#3 Dental Hygiene A.S. Degree (Median Annual Salary – $74,820)
If you’ve ever experienced the pain of infected teeth or gums, you’ll appreciate the contributions that dental hygienists make to the field of dentistry. You probably know that many tooth and gum problems stem from poor oral hygiene and aren’t surprised that there is a high demand for dental hygienists. However, the yearly salaries that these dental professionals command may surprise you. Dental hygienists do dental preventive maintenance. Besides professionally removing plaque and tartar from teeth, they educate patients about proper brushing and flossing methods. To prepare for a career in dental hygiene, you’ll need at least an associate degree in the subject. Human anatomy, microbiology, dental radiography, and oral pathology are some of the courses that you can expect to take in a typical two-year, dental hygiene degree program. Upon graduation, you’ll know about dental care techniques and treatments. You’ll understand the industry’s safety standards and laws. Employers at dental offices, public health clinics, and managed care facilities will also have confidence in your ability to manage and safeguard patient records according to national laws. Dental Hygiene A.S. degree programs come in conventional and online classroom formats. What this degree program offers in schedule flexibility, it makes up for in course rigor. To work as a dental hygienist, graduates must pass a licensing exam. Most educational programs are loaded with mathematics and science courses to prepare aspiring dental hygienists for that career-launching test. Most schools also require that you pass a background check as part of the program admittance process. When deciding on a dental hygiene school, there are a few elements that make some programs stand out from the rest. Choose one that’s accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). You’ll need credentials from an approved CODA program to sit for your licensing exam. Dental hygienist programs that partner with dental clinics offer benefits that others do not. Hands-on training at a dental clinic prepares you to ace your licensing test and real-world dental care.
#4 Diagnostic Medical Sonography A.S. Degree (Median Annual Salary – $67,080)
Scientists often credit advancements in medical technology for the longer life spans of today’s population. One example of this is found in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. You can’t treat an ailment if you don’t know that it exists. Medical sonographers use imaging devices to detect anomalies in the human body or confirm normal conditions. You’ll need a two-year Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree to operate the imaging equipment for diagnostic medical tests. This degree program includes basic course work in math, human anatomy, physics, and medical terminology. During your first semester of studies, you’ll also take classes in communication and medical ethics to prepare you for interaction with patients in clinical settings. Specialized imaging and sonography training make up most of the remaining course work in these programs. Sonography degree graduates learn how to get, view, and assess medical images. They acquire in-depth knowledge in physics and physiology. Most students complete medical sonography degree programs in two years or less. You can find diagnostic medical sonography programs in both traditional classroom and online formats. While most degree-seekers in other subjects enjoy the convenience of online courses, many sonography students choose to take classes on school campuses. Medical sonography requires its practitioners to have hands-on training and applied skills. You’ll most often gain those skills through in-person, laboratory-style classes. If you choose an online medical sonography degree program, make sure that it includes some experiential learning opportunities in a lab setting or as part of an internship. Diagnostic medical sonographers use imaging technology in a variety of healthcare situations from detecting blood clots in an active senior to checking in on a developing baby in her mother’s womb. It’s no wonder that this job is one of the fastest growing occupations in the nation.