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Becoming a Forensic Toxicologist

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Forensic Toxicologists mainly work with law enforcement agencies and monitor the evidences found at crime scene. This profession keeps changing constantly with frequent developments and new technologies. The Forensic Toxicologists keep themselves updated with the changes and use their brain and expertise to determine the exact nature of the crime and present themselves in court cases.

Education Requirements:

  1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: Forensic Toxicologists need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences such as Chemistry or Biology. They can also go for a degree in Forensic Science. Coursework in mathematics, medicine and pharmacology will serve as an extra advantage. The Bachelor’s Degree is just an entry level program. The aspiring Forensic Toxicologists are required to go for higher courses to reach the zenith of their career.
  2. Obtain a Master’s Degree: After completing Bachelor’s Degree, the aspiring Forensic Toxicologists can go for a Master’s Degree program in relevant field. Coursework in biochemistry and environmental toxicology, will give a tremendous boost to their career.
  3. Doctorate/Post Doctorate: A postdoctoral training arms the Forensic Toxicologists with hands-on experience in setting up a toxicology laboratory, coordinating with staff, prepare relevant applications and manage various projects. Apart from that, a certification from reputed institutes such as the American Board of Forensic Toxicology or the American Board of Clinical Chemistry or the American Board of Toxicology, is also very much desirable.

Salary & Job Outlook: The average salary for a Forensic Toxicologist is around $75,000 per year. Some experienced Toxicologists may earn up to $100,000 or more while newly hired professionals get $60,000 or so. The job outlook for this profession remains bright.

Becoming a Dietetic Technician

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The Dietetic Technicians work with people to improve their health and fitness through nutritional planning and guidance. They also consult with the Dietitians to prepare diet schedule and food chart for the people suffering from obesity and other ailments. The Dietetic Technicians usually get employment at schools, day care centers, gyms, private clinics, government agencies and prisons.

These professionals are well trained to identify the problems people face in their day-to-day life when it comes to eating habits. They understand how the nutrition factors influence our health and what we should eat or drink to keep the body in balance mode. They prepare nutritious recipes that help people to overcome the resentment and accept the foods that are good for their health. Proper guidance and healthy eating habits help people reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other ailments. The Dietetic Technician plays a key role in making that happen.

Education Requirements:

An Associate’s Degree in health studies from an accredited institution is must to become a Dietetic Technician. The coursework generally includes general science, nutrition science and food service systems management. After that, you can enroll in a training program offered by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The program includes 450 hours of practical work in real environment.

The training will help the aspiring Dietetic Technicians learn the communication tricks while dealing with the patients and preparation of food chart to satisfy their needs as well as dietary requirements.

After the training, a certification is necessary to start working as the Dietetic Technician. You must pass a national examination conducted by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to get the certification.

Salary & Job Outlook:

The job outlook for Dietetic Technicians remains bright in the United States. Demand for this profession is expected to grow by 18% during the 2012-22 period. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of Dietetic Technicians was $26,260 in May 2012.

Becoming a Dental Hygienist

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Dental Hygienists provide educational, clinical, medical, research, administrative and therapeutic services on oral healthcare. They diagnose the patients’ oral tissues and overall health to determine the disease or other issues such as risk factors and offer preventive services. They also educate the patients on oral hygiene and preventive oral care. They generally work under the supervision of licensed Dentists. The Dental Hygienists get employment at dental clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.

Education Requirements:

  1. Earn an Undergraduate Degree: Dental Hygienists usually hold an Associate’s Degree. The two-year Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene programs can be availed at community colleges, vocational institutes or dental schools. The major courses in this degree program include oral pathology, dental science, radiology, pain management, periodontics, community dental health and pharmacology.
  2. Licensing: All states in the United States require Dental Hygienists to hold licenses. The Associate’s Degree, school transcripts and/or letters of recommendation are needed to qualify to sit in the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA), which has the final authority to grant the license.
  3. Career Advancement: A higher degree in Bachelor’s or Master’s will help the Dental Hygienists get further growth in their career. That might assist them go beyond the dental office and get a job in research and teaching.

Salary & Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a Dental Hygienist was $71,110 per year in 2013. The job outlook remains bright for this profession, as it is projected to grow at 33% during the period 2012-22.

Becoming a Medical Interpreter

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A Medical Interpreter plays key role in mediating between patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and the doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. The need for Medical Interpreters or Healthcare Interpreters is growing fast, as a huge number of patients from non-English speaking countries are coming to the United States in quest of better treatment over the past few years. When a patient is not good in speaking English, it is even too difficult and sometimes becomes impossible for the doctors and technicians to provide top-notch healthcare facilities to him. In such cases, Medical Interpreters step in to fill up the gap.

Education Requirements:

  1. High School Education: The aspiring Medical Interpreters can get the entry-level training at high school level. They can opt for English, any foreign language and biology classes. They can also study cultural affairs and history to learn more about other countries.
  2. Certification: After completing high school, they can go for a one-year medical interpreter certification program at any community college. During the program, they should study medical terminology, medical ethics, interpreting techniques and communication programs. The certification can be availed from the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters.
  3. Bachelor’s Degree: The Medical Interpreters may choose a foreign language course during a four-year Bachelor’s Degree program. They can also go for a program that covers more than one foreign language. Apart from that, they will need training and experience in business administration, computer application, inter-personal skills, marketing etc.

Key Job Responsibilities:

  • Use proper medical terminology to translate the patient’s response back to Doctors
  • Get details of the patient’s medical history, family background and requirements
  • Reduce the cultural gap between the patients and doctors
  • Be flexible and comfortable to discuss sensitive or personal issues
  • Talk to the patient’s family members when required in the presence of senior professionals.

Salary & Job Outlook: The job outlook for Medical Interpreters remains bright. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is expected to grow at 46% during the period of 2012-2022. The annual average salary for Medical Interpreters was $42,420 as of May 2013.

Becoming a Food Safety Specialist

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In this fast changing world, when safety of food items have come under severe scanner, a Food Safety Specialist plays key role in ensuring the quality of food we consume. The data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 76 million Americans contract food borne illness every year. That is a disturbing trend, as a significant part of our meals is now prepared at restaurants, canteens or commercial food processing facilities.

Education Requirements:

  1. Begin at High School: Aspiring Food Safety Specialists can start their preparations at high school level by opting for courses such as life science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, computer science and communications.
  2. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: Bachelor’s Degree is must for all aspiring Food Safety Specialists. They generally study environmental health, biology or chemistry during the bachelor’s program. Also, they undergo training in food production and handling, sanitation, nutrition and quality assurance.
  3. Master’s Degree/Graduation Certificates: After completing the bachelor’s degree, the students can go for either a master’s degree or graduation certification program offered by various universities. Those courses help in getting in-depth knowledge in hazard control, food borne diseases, food laws etc. The National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP) will prove useful for the career aspirants.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate and consult with food regulatory bodies and monitor the hygienic conditions
  • Ensure the quality and safety of food supply
  • Coordinate with procurement officers to ensure standardized food ingredient purchases
  • Study food formulation procedures and identify health hazards
  • Conduct surveys and audits on restaurants, hotels, canteens, cafeterias and other places
  • Perform laboratory tests on sample foods and ingredients
  • Conduct surveys on meat processing units etc.
  • Enforce proper methods of seed selection, fertilization, pest control, harvesting, storage and transportation
  • Make sure foods are properly labeled and kept at right temperature
  • Conduct raids to make sure that expired food products are kept out of the shelves.

Salary & Job Outlook: The job outlook for this career is very bright, thanks to the rising awareness about the benefits of food safety and healthy eating habits. The average annual salary for a Food Safety Specialist is around $45,000 per year. Some Food Safety Specialists earn up to $70,000 per year.

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist

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Clinical Nurse Specialists are licensed registered nurses (RNs) who hold a master’s or doctor’s degree in a specialized area of nursing practice such as pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health, critical care, diabetes, oncology, psychiatric, rehabilitation etc. They not only perform the conventional nursing responsibilities, but also help patients prevent or treat illness. The Clinical Nurse Specialists provide direct patient care as well as serve as expert consultants for nursing staffs.

Educational Requirements:

  1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing: All aspiring Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) must attend the nursing school to obtain a bachelor’s degree. The duration of the course will be of four years. Courses in nursing degree programs will typically include pharmacology, anatomy, physiology and nursing.
  2. Obtain License as Registered Nurse: Licensing is must for all Clinical Nurse Specialists before they start practicing. Most states in the US require the aspirants to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
  3. Experience: It is almost mandatory to gain one to two years of direct patient experience at a clinical set up before applying for a Master’s program in Nursing.
  4. Earn a Master’s Degree: Master’s Degree programs for Clinical Nurse Specialists take 2-3 years to complete. These programs help in developing the nursing skills, nursing practices and assessment capabilities among the students.
  5. Certification: Several certification programs are available for the Clinical Nurse Specialists, which are generally 4-5 year long. The key certification programs include:
  • Certifications for Advanced Practice in Orthopedics by the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board)
  • Critical Care by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses
  • Oncology by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
  • Adult Health, Gerontology, Psychiatric, Home Health and Community Health by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Salary & Job Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for Clinical Nursing Specialists will grow at 26% during the period of 2012-2022. Highest salary in this profession remains $126,000, while the average salary is $86,500.

Becoming an Art Therapist

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Art therapy is related to the ancient forms of healing where creative stuffs such as visual arts, poetry, music, dance and drama are used to spread the right message, heal the pain and help the patients in rehabilitation and recovery. The ancient Greeks used art therapy to promote human health. And, it remains relevant even in today’s digital world. The modern doctors have acknowledged the impact of music and dance on one’s mind and health. The music therapy is even used to treat people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Working closely with the clients and other health professionals
  • Consultation with previous doctors, nurses and caregivers of the patients
  • Reviewing the medical history of the clients as well as their past
  • Determining which art therapy is right for a particular client
  • Motivating the patients to start creative stuffs on their own
  • Help them with ideas, innovation and guidance
  • Teach them the value and importance of life
  • Guide them to overcome the stress and pain.

Educational Requirements:

  1. Bachelor’s Degree: All aspirants must start with a bachelor’s degree in areas such as Psychology or Counseling. Apart from the regular courses during this four-year program, they must get acquainted with several other courses in their preferred form of art.
  2. Master’s Degree: After completing the bachelor’s degree, the students must go for master’s degree in Art Therapy. In addition, they are required to complete 1,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, which includes real-life experience with the clients.
  3. Licensing and Certification: After the Master’s Degree, the Art Therapists must take the examination/certification programs offered by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).

Salary & Wages: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth rate for Art Therapists will remain 37% during the period 2010-2020. The minimum salary for an Art Therapist was $39,000 in 2010. It goes up to $50,000 and highly experienced ones may earn up to $80,000 per annum.

The Art Therapists get employment at hospitals, clinics, mental asylums, nursing homes, homeless shelters, schools, colleges, universities, correctional facilities and elder care facilities. More information about the Art Therapy career is available at the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) website.