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The 10 Best Jobs with an Associate Degree
AllHealthcare, CareerVoyages.gov, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical therapy assistants work under the direction of physical therapists. They help create treatment plans, document the progress of patients, and aide in routine exercises. Physical therapy assistants help patients gain mobility, relieve chronic pain, and and lessen physical disabilities.
In most states, physical therapy assistants are required to have an Associate degree. There are over 200 accredited physical therapy assistant degree programs in the US, most of which take 2 years to complete. Degree programs are a mix of coursework and clinical study. Both educators and prospective employers view clinical experience as essential to ensuring that students understand the responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant.
As the demand for physical therapy increases, so will the number of physical therapy assistant job openings. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average because of the aging population and reduced cost of treatment.
Projected Need: 27,000
Projected Growth: 27%
Median Hourly Wage: $20/hr
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!!
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!
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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
Kaneezfatima
about 1 year ago
2 comments
can you give me information on colleges for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. zip code is 60139. Thanks
OTOldie
about 1 year ago
68 comments
Never underestimate the power of a 2-year degree.
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
drs108
about 1 year ago
10 comments
Thanks
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
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