Article by Natasha Bright
It’s true that most people recognize that college is an important component of getting a good job, especially today. But the fact of the matter is, not everyone has the desire or time to go to school for four years before they begin to work. In fact, a lot of people need to get to work sooner rather than later, especially if they are raising a family.
If you’re one of these students and know that you need to go to school, but you also know a bachelor’s degree isn’t the right tool for you right now, you can think about getting an associate’s degree. The associate’s degree has a couple of distinct advantages that a bachelor’s degree doesn’t offer. With an associate’s degree in several fields, you are ready to get right to work in a good paying job, because your associate degree has prepared you to get right to work, in as little as two years.
One field that is a great example of this “get to work” maxim is an associate degree in nursing. An associate degree in nursing will allow a student to graduate with degree in nursing after just two short years. Everyone knows that nursing is a real up and coming field, especially with the new health reforms and an aging population that needs more medical care than ever.
The great news about an associate in nursing is that you will graduate ready to take the national Licensure examination. You will graduate ready and prepared to take your licensing exams right away. It’s very likely that you will be able to get hired right after graduation, or even before, because the demand for nurses is so high right now.
An associate degree in nursing is one of the degrees that lead to some of the highest paying jobs for two-year degrees. One of the reasons for the great pay is the high demand. With the new changes to health care, and a growing population of older people, the government says that jobs in the nursing field are going to grow rapidly over the next several years. Not only will thousands of new jobs be created, but also nurses who are retiring during the same period will leave thousands of jobs vacant.
Another great example of an associate degree that will help you get right to work is an associate degree in criminal justice. This degree will enable a student to be prepared to apply for a job in the field of law enforcement at a number of levels. One of the most popular jobs that people seek with a criminal justice degree is that of a local law enforcement officer.
There are actually some police academies that are coupled with community colleges that also have police academies. Students work for two years attaining their criminal justice degree, which greatly enhances their preparation for the police academy. A great number of law enforcement agencies will no longer hire applicants who only hold high school diplomas or GEDs. They are requiring that their new hires hold an associates degree as a minimum for acceptance. The good news is that many agencies offer tuition assistance to their new employees.
Associate degree programs in either nursing or criminal justice can allow a graduate to get to work very quickly after graduation with a job that offers great pay, security, and benefits, and complete their degree with online classes, too. For more information check Education Connection.
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