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Becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

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Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists apply various techniques of recreation measures such as music, drama, dance, arts and crafts, sports, games, field trips etc. in order to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people with illness, injuries or disabilities. Their responsibilities include conducting recreation-based treatment programs, encouraging people’s participation, supervising clients in recreational activities, assessing the needs and abilities of the participants of all ages, offering emotional support to the patients and their family members etc.

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists are employed in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, adult day centers, residential living facilities, mental health agencies, rehabilitation centers, prisons, educational institutions etc. These professionals may act as therapists, educators, counselors or facilitators in any different number of settings. They may specialize in certain populations, such as pediatrics, adolescents, or geriatrics. They often work full time.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, the aspiring candidates have to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree program in therapeutic recreation from an accredited institution. The degree program is mostly focused on medical concepts and treatment. The syllabus contains an introduction to therapeutic recreation, physiology, biology, kinesiology, abnormal psychology, sociology, etc.

Students can also earn higher degree such as master’s or doctoral degree in therapeutic recreation to find better job opportunities in this profession.

Certification and Licensure

Since the practice of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist needs to be licensed in many states of USA, the job aspirants have to pass the required examination in order to get a license. The candidates can obtain exam-based certification administered by National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), which also offers certifications in areas such as behavioral health, developmental disabilities, community inclusion services, rehabilitation and physical medicine etc.

Skill Set

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists possess various skills such as empathy towards people, crisis management and decision making abilities, understanding clients’ emotions, ability to remain calm under pressure, motivating and convincing power, ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, excellent verbal and written skills, tolerance to awkward behavior of clients, computer operating skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist remains outstanding across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 13% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist was $42,280 in May 2012.

Becoming a Certified Herbalist

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Certified Herbalists use plant and mineral-based remedies for health promotion and disease prevention. They guide the patients how to supplement their health needs with traditional herbs such as plant leaves, flowers, seeds, berries, bark or roots. They participate in all stages of the herbal medicine process from growth to the manufacturing of raw herbs. In addition, they may process one or more herbs into various products, such as pills, capsules, powders, or tinctures.

Certified Herbalists usually focus on one of three kinds of herbal medicines such as Western herbs, Chinese herbs and Indian Ayurvedic herbs.

These professionals can work independently or with naturopathic physicians or other alternative providers to treat patients and assist with the healing process. They may work as consultants, researchers, educators, producers of herbal products or authors of books and articles in herbal areas.

Educational Requirements

In USA, there is no uniform national educational standard to become a Certified Herbalist. It varies according to the certifying body. Some aspirants earn the Doctor of Naturopathy degree while other candidates obtain four-year of bachelor’s degree in botanical medicine. Herbal studies explore the knowledge of the human body as well as the effects of various plant extracts on bodily functions and healing.

Certified Herbalist aspirants can find training within several fields of holistic medicine, including Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine and western scientific botanical applications. Employers may prefer to hire candidates with cross-trained in other alternative therapy, such as acupuncture.

Certification

Certified Herbalists in USA can obtain exam-based certification from various organizations such as the East West School of Planetary Herbology, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the American University of Complementary Medicine etc.

Skill Set

Apart from the clinical knowledge, Certified Herbalists possess various traits such as a great deal of knowledge in herbal formulas and supplements, ability to source raw herbal materials, understanding of human dietary needs, motivating and convincing abilities, understanding of patient assessment and diagnoses standards, excellent communication skills, computer skills to name a few.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Herbalist remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 20% during 2010-2020. The average annual salary of a Certified Herbalist was $ 43,920 in 2013.

Becoming A Chiropractic Assistant

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Chiropractic Assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks under the direct supervision a Chiropractor in a health care setting. Their clinical responsibilities include obtaining patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature etc., explaining treatment procedures, escorting patients, taking X-rays, maintaining equipments so on an so forth. Administrative duties may include responding to patient’s queries, scheduling appointments, maintaining patients’ check in and checkout, recording medical histories, calculating billing, attending phone calls, assisting in insurance claims etc.

Chiropractic Assistants work under a licensed chiropractor in variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, residential care facilities, rehabilitation facilities etc. They may have to work on day or night shifts as well as in the weekends.

Educational Requirements

To become a Chiropractic Assistant, the aspiring candidates need to earn at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent. The students can hold a two-year associate’s degree program in chiropractic technology for better job prospects in this field. Most of the employers in USA, however, prefer candidates with previous experience in a medical or chiropractic environment for these professionals.

Chiropractic Assistants study the coursework of medical terminology human anatomy, biology, physiology, billing, office management, insurance processing etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since many states of USA require a Chiropractic Assistant to be licensed, the aspiring candidates need to earn an exam-based License. The candidates can also obtain certification from the state’s Chiropractic Examiners Board.

Skill Set

Chiropractic Assistants possess various traits such as empathy towards patient, detail oriented, high medical ethics, a great deal of physical stamina to stand for long duration, ability to assist the patients emotionally and physically, familiarity with patient care and customer service, ability to perform multitask job simultaneously, effective verbal and written communication skills, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Chiropractic Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 29% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Chiropractic Assistant was $29,370 in May 2012.

Becoming a Certified Phlebotomy Technician

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Certified Phlebotomy Technicians collect blood safely from people for various purposes such as diagnosing health problems, transfusions, research, or blood donations. They use different techniques while drawing blood like finger-stick method to collect specimens, puncturing a vein with the needle etc. Their other duties include preparing the equipments used for blood- collection, keeping and transporting the blood samples safely, following different procedures within the lab, putting blood samples in accurately marked containers, adding required stains to the blood samples for specific tests, assisting patients during their adverse reaction etc. In some cases, they may be assigned clerical tasks, such as data entry or record keeping.

Certified Phlebotomy Technicians work in a variety of settings such as government and private hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, physician’s offices, pathology labs, blood banks, educational institutions, research centers etc.

Educational Requirements

To become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician, the aspiring candidates must be a high school graduate and required to complete a training program from an accredited college. The training program normally takes 10-12 months to complete.

Certified Phlebotomy Technicians study phlebotomy procedures, venipuncture, arterial puncture, mathematics, medical terminology, safety rules, computer operating, lab procedures etc. Classroom studies as well as clinical practice are crucial parts of a Certified Phlebotomy Technician’s education.

Certification and Licensure

Since most states of USA require a Certified Phlebotomy Technician to be licensed, the aspiring candidates need to earn an exam-based License. The American Medical Technologists, the American Society for Phlebotomy Technicians and the American Society for Clinical Pathology offer certification for these professionals.

Skill set

Apart from acquiring a formal training, a Certified Phlebotomy Technician possesses a wide range of traits such as tremendous attention to detail, high level of patience and compassion, ability to work with small needles and other devices precisely, understanding of detailed procedures for specimen collecting or medical testing, ability to perform duties with accuracy, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, computer operating skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Phlebotomy Technician remains excellent across the USA. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise by 30% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Certified Phlebotomy Technician was $30,910 in May 2012.

Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer

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Certified Personal Trainers work with individuals to develop healthy workout regimens and diet plans. They listen to the clients to find out personal fitness goals, and then provide instruction and supervision to strengthen different muscles of body part. They may demonstrate various exercises to improve their client’s technique, physical strength and often combine weight training with cardiovascular activities. These professionals also measure their client’s strengths and weaknesses with periodical fitness assessments.

In addition, Certified Personal Trainers educate their clients in many other aspects of wellness, including life style changes and nutrition guidelines to lead a healthy life. They also motivate clients by setting some goals and providing required feedback.

Certified Personal Trainers mostly work in a gym, fitness center or rehabilitation facilities. These professionals also work on a freelance basis. Some trainers also specialize in specific forms of fitness, such as yoga, and provide personalized instruction to clients who wish to learn those forms of exercise.

Educational Requirements

To become a Certified Personal Trainer, the aspiring candidates have to earn at least a high school diploma. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted that employers now prefer the Certified Personal Trainers with a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field like exercise science, physical education or kinesiology.

Students study the courses in these areas include nutrition, exercise physiology, human psychology, kinesiology etc. The aspiring candidates may also complete fitness assessments and learn rehabilitation techniques for better job prospects.

Certification

Certified Personal Trainers aspirants can obtain certification from various professional associations devoted to fitness and related areas, such as the American College of Sports medicine, the International Sport Sciences Association, or the American Council on Exercise.

Skill set

Apart from knowledge in physical fitness, Certified Personal Trainers possess wide range of skills such as effective communications and interpersonal skills, tolerating clients’ poor response, understanding clients’ interest, motivating capacity, patiently listening abilities etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Orthodontic Assistant remains excellent in USA. According to BLS, the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 13% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Certified Orthodontic Assistant was $33,020 in 2013.

Becoming a Clerical Health Care Worker

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Clerical Health Care Workers perform administrative tasks in a medical setting. Their responsibilities include responding phone calls and other queries, scheduling appointments, acting as a liaison between patients, doctors, and other staff, maintaining privacy and confidential medical report, keeping medical record with accuracy, guiding patients for proper treatment or preventive cure, helping for insurance reimbursement, assisting patients on rehabilitative exercises and diet control etc. In addition, these professionals oversee the overall organization of their unit and ensure it runs smoothly.

Clerical Health Care Workers can work at variety of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, home care centers, rehabilitation centers, doctor’s offices, group medical practices at clinics etc. They are employed in different types of positions such as administrative support worker, medical coder, medical records clerk, medical transcriptionist so on and so forth.

Educational Requirements

In order to become a Clerical Health Care Worker, the aspiring candidates need to hold at least a high school diploma. However, the students can pursue associate degree program in health, office administration or related field to find out better job opportunities. These professionals can get training either on-the-job or through vocational programs.

Clerical Health Care Workers study the coursework in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, medical billing and coding etc.

Certification

While working as a Medical Coder, Clerical Health Care Workers need to obtain a certification from American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC) or the Professional Association of Health Care Coding Specialists (PAHCS).

Skill Set

Apart from holding an academic qualification, Clerical Health Care Workers possess variety skills such as empathy towards patient, ability to be detail-oriented and work with compassion, high medical ethics, crisis management and problem solving abilities, highly-organized and efficient to record the data accurately, maintaining privacy and confidential report of the patient, managing multiple task at a time, effective communications and interpersonal skills, knowledge of basic computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Clerical Health Care Worker remains excellent in USA. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 22 per cent from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Clerical Health Care Worker was $34,970 in May 2013.

Becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

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Certified Substance Abuse Counselors help people to overcome and conquer dependencies on substances such as alcohol and various drugs like narcotics, cocaine, heroin etc. Their responsibilities include maintaining patients’ medical history, evaluating their mental and physical health, determining a proper treatment and recovery program, assessing patient’s progress, organizing counseling program on lifestyle changes and prevention of substance abuse etc.

In addition, these professionals offer moral support to the drug addicted persons and their family members as the recovery period is quite challenging. They also collaborate with doctors, psychologists, social workers and other professionals to provide other necessary services.

Certified Substance Abuse Counselors conduct both one-on-one and group counseling sessions. They work in many different settings such as public and private hospitals, community health centers, mental health centers, detention centers, rehabilitation centers, educational institutions, research centers, NGOs etc. They can also open their own private practices.

Education Requirements

To become a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, educational requirement differs from a high school diploma to a master’s degree depending on the working environment. However, these professionals holding a high school diploma need to take training on the job.

At degree level, the course work includes pharmacology, psychology, addiction studies, behavioral science or related majors. During master’s program, the students spend time with patients at clinics.

Licensure and Certification

Since most states of USA require a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor to be licensed, the aspiring candidates have to obtain a License after passing a required examination. The Association for Addictions Professionals (NAADAC) offers variety of certifications to these professionals.

Skill Set

Apart from academic knowledge, Certified Substance Abuse Counselors possess wide range of skills such as analytical and decision making abilities, effective communication and interpersonal skills, ability to maintain privacy and confidentiality, understanding patients’ emotions, tolerance for patients’ response with violence in some cases etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor remains excellent across the USA. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 31 per cent during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of an Addictions Counselors was $38,620 in 2013.

Becoming a Hospital Laboratory Technician

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Hospital Laboratory Technicians conduct lab test of human body fluids, tissues, cells and other substances for diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases. Their responsibilities include analyzing the chemical constituents of body fluids such as urine, blood and stool samples, determining the function of immune system, confirming safe blood transfusion, identifying infective microorganisms, evaluating hormone levels, detecting abnormalities for a specific health problem, reporting the findings to physicians and maintaining the detailed records of patients. They use biomedical instruments and technology as well as manual techniques for the lab test.

These skilled professionals work at variety of public and private settings such as public health laboratories, clinical laboratories, forensic and law enforcement laboratories, pharmaceutical or chemical industries, research and educational institutions etc. They may have to work in night shifts and even during weekend.

Educational Requirements

To become a Hospital Laboratory Technician, the aspiring candidates need to complete a two-year associate degree in medical laboratory technology. The syllabus in this program includes microbiology, hematology, immunology, psychology, chemistry, clinical laboratory practices etc. The students can pursue a degree program in a related field for better employment opportunities.

Licensure and Certification

Since the practice of a Hospital Laboratory Technician in most of the states of USA requires to be licensed, the aspiring candidates need to earn a license by passing the required examination. These professionals can obtain certification from the Board of Registry for the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Skill Set

Apart from technical knowledge, Hospital Laboratory Technicians should have an eye for detail. They should also have the ability to operate complex machinery equipments, physical strength to work long hours either in sitting or standing, an understanding of medical terminology, excellent communication and computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Hospital Laboratory Technician remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 30% during the period of 2012-2022. The average annual salary of a Hospital Laboratory Technician was $40,990 in 2013.

Becoming an Aromatherapist

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Aromatherapists offer holistic medicinal therapy to patients by using essential oils extracted from plants in blends that are inhaled or applied directly to the skin in order to improve physical, psychological or emotional afflictions like stress and insomnia. Their responsibilities include taking a detailed patient case history before therapy, choosing the correct essential oils for those patients, creating a bespoke blend for the treatment session, administering the oils to the patient’s body either through sprays, massage or inhalation techniques etc. They also consult and refer to other health practitioners if required.

Aromatherapists are usually self-employed. These professionals also work in hospitals, alternative medicine clinics, doctor’s offices, spas, salons, rehabilitation centers etc.

Educational Requirements

To become an Aromatherapist, the aspiring candidates need to earn diplomas and certificates in aromatherapy. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) offers the standard for professional aromatherapy certification.

Aromatherapist practitioners study botany, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, the application of essential oils, therapeutic relationships and business.

Knowledge and Skill Set

Aromatherapists should have a great deal of knowledge to distinguish between different types of essential oils, healing properties of such oils and know how they affect the human body.

In addition, these professionals possess various skills such as dedication to work in challenging situation, empathy towards patient, high medical ethics, clear understanding of confidentiality, ability to remain calm under pressure, work with compassion, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills, decision making and management abilities, physical stamina to work for long hours, computer skills etc.

Salary & Job Outlook

Job outlook for the Aromatherapists remains excellent across the USA. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 28% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of an Aromatherapist was $53,210 in 2012.