5 Careers Requiring a Technical Education
The education industry is rapidly evolving. Students no longer assume that seeking a traditional college or university education is the best decision. With the cost of secondary education going up and the payoff shrinking, students are apprehensive about investing in higher education.
Thankfully, there are other options students can explore, and one of them is getting a technical education. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the different careers you can explore with a technical degree and give you the best ROI.
Careers To Explore With a Technical Education
Technical education has many benefits, including small class sizes, affordable tuition fees, and faster time to graduate. Here are five careers you can study for at a vocational or technical school:
- Licensed Practical Nurses
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are trained to provide direct patient care, including basic nursing duties such as taking medical histories, administering some medications, and monitoring vital signs. LPNs may also assist with medical procedures or wound management.
To become an LPN, you must earn a diploma or associate degree in practical nursing. After completing the program and passing the NCLEX-PN exam, you can begin working as an LPN.
If you’re already working as a licensed practical nurse, consider pursuing further education to become a registered nurse (RN). Doing so will allow you to work independently with patients and grow your career options.
- Sonographers
Sonographers are medical professionals who use ultrasound to capture images of the inside of the body. These images are used to diagnose and treat medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and congenital problems.
The sonographic examination is performed using a transducer that sends sound waves that bounce off internal tissue structures and back to an electronic receiver. The strength of these returning signals can be measured by software installed on a computer or handheld device.
Sonography requires special training in anatomy, physiology, physics, and mathematics. It also requires strong communication skills because you’ll speak with patients about their symptoms during each visit.
- Emergency Medical Services
Emergency medical services (EMS) is a field in which there are a series of careers you can access with a technical education to become part of an ambulance team. The EMT-Basic and EMT-Intermediate programs are the most common, but there are other options as well.
Paramedics are those who have earned their certification and can now provide advanced medical treatment to patients on the scene, along with basic life support procedures. Other people looking for this kind of career could consider becoming Certified Emergency Medical Technicians (CEMTs). This program enables you to take care of injured or ill individuals, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and manage trauma cases within emergency rooms or hospitals.
Many people in the medical field are required to take courses that help them learn how to perform certain procedures or manage specific situations. This is especially true for those looking for jobs as EMTs or paramedics.
The training program can vary depending on where you live and what your state requires. Most include certain minimum hours of training and practical experience before taking a certification exam. For example, EMTs in Florida must complete a minimum of 110 hours of course, with 20 hours of clinical supervision and 10 hours in a hospital emergency department.
- Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary assistants work in veterinary clinics and hospitals, helping with a variety of tasks, and can get started in as little as 10 months.
The duties of a veterinary assistant vary based on the employer but generally include tasks such as:
- Performing diagnostic tests, such as blood work and radiographs
- Keeping records and doing administrative work
- Cleaning cages or kennels
- Monitoring animals that are recovering from surgery
- Feeding animals
Vet assistants also have a good career path that can land them better-paying jobs in the future.
- Veterinary Technologist
Veterinary technology is a step up from veterinary assistant, and is a growing field that’s a good choice if you want to work with animals. Veterinarians need veterinary technicians to help them with their jobs, from assisting with patient exams to ensuring that equipment is in working order.
Vet techs are also responsible for taking care of the animals themselves. They feed them, clean their cages, and give them medicine on a schedule. They must communicate effectively with veterinarians to ensure the best care.
Vet tech programs typically take about two years (or three semesters) to complete, depending on where you go for school. Vet tech programs are usually offered at community colleges and vocational schools.
Invest in a Technical Education
Technical careers are a great way to earn a decent salary while still having the flexibility to pursue other interests. The cost of technical education isn’t as burdensome as getting a college degree, and it allows you to become part of the workforce sooner, which gives you the freedom to explore a field quickly.
Learn more about a technical education program today. Check out our Programs.
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