The good news? You can get certified for any of these careers online. Tackling online courses means flexible hours -- a great way to hang on to your current job. Some courses take just 30 days, putting you on the way to a more secure, lucrative career.
1. Technical Writer
With a bachelor's degree in communications, you may be just three courses away from earning $60,240 per year as a technical writer, according to the Society for Technical Communication (STC). Technical communicators are involved at all stages of product development, effectively structuring information and instructions to be accessible to anyone.
Tom Gorski, director of communication for the STC, says an aptitude for technical information about computers, health, or finance is helpful. However, to gain an extra edge on the approximately 300,000 writers the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report being in the employment pool, you may want to get certified through a distance learning course in technical writing.
2. Career Coach
Coaching is one of the top home businesses of the century, according to Will Craig, founder of the Coach Training Alliance. As an unprecedented number of businesses downsize, the demand for career coaches who can develop strategies for those seeking a "Plan B" is growing. These professionals assist clients with planning and goal-setting and manage their progress as they seek a new career.
Prospective coaches can choose from a variety of self-paced certification programs. Some start seeing clients immediately as part of their training hours. Completion times vary but, on average, are between six months to two years.
The International Coaching Federation (IFC) reports that certified coaches who gain additional IFC credentials earned an average yearly income of more than $65,000. Though not necessary to practice, this additional accreditation can add approximately $20,000 to your annual salary, according to the IFC.
3. Physical Therapist Aide
Thanks to aging Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers, demand for professional physical therapist aides will rise 29 percent by 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you have a high school diploma and good people skills, earning this health care certification can take as little as six months. The BLS reports that physical therapist aides can expect to earn an average of $23,760 annually.
4. ESL Instructor
Teaching adults to speak, read, and write English as a second language (ESL or ESOL) requires no prior knowledge of another language, but you'll gain exposure to the rapidly growing mix of foreign-born residents who will be seeking English instruction over the next five years, according to BLS estimates.
If you have an undergraduate degree in education, online programs in ESL/Bilingual/TESOL are available through many colleges and universities that offer online programs. The BLS reports that ESL teachers can earn an average of almost $44,000 per year.
5. Medical Records and Health Information Technician
The prospects for this sector of the health-care industry are hot, and the BLS expects a jump of 18 percent over the next seven years as medical tests and procedures come under the eagle eye of insurance companies and consumers. Technicians gather and process patients' health information for charts and forms by working closely with doctors and other health-care professionals but often have little interaction with patients.
A two-year degree program at a community or junior college schools candidates in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and legal aspects of health information. Once certified, technicians can draw a median annual wage of $28,030, says the BLS.
Many of these online programs offer financial aid to those who qualify. So, setting yourself apart in a sea of competitors is simply a matter of earning that certification -- a paper in your hand that translates to money in your pocket.
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