Undoubtedly, nursing happens to be one of the fastest growing careers in the healthcare industry. More and more candidates, with a passion for serving the community, are attracted towards this career. To kick-start a career in nursing, candidates can choose from a range of degrees and training programs. Though a bachelor's degree in nursing offers excellent pay, an associate degree in nursing (AND) offers the quickest way to start a nursing career. There are various community colleges and technical institutions that offer associate degree program for aspiring candidates. An associate degree in nursing takes just two years time to complete.

 

Given below is an overview of what an associate degree is nursing is all about and how the degree program can help you kick-start a nursing career.

 

ADN Course Curriculum
Before you decide to get enrolled in an associate degree in nursing, you should be well informed of the curriculum and the courses that you need to take. Courses in social science, history and writing are required to complete the ADN program. Typically, an associate degree in nursing includes subjects like physiology, anatomy, family, health, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, mental health and psychology among others. Depending on the nursing college you choose, the course requirements may vary. Aspiring candidates are advised to go through the detailed coursework of the degree program before getting enrolled.

 

Certification Requirements
It is important to find out whether the course you take is acceptable in your state or not. For details, you can check out the State Boards of Nursing and know whether the degree program has the required approval or not. After completing the associate nursing degree program, students will need to clear the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Most of the two-year-long associate degree programs are catered towards preparing students for clearing the NCLEX.

 

Career Opportunities
There's no dearth of career or employment opportunities in the field of nursing. If you want to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN), you can decide to go for further education and certification program after obtaining your associate degree in nursing. Nurses with an associate degree can also decide to pursue a specialty area including geriatrics, mental health, pediatrics, cardiac care and emergency care among others.

 

Career Advancement Opportunities
Once you have stepped into a nursing career with an associate degree, you can also prepare for more advance employment opportunities. After clearing the NCLEX, you can also move to a state of your choice. However, you may need to fulfill some additional licensing requirements depending on the rules of the state where you want to practice the occupation. After you have obtained an ADN, you can also continue to acquire a bachelor's degree in nursing for occupying administrative and management positions in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Students can also find out about financial support by hospitals for BSN coursework.

 

Annual Salary
Working as an LPN, you can earn an average annual salary of around $31,500. If you choose to become a registered nurse (RN), the career can fetch you an annual salary of around $48,000. The annual salary earned by nurses will vary according to the geographical location, job description and years of working experience. With growing nursing experience and skills, nurses can earn a higher annual salary.

The healthcare industry has no dearth of high paying careers. Many people believe that only doctors, dentists and nursing careers offer high salary benefits. However, there are multiple other medical careers that prove to be rewarding in terms of high earning. Most of the hottest careers for the year 2011 also belong to the medical sector. If you have a passion for working in the healthcare industry and earn a higher salary, given below are a number of high paying careers for you to choose from. Depending on your skills and career interests, you can consider one of these.

 

Chiropractor
Employment for chiropractic jobs are expected to grow by 14%, adding a total of 60,000 jobs to the medical industry. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the field will grow faster than the average of all other occupations through to the year 2016. Candidates aspiring to become a chiropractic should possess four year degree from a chiropractic college and fulfill the licensing requirements which may vary from one state to another. Chiropractors earn a median annual salary of around $127,366, one of the highest paying in medical sector.

 

Pharmacist
Today's pharmacists have more complex duties to perform, apart from only compounding. They are responsible for advising and educating patients. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 53,000 additional jobs are expected in this field of medical industry, between the years 2006 and 2016. To work as a pharmacist, candidates need to complete a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited pharmacy college. The median annual salary of a pharmacist is $107,910.

 

Cardiopulmonary Perfusionist
This is yet another high paying career that candidates with an interest in medical science can consider. A cardiopulmonary perfusionist is an important part of the surgical team. These medical professionals work in close contact with anesthesiologists and surgeons. They are responsible for making sure that heart/lung and other surgery equipment function appropriately. The occupation of a cardiopulmonary perfusionist requires a combination of chemical, mechanical and electrical skills. Candidates aspiring to pursue this medical career should possess a bachelor's degree along with a one to four year perfusionist training program. Certification requirements also need to be fulfilled. The median annual salary of in this occupation is $108,055.

 

Optometrist
If you are planning to pursue a rewarding career in healthcare, becoming an optometrist is a fine option to consider. Many people confuse the occupation of an optometrist with an opthalmologist's or an optician's profession. Major job responsibilities of an optometrist include diagnosing vision problems, prescribing glasses and contact lenses and offering effective treatment for a wide range of eye diseases. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a job growth of 11% for these medical jobs between 2006 and 2016. Four years of undergraduate study and a Doctor of Optometry degree are required to pursue this medical career. The median annual salary of an optometrist is around $104,923.

 

Physical Therapy Director
A physical therapy director works closely with physical therapists. They are responsible for setting policies and planning schedules and report the same to the upper management. To become successful with this high paying career, candidates need to obtain a lot of administrative expertise. Many professionals work their up to this job position while working as physical therapists and gaining administrative experience. Ample employment growth is expected for physical therapy director jobs. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an employment growth of 20% for physical therapy jobs from 2006 through to 2016. Though a bachelor's degree (along with extensive work experience) is the minimum educational requirement to work as a physical therapy director, a master's degree in physical therapy will increase your chances of landing this medical job position. The median annual salary of a physical therapy director is $98,414.

 

Physician Assistant
Role of a physician assistant may vary from one state to another. Though a physician assistant (PA) works under the keen guidance of a physician, many states allow these medical professionals to provide primary care on their own. Around 18,000 additional jobs are expected for these medical jobs, through to the year 2016. A bachelor's degree followed by a 2 year physician assistant program is the typical educational requirement for this high paying medical career. While working as a physician assistant, you can earn a median annual salary of $82,874.

Are you planning to pursue a career in law? If so, you must be considering to get enrolled in a law school or college soon. What's important is that you are aware of the essential steps that you need to follow to get enrolled in a law school. If you are not well prepared for the college application process, you will not be able to beat out the competition.

 

Considering the competition for law school admissions, it is quite difficult to get enrolled into a top 100 law school. Presently, the United States has 199 law schools that have been accredited by the American Bar Association. Over 100,000 students apply for admission at law schools while seats available are around 30,000. If you wish for getting admission into a top 100 law school, you should have an ideal GPA of 3.75.

 

However, your undergraduate GPA is not the only selection criteria for getting admittance into a law school. No worries, given below are some of the most important steps that you can follow for getting into a law school of your choice and pursue your dream career in law. Admission officers prefer hiring candidates with a good LSAT score as well as tend to look at the degrees you have completed.

 

Step #1. The first important tip is to ace the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Your LSAT score has to play a vital role in the law school application process. Colleges prefer the LSAT score more than your undergraduate GPA. Your success at LSAT examination will depend on how hard you practice the LSAT questions. There are various LSAT courses also available to help you clear the Law School Admission Test.

 

Step #2. The second step is to prepare a list of all those law schools you have targeted. To make the selection process of law school simpler, you can categorize the schools into ‘wish list', ‘competitive' and ‘safety' schools. ‘Wish list' law schools are those where you have very slim chances of getting enrolled. Competitive law schools are those where your undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores fall within the average admittance percentage of schools. ‘Safety'category includes those law schools where your GPA and LSAT scores are higher than the admittance percentage of the law school.

 

Step #3. Now that you have chosen which law schools to apply, it is time to sign up for the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). When you become a member on this council, they will compile all your documents you need to submit to law schools including your LSAT score, recommendation letters and transcripts among others. After you signed up for the Law School Admission Council, it is important to ensure you have submitted all the necessary documents required for the college application process.

 

Step #4. Start applying to law schools. College applications are available both in paper form and electronic form. Fill out applications for schools where you want to take admission. While filling out the law school application form, you will need to provide a lot of personal information as well as answer some important questions. Do remember to provide all the information and answers honestly and true to the best of your knowledge. Create an impressive personal statement to attract the attention of admission council and increase your chances of getting enrolled in the law school.

 

If you prepare well and follow the above mentioned steps appropriately, getting admission into a law school will not be much difficult for you. With an above average GPA and LSAT score, you will be able to beat out the competition and get enrolled in a law school of your choice.

The current global recession impacted the job market in many ways. There were a lot of job losses, layoffs and pay cuts. Many of the job positions that were best paying may not be available today. That means jobseekers need to make themselves aware of the changes that occurred. There are multiple industries that witness continued job growth even in the face of the current economic recession. To be able to pursue profitable careers, you need to know which jobs offer you the best pay currently. Regardless of the lean times, there are people who are able to earn a large amount of money. Given below are top 10 best paying jobs for the year 2011.

 

1. Anesthesiologist
The field of healthcare offers numerous medical specialties that candidates can choose to pursue. The field of anesthesiology deals with the anesthesia of patients in the operation theatre. Trained anesthesiologists are in high demand by hospitals. The high paying career of an anesthesiologist fetches an annual salary of up to $292,000.

 

2. Surgeons
Another best paying job position is that of a surgeon. The healthcare industry offers excellent career opportunities for trained surgeons. Those who have a keen interest in pursuing surgery as a medical career have also multiple specialties to choose from. Aspiring candidates can choose to become general surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons etc. Surgeons earn the second highest salary in the healthcare industry. Their annual salary is around $219,770.

 

3. Obstetrician or Gynecologists
The job position of an obstetrician or gynecologists also falls in the category of jobs that will offer the best pay for the year 2011. As the population continues to increase, the demand for these medical professionals will also rise. Though salaries of these medical professionals may vary depending on the number of patients they handle, they earn a best annual salary of around $204,000. Candidates who have an interest in the field of gynecology can decide to pursue this high paying career path.

 

4. Orthodontists
Have you ever thought who is responsible for your children's braces? Well, orthodontists are those medical professionals who are trained to treat complicated cases of mouth. Ordinary dentists do not handle complex cases of the mouth. This is a medical specialty in the area of dentistry. Orthodontists earn an average medical salary of around $206,190.

 

5. Psychiatrists
Psychiatry is yet another high paying career in the field of healthcare. Regardless of the current economic recession, trained psychiatrists are able to earn a big amount of income. A psychiatrist is responsible for providing medical care to patients suffering from a variety of mental disorders. The average annual salary for psychiatry jobs is $177,000.

 

6. Chief Executive Officer
CEOs are the big bosses in every kind of business or industry. The job position of CEO also happens to be one of the best paid jobs for 2011. Major job responsibilities of a chief executive officer is to carry out important decisions and policies on an everyday basis. The average annual salary that a chief executive officer's career fetches is around $140,880. Salaries will also vary depending on the size of the company and its annual income.

 

7. Dentists
With the continuous rise in population, more and more people have the requirement of dental care and check-up. There are various employers who need dentists for a regular monthly check-up. That means there is a high demand for dentists who are well qualified and trained to provide effective dental care for people. Working as a dentist, you can earn an annual salary of $133,000, one of the best paying jobs of 2011.

 

8. Attorneys or Lawyers
If you have a strong passion for working in law enforcement, you can decide the best paying career of an attorney or lawyer. The major role of an attorney is to restore justice in the society. Since they play a vital role in protecting the rights of people, they receive a high annual salary. They earn an average salary of $129,000 annually.

 

9. Engineering Managers
Job responsibilities of an engineering manager include supervising every aspect of technology projects and making sure the accuracy of measurements at every stage of the entire process. It is the engineering managers that make an effective use of the cutting edge technologies. An engineering manager's job fetches an annual salary of $122,000.

 

10. Software Engineer
Despite the current economic recession, there are many information technology jobs that will show a continued growth in employment. One of these high paying careers is that of a software engineer. The work of a software engineer does not require physical effort but it needs great mental effort. The average annual salary of a software engineer is $120,000.

Despite the recession economic recession, there are plenty of job opportunities in the field of accounting. In fact, the recession has fuelled the employment growth for these jobs even more. Financial planners, financial analysts and certified public accountants are needed in good numbers. If you have a keen interest in accounting, you have numerous top paying careers to choose from. The US Bureau of Labor statistics predicts an employment growth of 25% for accounting jobs over the next decade. Given below are 5 top accounting careers for you to consider.

 

#1. Internal Auditor
One of the best paying careers in accounting is that of an internal auditor. If you want to become an internal auditor, you need to obtain certification. Great career opportunities await those who hold certified internal auditor designation. Major job responsibilities of an internal auditor include safeguarding assets, reporting finances, controlling financial operations and adhering to the associated rules and policies. These professionals work closely with the top management of the company and the board of directors providing them expert advice on effective execution of responsibilities.

 

To demonstrate your competency in the industry, you will need to acquire the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation. Educational qualification required for an auditing career is at least a bachelor's degree and a few years of relevant experience. The top accounting career of internal auditing also offers best earning opportunity. The average annual salary that this career fetches ranges between $77,500 and $101,500.

 

#2. Compliance Executive
As the job title suggests, compliance executives are responsible for helping corporations comply with rules, laws and guidelines. Legislation was incorporated in the accounting industry to prevent public from making accounting errors and avoiding fraudulent practices. Since there is a great demand for compliance executives in the corporate sector, you can choose this top career depending on your skill sets and interest. The starting salary for compliance executive jobs is expected to witness an increase of around 14.4% in the corporate sector.

 

Compliance executives who carry US Securities and Exchange commission working experience are in high demand by employers. This is one of the top paying careers in the field of accounting and finance. The median annual salary of a top corporate compliance executive in the US is around $192,569.

 

#3. Financial Analyst
The job position of a financial analyst is yet another high paying accounting career. These professionals help corporations with budgeting and projecting initiatives. Also referred to as investment analysts or securities analysts, these professionals are employed in securities firms, insurance companies and banks among others. Job responsibilities of financial analysts include reviewing a company's financial statements, analyzing the sales, costs and expense and assessing the value of the company in order to project future profits.

 

Due to the increasing demand for the top accounting jobs of financial analysts, the salary for these professionals is projected to increase by 5% - 6%. The career fetches an average annual salary of $61,910. The annual salary of financial analysts can go up to $141,070, one of the highest paying.

 

#4. Staff Accountant
In terms of financial operations, staff accountant are those professionals that constitute the foundation of an organization. These professionals are responsible for applying accounting principles to the accounting area they are assigned. Staff accountants are also required to have knowledge of the rules and policies of accounting to perform their roles effectively. Accountants who carry at least three years of relevant work experience are hired by employers as staff accountants. The staring salary for this top career is expected to increase by %5.

 

#5. External Auditors
Auditors fall into two categories - external and internal. External auditors are those auditors that are called upon from outside into a company for reviewing financial records. The main job responsibilities of these professionals include analyzing the financial statements of organizations and expressing whether the records are free or error and misstatements. In addition, an external auditor's career also involves investigating a range of issues as raised by authoritative or regulatory bodies. The starting salary for this top paying career in accounting is expected to increase by 5.2%.

 

If you have a strong passion for working in the accounting industry, you have a wide range of top careers to choose from. These accounting careers are not only the most popular ones but they also bring in best salaries. Get adequate qualifications and work experience to receive maximum career benefits. Always pick a career which is in tune with your skills, aptitude and talents.