There are more than a few of you out there who are itching to get a new career started. Fortunately, there are several certifications you can earn in under a year to jump-start you into a new career.
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Paralegal
This is a great option for those who already have a bachelor’s degree but are seeking a new beginning. As a paralegal, you will assist lawyers and attorneys in their everyday administrative tasks such as affidavits and researching cases.
Earning the paralegal certification is easy if you already have a degree, but if you don’t, you’ll need to get a two-year associate’s degree.
Court reporter
If you have exceptional typing speed and accuracy, you should consider getting certified to become a court reporter. Beyond simply working in court rooms, court reporters and transcribers also go to work for television stations by transcribing for closed captioning, or even in classrooms by transcribing for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Certification students will learn to work with the shorthand programs that dramatically increase typing speeds. The average salary for a court reporter or transcriber in 2012 was $48,160, making this an extremely high-value certification.
Graphic designer
Graphic designers are in increasing demand with the rise of importance in online presence for businesses. This is a good opportunity for those who wish to employ their creativity in their career.
A one-year certification will earn you the technical skills necessary to execute a vision into online software. Graphic designers work with companies to create logos, brochures, and other important visual correspondence.
Medical assistant
Medical assistant is a highly rewarding career in which you take down patient information, draw up syringes of medications, schedule appointments, and answer patient questions. This career has an expected increase of 34% through the next four years, so a year spent earning a medical assistant certification will be well worth it.
Candidates for this certificate might consider attending the healthcare aide training program through ABES College. This is an all-encompassing program that also certifies you in extra specializations such as diabetes, foot care, and CPR.
Chef
A culinary certificate is a great way to start a surprisingly lucrative career. In fact, the top 10% of chefs earn $69,000 annually. After earning your one-year certification, you will be in charge of ordering produce and other foods, preparing recipes, directing cooks and wait staff, and running the entire kitchen.
Administrative assistant
All offices are in need of administrative assistants to perform the everyday tasks like data entry, report creation, meeting arrangements, and travel organization. As an administrative assistant, you will be an integral part of any company that you work for. Best of all, this job is always in high demand and pays a decent salary of an average of $44,000 per year.
Starting that new career is easier than you think with the wide array of one-year certifications available in schools across the continent. It’s never too late to change careers or chase your dreams.
This article uses information from ABES College (Alberta Business Education Services) in Calgary.
Anica Oaks
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