If you are being forced to make a career change, you will need training.
As we mentioned yesterday, the two career sectors that offer the best opportunity for long term employment are information technology(IT), and healthcare.
There are two avenues to explore if you decide to enter the information technology sector; degree or certification. Since most career changers do not have the benefit of pursuing a degree, IT certifications can get you trained and working in the field in a short amount of time. The pace of your studies is primarily up to you.
There are a number of certifications available. If you have no prior computer experience - playing video games does not count - we recommend either the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), or the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator(MCSA). If you have a reasonable grasp of IP terms, such as addressing and tables, you should be able to handle the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), or the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) courses.
Since most of us will be applying for financial aid, the best resources should be accredited institutions. Community Colleges fill the bill nicely. Unfortunately, a quick check of colleges in the area that offer certifications gives us only Anne Arundel Community College. This is fine if you live in Anne Arundel county, but for someone in Harford it's a bit of a drive.
Not to worry. All courses are available at any of the college's three campuses, and can also be accessed online. A complete listing of courses and pertinent information is available for AACC's Center for Workforce Solutions' page.
One of the main reasons for seeking out a public institution to gain your certification is financial aid. This can be done through the Federal Student Aid{FASFA) program run by the U.S. Department of Eduction. This is an online application process. Instructions for registering and filling out the forms are available at the FASFA website.
The process will probably take about a half hour to complete, but it is now necessary for anyone applying for student aid, grants, and even scholarships. If you have high schoolers who are looking at colleges, you are probably already familiar with the process. Tip: Have last year's tax returns close by.
A number of career possibilities exist in the healthcare industry. The Community College of Baltimore County offers certifications in nearly two dozen areas of the healthcare field. Everything from medical billing to sugical technologist are available here.
Of course nursing is a field that always seems to be in need of people, and most area institutions have degree programs for nursing students. Tour the campuses of each college to find the one that best fits you.
As with the IT certification program mentioned above, financial aid is available through FASFA.
Comments