Every other year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) updates its employment projections, or what they think the job market is going to look like over the next 10 years. Before 2008-2018, it was 2006-2016. Before that, it was 2004-2014. You get the picture, right?

Well, it’s been two years again, and the BLS had just released its 2010-2020 employment projections!

This means there is now all kinds of new information about where the jobs will be over the next ten years, including which industries are expected to add jobs and which industries are going to be losing jobs. There is even information on which level of education is needed for certain jobs, and which level of education will see the most job growth.

So what does this mean for you as a student or someone who is considering going back to school?

If you are already a student, you might find it interesting to know which career fields are expected to be hiring over the next 10 years. This way, you can ask yourself if the field you are studying or the career you are working towards is performing the way you would like it to and if there is opportunity there.

The same is true if you aren’t a student. Maybe you are in a career field that you feel is going nowhere and wish you had better job opportunities. Maybe you have been thinking about switching careers and want to know where the jobs are and if it matches up with your interests. Maybe you have been unemployed and you just want a job that pays and has performed well in a tough economy.

No matter what your situation is, you might be interested in what these new BLS projections have to say.

If you are not convinced, how about checking out a few highlights that I found during my reading?

•  “The health care and social assistance sector is projected to gain the most jobs (5.6 million), followed by professional and business services (3.8 million).”
• “One-third of the projected fastest growing occupations are related to health care, reflecting expected increases in demand as the population ages and the health care and social assistance industry grows.”
• “Occupations that typically need some type of postsecondary education for entry are projected to grow the fastest during the 2010-20 decade.”

Did you find any of that interesting? Well, I did.

If you are thinking about training for a new career, but don’t know where to start, you might want to check out Anthem Education. With 23 campuses across the United States, and Anthem College Online, we are not hard to find. All of our programs are designed to be career-focused and teach students the skills for a specific career area in the healthcare, technology, legal, business and veterinary technology fields. Call Anthem Education today at 1.866.381.6397 or visit our website for more information. We’d love to talk to you about your education and career goals and help you find out how we can support your needs.

If you would like to learn more about what the 2010-2020 projections have to say, head on over to the BLS website.

If working in the healthcare field and helping others is something that appeals to you, then you might want to consider one of the careers on Yahoo! Education’s list of Top 5 Health Careers. Want to know the best part? Anthem Education schools and colleges offer hands-on training programs for four of these top five careers. Check it out.

Career #1: Medical Records and Health Information Technician

Anthem College Online offers an Associate of Science degree in Health Information Management that prepares students to enter the health information field when they graduate. Students learn medical terminology, health information and data management, and reimbursement methods and procedures. Plus, all learning is done through the convenience of the Internet, giving students valuable flexibility over when and where they learn. Anthem College-Atlanta offers both a diploma and associate degree in Health Information Management as well.

Students interested in health information can also consider studying Medical Billing & Coding at Anthem Education schools and colleges. Nineteen of our 23 campuses offer a Medical Billing & Coding diploma program. More than half of those also offer a Medical Billing & Coding associate degree program. Coursework includes medical recordkeeping and documentation, medical office procedures, and healthcare reimbursement.

Career #3: Dental Assistant

If you’ve ever been to the dentist—and I really, really hope you have—then you’ve come in contact with a dental assistant. Dental Assistants are the people who provide patient care and assist the dentist during various procedures. Plus, if you’re anything like me, you know that a good dental assistant can make going to the dentist a little less dreadful. More than half of the Anthem Education campuses offer a Dental Assistant program that is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in dental offices and clinics.

Career #4: Pharmacy Technician

Do you know what a pharmacy technician does? Pharmacy technicians offer support and provide customer service in different pharmacy settings. Pharmacy technicians are also responsible for handling prescription medications. Therefore, it is important for those who are interested in this field to get plenty of hands-on training and familiarize themselves with pharmacy procedures.  Twelve of the Anthem Education campuses offer a Pharmacy Technician program. These programs are designed to provide students with the hands-on training they need to successfully enter this field.

Career #5: Medical Assistant

Medical assistants perform a bunch of different clinical and administrative tasks in medical offices. Anthem Education schools and colleges provides some great hands-on options for people who are interested in training for a career as a medical assistant. First, 22 of Anthem Education’s 23 local campuses offer at least a Medical Assistant diploma program. A handful of these campuses also offer an associate degree program. Plus, Anthem College Online offers a Medical Assistant Associate of Science Degree Completion program for students who already have their Medical Assistant diploma.

Does one of these career paths sound right for you?

If you would like to learn more about Anthem Education schools and colleges and our career-focused programs and services, please visit our website. You can also call 1.866.381.6397 to speak with one of our representatives who can answer any questions you may have and help you figure out how we can best serve your needs.

Not all programs are available in all locations. Program titles on this page are general and may be slightly different at some campuses. Degree types vary by state. Please see the campus catalog for specific information on program titles and types of degrees awarded.

Anyways, I came across a couple of interesting tidbits on employment growth in terms of education level. What I mean by that is how a person’s level of education (high school diploma, some college, college degree, etc.) can influence their current employment status.

It turns out that people who have an associate degree are expected to see the most employment growth—more job opportunities—through 2018.

If you haven’t already heard, many people consider education a good investment. Studies show that the more education you have, the more money you make on average.

One of my favorite education quotes is from a New York Times article by David Leonhart. In the article, he explains why education is a good investment. This is what he wrote:

“Even construction workers, police officers, plumbers, retail salespeople and secretaries, among others, make significantly more with a degree than without one. Why? Education helps people do higher-skilled work, get jobs with better-paying companies, or open their own businesses.”

The BLS analysis also reported that the percentage of jobs that require some form of postsecondary award or degree is expected to increase from 30 percent to almost 50 percent. This means that education is going to become increasingly important if you want to enter the job market successfully.

Many Anthem Education schools and colleges offer both diplomas and associate degree programs. Each type of program provides hands-on training for specific career fields. However, associate degree programs are longer and include general education courses that can help graduates advance as they gain experience in their fields.

Anthem Education features 23 different campuses across the U.S. and each of these campuses offers different programs. Plus, there is also Anthem College Online (ACO). ACO offers associate and bachelor’s degree programs. They also offer a Medical Office Administration diploma and degree completion opportunities for certain programs. Students do all of their learning online, which makes it more convenient for students with busy schedules.

If you are interested in getting an education that helps you develop technical skills for a specific career field, I encourage you to call Anthem today at 1.866.502.2627. You can also visit our website for more information. You’ll can also read more about the different programs and learn about some of the services we offer.

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you figure out how we can best fit your needs!

Out of the 80 entries that were submitted from students at schools across the United States, we are very proud to announce that Michael Fitzgerald, a Graphic Design* student at Anthem Institute-Springfield, was named the 2^nd place winner of the competition.

Michael’s design was titled: Road to Transition. In describing his design to ACICS, Fitzgerald said, “Everyone in the class was focusing on the 100 years, but I thought the quality education part was more important. I wanted to show graduates looking into the future. I left the right-top of the picture blank, because you don’t know what is out there.”

2nd Place: Mike Fitzgerald

Michael is currently working towards his Diploma in Graphic Design at Anthem Institute in Springfield, PA. So far, he’s learned about typography, fundamentals of design, foundation and drawing, color theory, and taken computer courses. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University, where he studied brand design.

The benefit Michael sees in Anthem Institute is the technical training and working closely with instructors.  “I like the school a lot. When I compare regular college versus technical school, I feel I get a lot more one-on-one input with the teacher here,” he tells ACICS. “The effort that I put into the poster reflects the effort that the teachers put into teaching. It was nice to work with my teacher, Ken Rementer, who also is an accomplished graphic designer, and to apply graphics to the poster and learn from him. He gave me compliments and instructions on how I could make things better.”

Graphic Design instructor Anthony Profeta also had the pleasure of working with Michael and seeing his progress. “I am so happy to see that Michael Fitzgerald placed in the Poster Competition,” he said. “As this was a “holiday break” project I am especially proud to see the amount time that he put into this project, despite a new job (often working until 1am) and the ongoing GD course load where he continues to earn high marks.”

“I’d like to say that I am surprised,” he continued, “but as his instructor I have come to expect this kind of dedication from Mike. His projects are often comprised of several pages of full notes and sketches detailing his thoughts and research. He has continually set the bar high for himself and inspires his classmates to do the same. His good nature and sense of humor provide a balance to his intense marker and pencil work recognized by this award, and I feel that it will continue to aid him as a design professional entering the marketplace.”

Michael is looking forward to completing his diploma program and becoming a graduate like the ones in his poster – looking off into a wide open future. “If I can work in a job that I love, to draw and create things for people, I couldn’t be happier,” he says. “There are plenty of opportunities. Once you graduate with a quality education, you can pretty much do anything you want. The future is a blank piece of paper.”

Please join us in congratulating Michael on his outstanding achievement!

*Anthem Institute-Springfield recently launched a new diploma program in Web & New Media Design. The program will teach students the technical and design skills needed to create attractive and engaging websites for businesses, nonprofit groups, and other organizations. Please visit the program page on our website for more information.

The first kind of animal lover is the practical animal lover. They like animals in general. They may have a pet dog or a cat or maybe even a fish. They take care of their pets and smile when a puppy chow commercial comes on the TV. When they were a kid, they liked to go to the zoo and the circus to see the animals. They might be grossed out by slobber or other animal tendencies, but it doesn’t stop them from liking animals in general and having pets.

My second category of animal lovers is the impractical animal lover. The impractical animal lover cannot stand the thought of any animal being in any kind of pain or discomfort. They don’t like sad animal movies, but if they do watch one, be prepared to have them bawl their eyes out. They bend over backwards for their pets and spoil them beyond belief. If they accidentally hit an animal while driving, be prepared for hours of remorse and grief. A couple of tears wouldn’t be completely uncalled for either. They might also talk to animals in funny voices (We can’t help it! I mean…er…they can’t help it).

Ahem, moving right along.

The third kind of animal lover in my opinion is the tactical animal lover. I use this title for a couple of reasons. One, it rhymes with the other two. Two, tactical can mean skillful. In other words, a tactical animal lover has a skill set that allows them to work with animals. They probably have a lot of the same characteristics of a practical animal lover, and might even share a couple of characteristics with the impractical animal lover (only a couple, mind you), but they take their love for animals a step further by turning it into a career.

A veterinary technologist for example, would be considered a tactical animal lover in my book. They probably don’t like seeing an animal in pain, but instead of being overwhelmed by emotion and not being able to do anything, they would rather work to try and help fix and calm the animal as much as possible.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), veterinary technologists and technicians carry out a variety of clinical tasks, such as performing medical tests, or diagnosing and treating medical conditions and diseases in animals. Having good communication skills is also important for veterinary technologists because they must interact with the animals’ owners, the veterinarian, and the rest of their team. Veterinary technicians also need be organized and have a strong attention to detail.

Anthem College-Kansas City offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology that provides hands-on training for students who are interested in pursuing a career in veterinary technology.  Vet tech students are trained in labs that are designed to look like a veterinarian office. They also participate in an externship after they finish the rest of their coursework. The externship allows them to practice their skills, gain valuable professional experience, and be better prepared to compete for positions in their field after they graduate.

The BLS indicates that the job outlook for veterinary technologists across the country is excellent because more qualified veterinary technologists are needed to meet current and future demands. In the Kansas City area specifically, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center expects the veterinary technologist occupation to grow by almost 28 percent by 2018.

As the American Veterinary Medical Association puts it, “If you care about animals, enjoy working with your hands, are good a basic math and decision-making, and like working with people and handling a variety of responsibilities,” then becoming a vet tech could be a great career option for you.

So call Anthem College-Kansas City today at 816.444.4300 or visit our website to learn more about our exciting veterinary technology training program! You could go from learning to earning in less time than you might think!

Do you live in Arizona? Don’t worry. Anthem College-Phoenix also offers a Veterinary Technology degree program. Visit their website or give them a call at 602.279.9700 for more information.

Most companies know that it’s very important to keep the information on their computers and networks safe from hackers. Information technology (IT) staff are literally on the front lines to protect information. Those who have finished an educational program in IT or computer networking and security (CNS) know how important it is to protect all company information. But many companies are not listening—not yet.

A recent survey of more than 400 firms concluded that companies need to do more to protect the information, or data, that they collect and keep. Venafi, a company that provides IT security services, found that while 90% of companies encrypt data, only 20% do it for all the information they have. (Encrypted data are disguised to look like letters and numbers jumbled together.)

Even worse, 25% of companies said they only secure data if they are required by law. Examples include credit card information, which we know from the headlines doesn’t work very well all the time.

Venafi says there are five steps companies should use to protect its computers and networks :

1. Train all staff to use security tools and follow-up with them four times a year. Only 33% percent of companies it surveyed do this.
2. Protect all information kept in “clouds” (outside the company with a cyberspace storage service). Just 46% take this step.
3. Protect all company data by encrypting them. Only ten percent of companies do this.
4. Make sure there are people who know what to do if security is broken. Companies  need people who know how to get the information back, how to stop the “leak,” and so on. Just 45% of firms have a system in place if this happens.
5. Don’t leave IT security with one person. Make sure that the responsibility is shared so that the company is not unprotected when an IT staffer leaves.

Companies are starting to get the message that they need to do a better job protecting information. This is where people trained in IT and CNS can help them with this.

If you are interested in working in this area, consider earning a CNS diploma with Anthem Institute. Anthem students get hands-on training in computer and network maintenance, repair and security. The program prepares them to compete for entry-level positions in IT and CNS. It is offered at campuses in midtown Manhattan, Journal Square in Jersey City, Parsippany, Cherry Hill and Springfield, Penn., just outside Philadelphia.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other information, please visit our website at www.anthem.edu/disclosures.

ORLANDO, FLA., June 7, 2010 – High-Tech Institute in Orlando will begin offering three new degree programs, with a class start set for August 2, 2010 for all programs. High-Tech Institute – Orlando will launch new Associate in Science degree programs in Paralegal, Computer Networking & Security and Business Management.

The Associate of Science degree program in Paralegal is designed to develop qualified paralegals to assist legal professionals in delivering quality legal services. Students are exposed to civil law and litigation, criminal law and adversarial process, family law and property, transactional law, business law, estate planning and probate, administrative law and alternate dispute resolution.

Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Using a closely integrated combination of classroom theory and hands-on lab experience, students in the Computer Networking & Security program are taught the essentials of computer maintenance and repair. In addition, graduates of this program have experience with hardware and software components used by organizations to operate over local and Internet-based networks. These include Linux and Microsoft operating systems and network software, Cisco operating software and equipment, and widely used business application software packages.

A career in Computer Networking & Security offers many exciting opportunities. In today”s society, businesses, schools and government agencies need trained professionals to oversee their computer systems and administer their networks.

Graduates of this program are prepared to seek entry-level positions such as: Computer Repair Specialist, Computer Technician, Help Desk Specialist, Technical Support Specialist, Computer Systems Administrator, Network Technician and others. Employment of computer support specialists is expected to increase by 14 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook. Demand for these workers will result as organizations and individuals continue to adopt the newest forms of technology.

The Associate of Science in Business Management degree is designed to equip students with the knowledge and entry-level skills for employment in the business environment. The program is balanced on a theoretical and practical framework derived from the social, behavioral, managerial, and informational sciences. The program enables students to evaluate general business issues and focuses on problem solving in the workplace in relation to other aspects of the organization, such as employees, customers, suppliers, and society at large.

“These three new associate degree program offerings allow High-Tech Institute in Orlando to stay current with the times, offering the opportunity for students to further their education in fields with growing job opportunities,” said David Champlin, campus president of High-Tech Institute – Orlando.

In addition to these three new programs, High-Tech Institute in Orlando offers

Associate in Science Degree programs in Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant and Medical Billing & Coding Specialist. Other academic offerings include diploma programs in Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing & Coding Technician, Pharmacy Assistant, Surgical Technician and Basic X-Ray Machine Operator.

Prospective students should call 1-888-326-1985 or visit www.hightechinstitute.edu for more information.

(click to download press release in PDF format)

High-Tech Institute Kansas City will offer six new Associate of Applied Science degree programs in Criminal Justice, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Massage Therapy and Surgical Technologist. The school also offers diploma programs in Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Massage Therapy and Surgical Technologist.

“We are excited to now introduce associate degree programs in addition to our diploma offerings,” said Marilyn Knight, president of High-Tech Institute Kansas City. “These degree offerings broaden the opportunities for our students to gain additional educational experience, making them qualified for a wider range of career opportunities.”

Among the new Associate of Applied Science degree programs:

Criminal Justice – An increased emphasis on homeland security had meant a demand for new graduates in criminal justice. Graduates will be prepared to work as a corrections officer, juvenile detention officer, retail loss prevention officer, court bailiff and others in a variety of settings.

Dental Assistant – Students learn the fundamentals of dental x-ray, education in dental science, chair-side training, dental equipment set up, lab procedures, dental health and basic dental office administrative duties. Upon graduation students are qualified to work as a dental assistant, chair-side assistant or a dental receptionist.

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High-Tech Institute – Page 2

Medical Assistant – The Medical Assistant is a multi-skilled health professional who plays an important role as a member of the health care team in a variety of medical settings. This program introduces students to anatomy and physiology of the body systems, medical terminology, and required clinical and administrative skills. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to as an entry-level Clinical Medical Assistant, Administrative Medical Assistant, Medical receptionist, Medical Bookkeeper, and Laboratory Assistant.

Medical Billing & Coding – Students will receive training in all areas of insurance billing and medical coding, medical records, as well as study the human anatomy, physiology and common diseases and an introduction to medical terminology and pharmacology. Upon graduation, students will be qualified to work as a medical insurance biller, a medical records coder or health information technician.

Massage Therapy — Students will study anatomy, physiology and pathology in relation to soft tissue injury and treatment and train in various methods of massage. Upon graduation, students will be qualified to work in a variety of settings as a massage therapist – from private practice to nursing homes, resorts to pain management clinics.

Surgical Technologist – Students will study the anatomy and physiology of the body, receive an introduction to the operating room as well as training in skills of a Surgical Technologist, laboratory procedures and CPR certification. An externship at a medical facility will be part of the education process and students will be qualified to work in hospital operating rooms, delivery rooms, surgical centers and clinics upon graduation.

Prospective students should call 866-296-2110 or visit http://www.hightechinstitute.edu/locations/high-tech-institute-kansas city/ for more information.