Career Training

If you have a gift for summing up life in a single snapshot, a career in photography might be the perfect choice for you. This career takes talent and skill – but fortunately it doesn't have to take years of college to land your dream job.

Today, many community colleges are offering photography programs that can be completed in just two years or less, saving you both time and money on your college experience. Peruse these options for photography training programs and get ready to launch a creative career in a field you love.

Photography Careers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Photographers produce and preserve images that paint a picture, tell a story or record an event." Photographers work in a wide range of venues, from photojournalists who get the pictures of the big stories of the day to fine arts photographers that create photographic masterpieces with their own unique flair. You might find photographers in the field of science, snapping pictures of procedures and medical records. Photographers also produce images for catalogues, technical manuals and even commemorative events like graduations and weddings.

A photographer must be creative, but knowledge of technology and photography equipment is also essential. While you might bring raw talent to your craft, you need technical skills to translate that talent to a published image. This is where community college training is paramount to a successful career in photography.

The BLS also predicts that competition for positions in

Security guards are hired in a wide range of venues, from upscale retail stores to casinos and nightclubs. This industry offers stable employment for fewer training hours than many other professions. Because some states now require security guards to complete training before landing positions, community colleges are opening their doors to security guard training, providing state-mandated courses and licensure where applicable.

The Job of a Security Guard

According to Education-Portal.com, some of the duties of a security guard might include:

• Protecting property from arson, burglary or damage
• Contacting proper authorities (police, fire department) in the event of an emergency
• Writing reports regarding observances and occurrences during shifts
• Acting as property law enforcer
• Interviewing witnesses or victims of crimes
• Testifying in court

The job is a diverse one, based on the type of venue in which you work. For example, security guards in a retail store may remain stationary throughout their shifts, while those patrolling a larger piece of property may travel the perimeter of the property multiple times in a single shift. Some will monitor their environment using surveillance equipment from behind a desk, while others work on their feet all day.

Job Prospects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for security guards is mostly favorable, due to the growing demand for security officers and the need to replace experienced workers who leave the occupation. More and more companies and individuals are seeing the need to protect property and possessions, and they are hiring

It has become popular in Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain. It has even been embraced in the rural villages of Alaska. Now, dental therapy is coming to the continental United States, thanks to a pilot training program offered through the state of Minnesota.

Dental therapy is the future wave, offering patients additional access to dental treatment, using a more cost-effective solution to many common dental issues. Dental therapists operate as middlemen between dentists and dental hygienists, offering many services usually provided by dentists but often at a fraction of the cost. The program was introduced in Minnesota to help reach the state's rural areas where people cannot access dentists easily due to distant locations and unaffordable fees.

This video offers a look at what a dental therapist does.

The English Example

According to the National Health Service website, dental therapists are a mainstay in countries like Great Britain, where approximately 380 were on the General Dental Council Role in 2002. Since then, dental therapists have been authorized to work in all areas of dentistry, including general dental practices. The therapist works directly with a registered dentist, providing the treatment that the dentist prescribes.

Dental therapists in England also have opportunities to move into other areas of the dental field, including research and teaching roles. A diploma course in dental therapy takes about 27 months to complete and includes a variety of topics, including preventative

Do you have a passion for helping people who have been sick or injured get back to their daily activities? Do you want to work with healthcare professionals in a hospital or outpatient clinic? If so, then a job as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant may be the right choice for you!

While the tasks of a physical therapist can be physically demanding, the rewards of the job are great. Physical therapists enjoy a good salary, plenty of job security, and the satisfaction of knowing they are helping patients who need their expertise to regain their quality of life.

What does a Physical Therapist Do?

Physical therapists help patients who have been ill or injured regain physical strength and range of motion to return to daily activities. Physical therapists work in various venues, including hospitals, nursing facilities, and outpatient care centers.

Physical therapy assistants work directly with physical therapists, providing assistance and support to patients and professionals alike.

The field of physical therapy is expected to grow at a faster than average rate over the next few years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it a career choice worth considering today.

Some of the tasks of a physical therapy assistant might include the following:

• Providing exercise instruction to patients
• Using therapeutic methods like ultrasound and electrical stimulation
• Offering massage to patients
• Providing balance training
• Gathering and preparing equipment for physical therapists to use
• Teaching patients to use assistive devices like crutches

The job of

As our country continues to search for alternative energy sources, the field of nuclear technology becomes a larger piece of the pie. The knowledge, land, and resources are in place to open nuclear plants across the country – but there is one element lacking. Skilled technicians will be needed to work in these new plants, particularly in light of the fact that thousands of current nuclear technicians are slated for retirement over the next five years, according to a recent report in the New York Times.

As many as 40 community colleges across the nation have heeded the call and are now providing programs to train a new generation of nuclear technicians. These programs can be completed in a fraction of the time of a standard four-year degree, with most associate's degrees earned in two years or less. Both high school graduates and adults looking for a career change can capitalize on these programs, moving into an industry that pays well and is much more secure in terms of growth and stability.

What is a Nuclear Technician?

Education-Portal describes the role of a nuclear technician as one who operates and maintains equipment in nuclear power plants. As specialists in nuclear energy, they might also assist scientists in the field of research.

Many professionals get their foot in the nuclear door with just a two-year associate's degree, and their first job could earn around $50,000 per year. The New York Times estimates that