| Let me guess: you needed to start working yesterday, | | | | Start here: Bookkeeper |
| but you don't want to take a dead-end job leading | | | | If you've got a high school diploma and a passion for |
| nowhere just to get a few bucks in your pocket. You | | | | numbers, you can start a career as a bookkeeper. |
| want to find a career that you can start quickly, but | | | | Bookkeepers update and maintain financial records for |
| that will offer you chances to grow, advance and | | | | virtually every industry out there. In addition, they may |
| increase that weekly paycheck. | | | | also handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, |
| You came to the right place, my friend. I've got just the | | | | and keep track of overdue accounts. One thing to |
| thing for you: 3 rewarding career paths that you can | | | | note: an Associate's degree in accounting or business |
| start quickly and grow in while you work. | | | | is slowly becoming more desirable for these positions, |
| Dental Career path | | | | which can typically be earned in two years. |
| Start here: Dental Assistant | | | | End up here: Accountant |
| With strong growth predicted for the entire dental | | | | Bookkeepers who work towards a Bachelor's in |
| industry, becoming a dental assistant is a great way to | | | | accounting can become accountants when they |
| get your foot in the door. Get started by completing a | | | | graduate. Accountants work with companies and |
| dental assistant program, which is usually offered by | | | | organizations to make sure that their taxes are paid on |
| community and junior colleges, trade schools, and | | | | time, their records are kept accurately, and their |
| technical institutes. While these programs typically take | | | | finances are in order. |
| one year, you can also elect to enroll in a two-year | | | | Estimated Earning Potential: In May 2008, Bookkeepers |
| associate's degree program offered by community | | | | made a median annual salary of $32,150. In the same |
| and junior colleges. Either way, you'll be prepping | | | | month, accountants took home a median wage of |
| patients and assisting dentists in no time. | | | | $59,430 for the year. |
| End up here: Dental Hygienist | | | | Added Bonus: More and more schools are offering |
| While you're working as a dental assistant and getting | | | | accounting programs online, making it easy to earn |
| valuable experience under your belt, you can study to | | | | your accounting degree while you work. |
| become a dental hygienist. Hygienists are those | | | | Nursing Career Path |
| professionals who spend their afternoons polishing our | | | | Start here: Licensed Practical Nurse |
| teeth and making our smiles beautiful. To become a | | | | You can get started as a licensed practical nurse (also |
| dental hygienist, you need an associate degree or | | | | known as licensed vocational nurse) by enrolling in a |
| certificate in dental hygiene from an accredited dental | | | | state-approved nursing program. These programs are |
| hygienist program. Once you've got that diploma in | | | | typically offered by community and junior colleges and |
| hand, you'll also need to take a licensing exam for the | | | | should take about a year to complete. Once you |
| state in which you plan to work. | | | | complete the program, you'll need to take the National |
| Estimated Earning Potential: In May 2008, the median | | | | Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to get |
| annual wage for dental assistants was $32,280, while | | | | your license. When you're done, you'll be ready to help |
| the median annual wage for their dental hygienist | | | | registered nurses and doctors care for patients on a |
| colleagues in the same month was $66,570, or more | | | | daily basis in a wide variety of settings. |
| than double. Makes that dental hygienist certification | | | | End up here: Registered Nurse |
| sound like a good investment, doesn't it? | | | | While you're working as a LPN, you can study to |
| Added Bonus: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor | | | | become a registered nurse. There are three |
| Statistics, more than one third of all dental assistants | | | | educational paths to choose from: earn a bachelor's of |
| work part-time, which leaves you plenty of time to go | | | | science in nursing (BSN), an Associate's degree in |
| to school, care for your family, or pursue another job. In | | | | nursing, or a diploma from an accredited nursing |
| addition, both dental assistants and dental hygienists | | | | program (usually offered by hospitals). Any of these |
| experience a high degree of flexibility in their careers, | | | | programs will allow you to practice as a registered |
| with the option to work nights and weekends if that | | | | nurse after you graduate (and pass the NCLEX-RN |
| fits into your schedule better. | | | | examination). In addition, many schools offer an LPN to |
| Accountant Career Path | | | | RN program to specifically aid this transition. |