Career Training

Robotics is an exciting, dynamic field that utilizes robots in a variety of industries. Robots are used in manufacturing, transportation, warehouses, safety research, mass production, and even surgery. This field offers a wide range of employment opportunities to those who are qualified. How do you earn those qualifications? Your community college has programs in robotics to train you for a lucrative career in the industry.

Robotics is the design, repair, and maintenance of robots. A robotics engineer learns a blend of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science principles to develop autonomous machines that perform a wide range of dull, dangerous, and complex tasks. Source: New England Institute of Technology

This video outlines careers in robotics.

About a Robotics Career

Best Accredited Colleges lists two common professions within the robotics industry:

• Robotics Technicians – These professionals typically require a two-year degree and are trained on the job in apprenticeship programs, as well as through classroom study.
• Robotics Engineers – These individuals earn a four-year degree, then usually go on to earn a graduate degree or professional certification in their field.

Both of these professions have a wide range of options within their chosen industry, including medical robots, air traffic management, and medical care. Industries in search of professionals with training in robotics include the auto industry, agriculture, and health care. Manufacturing is another area that uses robotics in

Firefighting has traditionally been a career that trains applicants on the job, once they pass basic physical and mental testing. However, as the career field becomes more competitive, more and more fire departments are looking for applicants with some sort of post-secondary training – even an associate's degree in fire science. Community colleges are quickly rising to answer the call, providing state-of-the-art training facilities to prepare new firefighters for the rigors and diversity of the job.

About the Firefighting Profession

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job of a firefighter involves hazardous conditions and long, irregular hours. Despite the demands of the job, this industry is expected to see keen competition for available jobs, since many qualified applicants are interested in becoming firefighters. In addition to rigorous training which applicants must undergo, physical and medical exams must also be passed to ensure applicants are healthy enough for the job. Ongoing training is a must in this industry, as new fire fighting and first aid techniques are developed all the time.

Because many senior firefighters are nearing retirement age, younger workers are being asked to take on leadership roles within many departments. To prepare these new firefighters for their positions, departments are teaming up with some community colleges across the country to provide the highest quality of training possible. We have examples of just a few of these programs going on around the nation.

Mesa Offers Virtual Emergency Training

An article in the

In the hunt for jobs that can survive in any economic climate, vision care has slowly but surely come to the forefront. Adults of all ages are discovering that careers as dispensing optician offer job stability and a decent salary after just a few short years of training. Whether you are just starting out after high school or looking for a job change after years in the workforce, we have the facts to help you decide whether a career in optician is the right choice for you.

What is Opticianry?

Once a patient receives a prescription for glasses or contacts from an optician or ophthalmologist, the dispensing optician is responsible for creating the eyewear for the patient's specific needs. This professional uses a host of diagnostic equipment to measure the cornea's thickness, width, and curvature to fit contact lenses precisely to the patient. In some cases, the dispensing optician will be responsible for cutting the lenses and placing them into the frames, and adding tinting or protective coating to the lenses themselves.

Once the eyewear is complete, the dispensing optician meets with the patient once again to ensure the glasses fit properly and make adjustments as needed. These employees might also help clients who need repairs to their glasses or educate them about appropriate care of their eyewear. Some also perform administrative duties, such as maintaining a database of customer prescriptions and tracking inventory and sales.

This video explains optician training.

Addiction counselors work with individuals who have issues with drugs, alcohol, gambling or eating. These professionals operate in a variety of settings, providing both individual and group counseling services that offer the support patients need to move on from their additions. If you have a passion for helping people and are willing to put in the time and training to obtain certification in your field, addiction counseling might be the right job for you.

Many students begin their study in addiction counseling at their local community college, and then they move to a professional position or a four-year university where they can continue to advance in their field. While many states require individuals to have a master's degree to become licensed as an addiction counselor, others use their community college training to get their foot in the door and advance with on-the-job experience.

About Addiction Counseling

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for addiction counselors over the next decade is expected to be favorable. The job may be performed in a variety of settings, from private offices to clinics and hospitals. Counseling sessions are frequently in group format, with many patients coming to weekly sessions that help them overcome their addictions over a period of time. These counseling sessions provide support and information to help people modify behaviors and address issues that led to the addictions in the first place.

Most states require addiction counselors to obtain a license

In the past, students who were interested in stellar culinary or hospitality programs would look to four-year universities to supply the necessary training to launch a successful career. However, community colleges have recognized the rise in popularity of these professions and have responded to the call with state-of-the-art facilities to rival any university.

If you are interested in a career in the hospitality industry, be inspired by what these top community colleges across the country have to offer.

Career Opportunities in the Hospitality Industry

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics separates the hospitality industry into three distinct categories:

• Arts, entertainment, and recreation
• Foodservice and drinking places
• Hotels and other accommodations

The BLS predicts that job opportunities will be plentiful in both the foodservice and hotel category, due to the prevalence of young people within the industry and the high turnover rate. They also estimate that in 2008, there were approximately 546,000 privately owned food and drinking establishments across the United States and more than 64,000 places providing an assortment of accommodation options. In addition, many hotels offer their own restaurants, with chefs and support staff working directly within the hotel industry.

According to the BLS, jobs in the hotel industry are expected to grow at a rate of approximately 5% between 2008 and 2018. Foodservice jobs are expected to grow by 8% within the same time frame. While many individuals gain employment in these industries right out of high school, additional training provides a competitive