Happy Military Appreciation Month! One of the most important people in a military person’s life is their spouse. Military spouses are strong, devoted, and highly committed to helping their partner succeed in their military endeavors, and UTC is committed to helping the spouse fulfill his or her goals, too. UTC’s Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Scholarship Program provides professional education for military spouses and helps them gain knowledge and skills to enter in-demand career fields.
Below is a compilation of some of our most popular MyCAA courses. The job opportunities associated with each course have high job outlooks (as listed below) and are “portable professions.” If you move often, as many military families do, there is a higher chance that positions will be available in your field wherever you move (ESPECIALLY if the career path you choose is in the healthcare industry). Military spouses, take a look, find a course that interests you, and be on your way to a brand-new career.
Course Title: Clinical Medical Assistant
Course Description: As a Clinical Medical Assistant, you perform a variety of tasks such as obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, helping with minor procedures, and performing EKG electrocardiograms. The purpose of the Clinical Medical course is to prepare participants to assist physicians in performing all the necessary functions effectively. On a more specialized spectrum, you learn about the anatomy and physiology associated with phlebotomy. You also explore precautions you must take when working with specific populations, such as geriatrics and pediatrics. When you complete the course, you’ll have the opportunity to take the national and industry-recognized National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Clinical Medical Assistant certification exam that will be essential to obtain entry-level employment. If eligible, you can also opt to participate in an externship with an organization local to you to gain valuable hands-on experience.
Job Titles/Opportunities with This Course & Job Outlook: As a Clinical Medical Assistant, you can work in numerous healthcare settings such as physician’s offices, clinics, chiropractor’s offices, hospitals, or outpatient facilities. Projected to grow at a rate of 23% by 2028, the Medical Assistant occupation is in high-demand to support the aging baby-boomer population needing increased preventative medical services. Other career paths that could potentially be of interest include:
Or advance to a
Course Title: Certified Physical Therapy Aide (Voucher Included)
Course Description: The course prepares you to assist physical therapists and physical therapy assistants with tasks indirectly related to patient care, like cleaning the treatment area, transporting patients, gathering equipment, and preparing a patient for their therapy appointment. UTC’s Certified Physical Therapy Aide course covers the medical aspects of being a physical therapy aide. You learn medical terminology, principles of pathology and treatments, and the structure and functions of various human body systems. You also learn about the physical side of the role, such as how to position and drape patients properly, how to transfer patients safely, wheelchair basics, and ambulation aids. Upon completing the course, you’ll be prepared to take the American Medical Certification Association’s Physical Therapy Technician/Aide certification exam and will be walked through how to land a Physical Therapy Aide externship.
Job Titles/Opportunities With This Course & Job Outlook: In response to the healthcare needs of an aging population, the overall employment of assistants and aides is projected to grow at an incredibly high rate─26%─from 2018 to 2028. Similar jobs to a Physical Therapy Aide include:
Or advance to a
Course Title: Pharmacy Technician
Course Description: As a pharmacy tech, you assist licensed pharmacists with filling prescriptions, providing packaging and labeling of the medicine, contacting doctors regarding prescriptions, and collecting patient information. Depending on your state’s regulations, you may also mix and compound medicines. In the Pharmacy Technician course, you learn medical terminology that will help you read and interpret prescriptions. You also learn how to perform pharmaceutical calculations, ethics for conduct in your career, the laws that govern the pharmacy industry, and drug classifications and generic naming conventions. You will exit the course prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Certified Pharmacy Technician exam or the National Workforce Career Association Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission exam, both of which are industry-recognized. There is also an optional volunteer externship opportunity you can choose to participate in to obtain hands-on skills.
Job Titles/Opportunities With This Course & Job Outlook: The field is expected to grow by 7% between 2018-2028. As a pharmacy tech, you have the option to work in a variety of healthcare settings as a:
Or advance to a
Course Title: Clinical Dental Assistant
Course Description: The Clinical Dental Assistant course prepares you for a career where you will provide comfort and education to clients. In the course, you learn human physiology, head and neck anatomy, and tooth morphology. You also learn both the basics of dental assisting (like patient care, dental charting, and dental instrument/tray setup) and assisting in specialty practices (such as pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and cosmetic dentistry). All the knowledge you accumulate prepares you to fulfill the typical duties of a dental assistant, such as preparing patients for treatment, sterilizing tools, passing instruments to the dentist during procedures, and processing X-Rays. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply for a Clinical Dental Assistant externship, where you will get 40 hours of hands-on clinical experience and will be prepared to pursue your dental assistant certification.
Job Titles/Opportunities with This Course & Job Outlook: Typically, dental assistants move straight into the career field. However, after more experience is gained, they oftentimes become a dental hygienist. Dental assistant and dental hygienist jobs are both projected to grow at a rate of 11% from 2018-2028, which is considerably faster than most occupations. Other career paths for dental assistants include:
Or advance to a
Course Title: Professional Bookkeeping with QuickBooks 2019 (Software Included)
Course Description: As a bookkeeper, you play a vital role in making sure that a business has accurate records of their financial transactions. Accurate bookkeeping enables businesses to produce precise financial statements, collect financial data, and clearly see how the business is doing. In UTC’s Professional Bookkeeping course, you learn standard bookkeeping skills like running general ledger reports and managing inventory accounts. You also learn how to use QuickBooks for aspects of your bookkeeping process, from handling accounts receivable and accounts payable to working with fixed assets and depreciation. The skillset you gain will include both hard skills (such as proficiency in closing books and creating reports) and soft skills (such as communication and organization). You will end the course by completing a portfolio project you can show to potential employers.
Job Titles/Opportunities With This Course & Job Outlook: While the number of bookkeeper jobs is not increasing over the next few years, there is still a projected need for over 1.7 million bookkeepers. Some of the most common job titles associated with bookkeeping are:
Or advance to a
Course Title: Medical Billing & Coding
Course Description: Medical billers and coders are responsible for processing health insurance claims at healthcare facilities. In UTC’s Medical Billing & Coding course, you learn how to use manuals to identify correct medical codes, the basic claims processes for medical insurance and third-party reimbursements, and the ins-and-outs of medical insurance, such as completing common insurance forms, tracing delinquent claims, and appealing denied claims. You’ll also learn medical aspects of healthcare that will help you succeed as a coder. You’ll dive into medical terminology, anatomy, anesthesia, pathology, and the structure and function of various human body systems. After completing the program and acquiring one year of coding experience, you will be eligible to receive the Certified Professional Coder certification.
Job Titles/Opportunities with This Course & Job Outlook: The employment of Medical Record Technicians as a whole is expected to grow at a fast pace─11% between 2018-2028. Various job options with a Medical Billing & Coding Certificate include:
Or advance to a
Course Title: Paralegal Certificate Course
Course Description: As a paralegal, you will step into an exciting career, with many growth opportunities, where you will perform delegated legal work for which a lawyer is ultimately held responsible for. You perform tasks like helping lawyers create reports to prepare for going to trial, maintaining and organizing files, conducting research on laws and regulations, and collecting formal statements/affidavits to potentially be used as court evidence. The first half of the Paralegal Certificate Course will lay a secure foundation for your study of the paralegal field as you learn about the inner workings of the American legal system, attorney and paralegal ethics, how to prepare legal documents, and how to conduct investigations legally. The second half of the course covers more advanced paralegal skills, such as legal research and writing, how to shepardize and cite your authority, and advocacy techniques, along with how to begin your job search. When you complete the course, you will earn your Paralegal Certificate. You can choose to continue expanding your paralegal knowledge by taking our Specialized Topics courses or earning your Advanced Paralegal Certificate.
Job Titles/Opportunities With This Course & Job Outlook: Between 2018-2028, the job outlook for paralegals is expected to be at 12%, much faster than the average occupation. There are several specific fields a paralegal could go into, such as:
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hi! My name is Marah Whitaker (think Laura with an M). I am the Marketing Assistant for UTC Center for Professional Education. During the workday, I spend time writing blog posts, creating content for social media, developing email campaigns, and building relationships with our customer base. During my free time, you can find me getting lost in a good book, having spontaneous dance parties, playing piano, and going to Buffalo Wild Wings on Wing Night. Professionally and personally, I aspire to live by the Mr. Feeny quote, “Dream. Believe. Try. Do Good.” I strive to use my passions to serve others and contribute positively to the world around me.
Connect with me on LinkedIn.