the period of 2012-22. Their average annual salary is around $150,000 – $185,000, which is considered high in the field of healthcare.

Becoming a Surgical Technologist

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Surgical Technologists play an important role in the operating room by teaming up with Surgeons, Anesthesiologist and Circulating Nurse. They work under the direct supervision of the Surgeon, but fulfill the primary requirements before a surgery. They prepare the operating room by setting up sterile surgical instruments, equipment and supplies, such as drapes, gowns, gloves, suction tubing etc. The Surgical Technologists also assemble the sterile equipment to ensure its smooth functioning.

The Surgical Technologists are shadows of the Surgeons who conduct surgery inside the operating room. They anticipate the needs of the surgeon by passing instruments and relevant assistance, including the supplies. While the Surgical Technologists generally work in operating rooms, they also work in clean and cool environment when they are not assisting in surgeries. Sometimes, they are exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant odors, which they counter with utmost care.

Education Requirements:

A career in Surgical Technology, remains very challenging. A two-year degree is the most preferable degree for the aspirant Surgical Technicians. The program is known as

In addition, a certification program with courses in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, also comes in handy for the students. The certification program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Job Experience: Working as a Medical Assistant or Nursing Assistant, will help the aspirants to show their job experience while applying for the posts of Surgical Technologist. Although it’s not a mandatory requirement, some employers do prefer professionals with some job experience.

Salary & Job Outlook: Job outlook of Surgical Technologists is projected to grow by 30% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual wage for Surgical Technologists was $41,790 in May 2012.