1. Network systems and data communications analysts perform a number of tasks in relation to data communications systems, like the Internet, including designing, analyzing, testing, and assessing systems and their performance. Analysts might also supervise computer programmers and work as specialists who handle the interfacing of computers and communications equipment.

How Fast Is It Growing? This is considered the leading occupation in terms of the percentage of growth in jobs. In large part, this is due to the increasing use of computers and information technology. The rise from 262,000 employees in 2006 to 402,000 in 2016 represents a 53.4 percent increase over that span – that’s 140,000 new jobs.

2. Dental hygienists are responsible for examining patients’ teeth and gums, removing deposits from teeth, and providing other types of preventive dental care, like showing patients how to care for their teeth. They also record the presence of diseases or abnormalities.

How Fast Is It Growing? A total of 217,000 dental hygienists will be employed in 2016, up 30.1 percent from 2006. Population growth, tendency of older people retaining teeth, and an increased focus on preventive dental care has contributed to a demand for these workers. Dental hygienists are also increasingly taking on duties previously completed by dentists.

3. Computer software engineers rely on their knowledge of computer science and mathematical analysis to develop, design, test, and evaluate the software and systems that operate our computers. Their tasks are evolving quickly and reflect the ever-changing landscape of computer technology. Computer games, word processing, and operating systems are among their areas of expertise.

How Fast Is It Growing? A 44.6 percent increase in jobs from 2006-2016 puts computer software engineers near the top of the growth scale. This growth will be the result of businesses and other organizations embracing and integrating new technologies and seeking to maximize the efficiency of their computer systems.

4. Physical therapist assistants help physic al therapists treat victims of accidents or people with disabling conditions. The job involves working to improve patient mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or alleviate physical disabilities. A physical therapist might prepare physical therapy equipment, assist with exercises, or apply hot and cold packs while recording and reporting patients’ responses to treatment.

How Fast Is It Growing? Consumer demand for physical therapy services is on the rise, helping employment for physical therapy aides to grow much faster than average for all occupations. The main reasons: an increasing elderly population, a baby-boom generation entering the prime age for illness, and an improved survival rate for trauma patients. There were 60,000 employed in 2006, and that number is expected to rise to 80,000 in 2016.

5. Financial analysts and personal financial advisors share their expertise on investment strategies with businesses and individuals. Financial analysts generally focus on a specific industry, region, or type of product. Personal financial advisors assess and individual clients’ assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives to develop sound money strategies.

How Fast Is It Growing? Financial analysts and personal financial advisors held 397,000 jobs in 2006. This number will grow to 543,000 in 2016, an increase of 38.8 percent for both. The peak years of retirement savings and personal investments of a large baby-boom generation are creating a need for more people to seek help from experts.

6. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors offers counseling and advice to people dealing with problems such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, and eating disorders. Some counselors work at therapeutic communities where people with addictions live while being treated.

How Fast Is It Growing? he number of counselors will rise from 83,000 to 112,000 by 2016, a 34.3 percent increase over the 10-year period. The rising number of people suffering from depression and other serious mood disorders has helped create a demand for counselors, according to a recent study by jobfox.com. That growth, coupled with the need to replace people leaving the field, make this a solid choice for those who seek a stable, rewarding career.

Source: education.yahoo.com

Say Yes to an Online Counseling Degree

Online counseling degrees are rapidly gaining importance and people are going for online programs in counseling and coordination from various spheres of social life. The demand for counseling professionals has increased in all possible professional sectors with increasing complexities of life. More and more people are now looking for a secured career through this profession in healthcare, education, human resource management and governmental sectors.

There are indeed a wide variety of community colleges and universities offering counseling courses through regular class schedules. However, a large section of the potential enthusiasts who are attracted to this profession come from a working background and face a formidable work study conflict on enrolling to a regular undergraduate or graduate program in the desired discipline.

Online counseling programs, however, do not require a fulltime involvement for earning the degree; rather it offers professional and perfectly timed online class sessions, workshops and computer adaptive tests for imparting the desired training to the candidates. This is perhaps the best feature of the online counseling courses, unlike the conventional on site programs at the universities.

Online counseling degrees are usually granted after few intensive, yet professionally timed semesters. The credit requirement in these online counseling courses are similar to the regular university programs, however the only difference lies in their timing and flexibility depending upon student requirements. Both undergraduate and graduate online counseling degrees are provided by several colleges and universities, some of which are accredited.

Few of the universities and colleges that offer such online counseling degrees are:
· Walden University
· University of Phoenix
· Capella University, Minnesota
· Liberty University, Virginia

There are a number of specialized offshoots from basic counseling. There are a wide range of online interdisciplinary programs designed by combining the courses for psychology and counseling. Courses for both pure and applied variations are offered by the online colleges and universities leading to almost similar kind of prospects as the regular accredited programs.

Online counseling courses also provide research exposures and field trips for interested candidates. Usually they arrange a practical training session after the end of the course, followed by a dissertation or a comprehensive exam. The practical training session are arranged at the professional sectors, pertaining to the specializations made.

As far as professional grooming is concerned, these online counseling programs are by no means inferior to the regular courses and are able to provide the similar kind of platform to the candidates, thereby ensuring success.

Career Prospects with Online Degrees

Online Degrees need no introduction. You can complete online degree education through a number of online universities and colleges. The degrees are different and you should consider where you want to work in the educational system. A high school and community college completion is essential for jobs which need basic education. Most education jobs need a college or university education like a bachelors, masters or PhD degree. You may also need a license to teach.

A career in education is very promising and also demanding. More than half education professionals are teachers. Others include administrators, counselors, librarians, textbook writers, researchers, curriculum designers, and office clerks. After completing your education degree, you can work as a pre-school teacher, high school teacher, school nurses, administrator, deans, principals, kindergarten teachers, elementary school teachers, consultant, special education teachers, state departments, junior high school teachers, school psychologists, assistant principal, career counselor, education researcher, middle school teachers, college / university faculty, superintendent, teaching English, state boards, librarian, counselors, and textbook writer.

An associate degree is of two-year duration which is required for assistant and administrative roles like teacher assistant or office clerk. You can also find colleges offering teacher aide or education administration degree programs.

The four year bachelor’s degree gives you skills to be a teacher or a school administrator. You can prepare yourself as a teacher with a teacher training program which includes classroom practice teaching.

Master’s degrees are essential for numerous higher-level administrative positions. You can work as librarian, assistant principal, principal, and school counselor. Online degree education helps you to go for training while working.

A doctoral degree is needed if you want to work at the postsecondary level. If you want to teach at a four-year college or university, you need a PhD in a particular subject area. Higher education administrators and college deans have a doctorate in a specialized field or in Educational Leadership or Education Administration.

You can enroll for a Master of Education from University of Maryland University College. Columbia Southern University offers Associate in General Education. At Touro University, you can pursue MA in Education. Oregon State University offers Ed. M. Adult Education, Ed. M. Education (Mentored Masters), M.A.T. Elementary Education, Endorsement – Early Childhood Education, Ph.D./Ed.D. Education – Emphasis in Community College Leadership, and Continuing Teaching Licensure.

At University of Phoenix, you can study Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Education / Curriculum and Instruction, or Master of Arts in Education / Teacher Education for Elementary or Secondary Licensure.

These are only some of the options out of lots available to us today. Explore them well and choose the career of your interest.