| With cash-strapped state governments looking for | | | | patients about their medicine and how to take it. |
| any way to support their budgets, it's no wonder | | | | Through a two-year Associate's program, pharmacy |
| that university students around the country are | | | | technicians gain the education they need to work in |
| protesting higher tuition rates. So if you want to go | | | | pharmacies, nursing homes, or assisted-living facilities. |
| to school, or go back to school, but don't want to | | | | For school and career information, visit |
| spend the rest of your life in debt, what are your | | | | this pharmacy technician career profile. |
| options? | | | | Fitness Trainer Careers |
| Believe it or not, there are lots of great careers out | | | | As the emphasis on wellness and preventative health |
| there that only call for an Associate's degree. Unlike a | | | | care grows, so do the opportunities for fitness |
| Bachelor's degree, which will eat up 4 years of your | | | | trainers (aka personal trainers). These individuals help |
| time (and money), Associate's degrees will get you a | | | | their clients run, sweat and climb their way to |
| diploma and get you working in approximately 24 | | | | physical fitness. In the process of doing so, they |
| months. | | | | ward off a whole host of afflictions, including obesity |
| The 5 jobs listed below not only require an | | | | and heart disease. While some companies will hire |
| Associate's degree, but best of all, they are among | | | | fitness trainers with only a certification from a fitness |
| the 30 in the United States. How do we know? | | | | training program, Associate's degrees in exercise |
| Because there's an awesome government agency | | | | science or a related field are recommended for those |
| known as the BLS (the Bureau of Labor Statistics), | | | | who want to advance (and make more money). |
| which is dedicated to investigating labor economics | | | | Physical Therapist Assistant Careers |
| and statistics, that told us so. And these jobs aren't | | | | Sometimes the hardest part of dealing with a medical |
| just growing now; these projections go all the way | | | | condition isn't surgery or treatment; it's recovery. |
| through 2018. | | | | Physical therapists and physical therapists assistants |
| Veterinary Technician Careers | | | | work with patients to help them rebuild their bodies |
| From the mistreated pitbull to the aging golden lab, | | | | and their lives after illnesses and injuries of all kinds. |
| veterinary technicians assist veterinarians in caring for | | | | During an Associate's program, physical therapy |
| all the animals brought to their clinics. Sometimes | | | | students learn how to perform ultrasound scans, |
| referred to as "pet nurses," vet techs play a major | | | | assist patients during weight training, analyze |
| role in administering pet care, processing tests, | | | | treatment progression and more—all of which |
| making diagnoses and helping with treatment. If | | | | prepares them to work as physical therapist |
| you're an animal lover and you have a passion for | | | | assistants when they graduate. For more information, |
| science and health care, this could be the perfect | | | | visit this physical therapist career profile. |
| career for you. For school and career information, | | | | |
| visit this veterinary technician career profile. | | | | Dental Hygienist Careers |
| Pharmacy Technician Careers | | | | That's right, those patient and gentle workers who |
| We've all read the warnings on our prescription | | | | fight tooth decay, wage war against plaque and |
| bottles: a few milligrams of one medication mixed | | | | polish your smile started their careers with an |
| with another can be a recipe for disaster. That's why | | | | Associate's degree. Dental hygienists are required to |
| the role of the pharmacy technician is so important. | | | | enroll in an accredited dental hygiene program, which |
| Pharmacy technicians work with pharmacists to | | | | awards an Associate's degree upon graduation. |
| prepare medications, fill prescriptions, and educate | | | | |