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The 10 Best Jobs with an Associate Degree

The 10 Best Jobs with an Associate Degree

AllHealthcare, CareerVoyages.gov, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Lets be honest, the four-year university path isn’t for everyone. Luckily, if you don’t have the time or money to go that route, there are plenty of career opportunities for those individuals who hold Associate degrees with a healthcare focus. Many healthcare jobs only require an associate degree, so you don’t have to sacrifice the rest of your life to go to school. Going to community college or a vocational-technical school means that you will save money as well as time.

These ten jobs offer great salaries and the chance for advancement with an Associate degree that can be completed in just two years. Advance your career and pursue your dream job now!

1. Dental Hygienists

2. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

3. Respiratory Therapist

4. Radiologic Technologists

5. Occupational Therapy Assistant

6. Physical Therapist Assistant

7. Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician

8. Licensed Practice/Vocational Nurse

9. Surgical Technologist

10. Massage Therapist

Click on a career above, or use the navigation buttons below to browse these fantastic jobs.


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    robintao

    4 months ago

    2 comments

    Woops... better revise that projected employment market! In the last couple years the market's been flooded with cheap, young new grads which the employers -- suffering as they are with ever-increasing Medicare reimbursement cuts, some proposed to be 40% and more for the technical component -- are preferring. The only area in Imaging with a certain open market is Ultrasound (which is also cheaper than other modalities for strapped hospital systems, therefore more in demand). Student beware!!

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    Job2Aware

    4 months ago

    2 comments

    The Radiology Technologist job market in TX is very hard to get into. With the recession and the flooded radiology market, there are little jobs. They all require your ARRT license and an associates degree unless you work in a small town or doctors office. However, this is not the time to get in a Radiology Technologist program if you plan to stay in TX. Ultrasound is very available so that would be the better choice, yes a two year degree is required for ultrasound. Good Luck!

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    BonnnieB

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    I have just completed my exam as a Medical Transcriptionist. Do you know of any Physicians (in the specialty of Cardiovascular, Cariopulmonary, Respiratory or Endocrine systems) that could use a Medical Transcriptionist? I already have a Secrtarial Degree and have over 30 years of office adminidatration work experience. Thanks for your help. Bonnie

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    kathi

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    Please be aware that the Occupational Therapy Assistants are NOT THERAPIST ASSISTANTS. The correct title is Occupational THERAPY Assistant (OTA). OTAs assist in the process of occupational therapy NOT the therapist. For further information, please go to AOTA.org or NBCOT,.org.

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    dschmitz

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    Here is a link for those of you looking for sonography and other programs. http://www.arrt.org/nd/listOfSchools.ndm/listSchools

    Also, regardless of what most websites say, the job market for an RT is very low right now. I hear this from all parts of the country as well. However, this has been a cyclic process for the 20+ years I have been in the profession.

    Regarding this article...the statement that an associates degree is REQUIRED for this profession is not YET a true statement. Certainly, it appears it is headed this way in the next couple of years and the writing has been on the wall for nearly 15 years, but as of today, the degree is not truly required.

  • Karl_max50

    karlreckberg

    about 1 year ago

    4 comments

    Hi,
    concerning Radiologic Technology (i.e. Radiographer {NO not radiologist}, Nuclear medicine Technologist and the other allied health care disciplines which are generally cross trained into from RT (R) or RT(N) {also CNMT is a board certification} such as CT MR Special Proceedures etc)), Times now are on a hiring downcycle, I was a practicing NMT w/ a BA and holding RT(N) and CNMT board certifications and a State of Florida HRS license and the obligatory (and highly useful....in hospital X4 first responder at scene X2) CPR cert (well...still am ARRT RT(N) and HRS licensed soon to renew CNMT), all that is is cyclical, hard to latch a job where you want now but wait till 2010 or 2011 and the attrition of higher level RT and NMT staff will open jobs all over, seen this cycle 3 times now.....I have worked as a staff NMT in Florida ~12yrs, @ small Hospitals, Level II Trauma center in Daytona, outpatient cardiac clinic, out patient full nuke dept w/ state of the art PET scanner and it so happens I was adjunct inst ~2yrs and Clinical coordinator (different time frames same Community college), I have and am willing to share one if not more of the Power Point presentations created in my NON paid work time so that those interested in Nuclear medicine will understand just what it is and how the job is done, That would probably need Monsters' Approval, if someone is so interested contact Monster or Post desire to view one of these and I will try to contact monster.com. My PP are entertaining, educational and geared to edify those with some knowledge of health care and radiation to a PP made for graduating HS students looking at schooling opportunities. I will not respond to individuals, Monster.com must contact me...keckberg@gmail.com.....
    P.S. if the prospective Allied Health Care worker/Student is considering ANY Health care field noted by monster primarily due to its income or future enjoyability...GO SOMEWHERE ELSE...The cash and benefits are the result of Impeccable and hard work Helping others w/o bias or desire other than having a job where others are helped....Patient Care yields the benefits noted....hard work and long hours are commensurate with pay....nothin free

  • Grad_2_max50

    RRT

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    Yea, sure, ahu; what they don't tell you, however, is that the average, respiratory care program starts around 40 students, to which they purposely tend to delete down to around 12 to 16 by the end of the program. Why you ask? Because they don't want to saturate the market. If you're thinking about a career in this field, you'd better have a thick skin; it doesn't get any better, once you're practicing with those who've been conditioned in this respect.

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    KatherineMurray513_

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    Can any one help me with finding a junior college or vocational technical program for diagnostic medical sonography?

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    mickeybhalla2002

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    can someone please tell me if there is open spot for this position.. cause i just finished my degree....

    thanks

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    Kaneezfatima

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    can you give me information on colleges for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. zip code is 60139. Thanks

  • Otoldie_max50

    OTOldie

    about 1 year ago

    68 comments

    Never underestimate the power of a 2-year degree.

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    Summereve

    about 1 year ago

    8 comments

    Can you send me a link that i can find more in LPN/LVN. Schooling here are mainly for RN. At present I am Certified Nurse Assistant, National Certified Medical Assistant. For now I am actively working in the health care arena. Yet unable to get past the $10.oo an hour for NCMA. It is sad after my acquired Associates degree my pay is more now (Nurse Assistant) than what I am offered for NCMA. Thanks, rb808

  • Rajfoto_max50

    drs108

    about 1 year ago

    10 comments

    Thanks

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    Chat

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    I'm a Registered Nurse and a Wound Care Practitioner, I have worked in the Middle East since 1995 and I want to experience to work in another country aside from the Middle East. Can you find a job for me? Chat

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    lgwoodward

    about 1 year ago

    8 comments

    Can you send me a link to find out more about a career in Nutrition and or Diet Technician? How much schooling is required and what is the pay scale? Thank You