If you are looking to start your career, it’s important that you understand the professional designations available for career advancement in your field. Whether you plan on entering IT or simply going into supply chain, there are a variety of professional certifications and degrees that can help you on your path to success.

Understanding this is the key to mobility and advancement in your career. That’s why we’ve prepared a list of the top advancement strategies for major career paths. The career pathways discussed here dominated the list of top ten most in-demand careers of 2018.

Knowing this, this article has the potential to impact your career advancement. Take a look below to see how you might benefit from this information.

Who knows? Maybe it could be the difference in your career. 

Computer Software Engineer

There are few career fields as lucrative as becoming a computer software engineer. As such, it is first on our list. If you are looking for a quality career path that is expected to grow in 2019 and beyond, look no further.

The catch?

Becoming a computer software engineer takes some significant time (and money). In general, you will be required to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible for employment. While there are some institutions that officially accept two-year degree students, it’s exceedingly rare. Therefore, it’s recommended that you choose software engineering as your bachelor’s degree major.

With that being said, what other qualifications, if any, are there necessary to become a computer software engineer? While there are no license examinations or strict certifications necessary, it’s recommended practice that you take advantage of internship opportunities while pursuing your education.

Many major tech companies offer students the chance to intern. This gives students a valuable opportunity to hone their skills in a real tech environment and a chance to pad their resumes. Truly, an internship at a respectable company is a great way to show future employers you are ready to enter the field.

There are also many “bootcamp” programs available to get you up to par before you seek employment. These programs are designed to give students an intense, first-hand look into the challenges of software engineering employment and teach them many key concepts they will need to know for success.

It’s also a good idea to obtain certification in a few areas. While not necessary, these certifications can help improve a student’s chances of getting hired. Offered by companies such as Microsoft and Oracle, these certifications generally focus on a specific area of engineering and allow future employers to see the degree of a candidate’s specialization and knowledge.

As a rule, it’s good practice to rack up as many degrees and certifications as possible so that you can maximize your marketability and your future salary. 

Pharmacy Technician

With the growth of modern medicine, the demand for pharmacy technicians is ever increasing. That’s why it’s more important than ever to consider going into this increasingly-popular field. 

There are a number of steps that must be taken in order to become a pharmacy technician. First, you may want to consider postsecondary education. While it’s not a strict requirement of the job, you will find it easier to gain employment if you have completed a pharmacy technician associate degree program. This will generally take around two years, but don’t worry—there are quicker options.

You can also choose to enroll in an ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) certified program. Upon completion of the program within a year or less, you will obtain certification to work in the pharmaceutical field.

These programs allow students to experience on-the-job training at real pharmacies, typically in drugstores. Many employers prioritize candidates who have this experience on their resume.

This isn’t all you must do, however. In order to obtain employment, you may have to become certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). This certification is mandatory in some states. Even if states where this certification isn’t required, you may find that most employers are seeking only certified candidates. For this reason, it’s imperative to incorporate certification as part of your plans when considering becoming a pharmacy technician. 

Once you have completed these steps, you will be good to go. Though the salary requirements for pharmacy technicians differ by state, you can expect a starting salary of around $30,000. Keep in mind that you must renew your certification every two years. This is designed to keep all pharmaceutical staff up to par with medical advances, and it could be a key condition of your employment moving forward. 

As pharmacy technicians are expected to see a 20% job growth until 2022, it’s important that you start now to capitalize on this great employment opportunity.

Registered Nurse

If you haven’t noticed, the demand for registered nurses (or RNs, as they are called) is only increasing. With an ever-aging population, it’s becoming more critical that there are qualified professionals available to take care of both patients and the elderly.

Because of this, the registered nursing profession is expected to grow by a whopping fifteen percent over the next ten years. That’s more than a percent a year and is much faster than the average for all occupations. Knowing this, it’s important to take the necessary steps to capitalize on this opportunity and enter the registered nursing field.

Let’s start with the basics. All registered nurses are required to have a nursing license. Without this license, you simply cannot practice. If you want to be a licensed nurse, there are some steps you must take. First, you should enter an approved nursing program or academic institution with the goal of getting either a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, or diploma). This may take an initial investment on your part, but don’t worry—it will more than pay off.

Once you have graduated from an approved nursing program and have passed the National Council Licensure Examinatin (NCLEX-RN), you are also subject to any of your state’s nursing requirements. Generally, these will include a background check and other pre-employment screenings. 

Importantly, registered nurses may also be required to obtain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. Additional certifications that may be required to practice in your area are basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certifications. 

It’s important to note that many hospitals require nurses to complete a bachelor’s degree. If that is the case, there are typically programs that allow current RNs to go back and obtain their bachelor’s degree. This can advance employment opportunities and pay, which hovers around the $70,000 a year mark for RNs.

Physical Therapy Assistants

How fast is the field of physical therapy growing?

Recent studies have projected the demand for physical therapy assistants (often called PTs) to grow 28% over the next decade. That’s an outstanding amount of growth that far outpaces the average for all occupations.

This is the case for a variety of reasons. First, the population is older than ever. With longer lifespans and better medical technology, people are not simply living longer—they are staying more active. While this is a positive, it increases the chance of injury or disease. 

Which is where you come in.

If you are considering a career in physical therapy, you will be hitting the market at just the right time. It’s important to understand, however, that becoming a PT takes considerable investment. 

First, all prospective physical therapists must enroll in a bachelor’s degree program. Following completion of this four-year degree, students must then enroll in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DOT) program. Some of these programs offer both a bachelor’s and an advanced degree and take a total of seven years to complete. On average, however, you should not expect to spend more than three years in your DOT program.

This program gives students the qualifications and experience they need to serve effectively in a PT role. Specifically, they also provide students with at least thirty weeks of clinical experience. This experience provides valuable first-hand growth for students.

It doesn’t stop there, however. If you are looking to become a PT, you must also obtain licensure. In most states, students of physical therapy are required to take the National Physical Therapy Examination offered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. 

Upon passing this examination, students will be eligible for employment as a PT. With a mean salary of $86,850, PTs more than make up the cost of their education. Furthermore, as the highest earners in the field earn in excess of $120,000 per year, a career as a PT is a great investment for your future. 

Fitness Trainer

The career of fitness trainer has seen fantastic growth over recent years and is only expected to grow. With projected growth of 10% over the coming years, the field is currently outpacing the national average.

This results from two ongoing situations. The first is the alarming trend of obesity, which is growing more serious with each passing year. The other is the aging of the population. With more people reaching old age, it’s become imperative that people learn to take care of their bodies so that they will function properly later in life.

As such, it’s an understatement to say that fitness trainers bear a great deal of responsibility. It only follows that fitness trainers are required to obtain a quality education and receive certification from accredited organizations. 

In the past, it was enough for fitness trainers to have a high school diploma. Today, however, many employers seek trainers who have completed a higher degree (either an associate’s or a bachelor’s). If you wish to be a fitness trainer, consider obtaining a degree in a health-related field.

In addition to this education, fitness trainers are expected to obtain the proper certification. Certification helps employers find individuals who offer the right skillset and give clients the trust they need to build an effective relationship.

For this reason, many fitness trainers obtain certifications from accredited organizations. One major certification is the Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification. In order to achieve this, however, they may first be required to obtain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED). 

Knowing this, you should begin to prepare early if you want to be a fitness trainer. While the career path is certainly rewarding (median salaries stay around the $40,000 a year range), it will take time and effort to obtain the degrees and certifications necessary to practice. In addition, you may be required to train under established trainers before you can gain clients of your own.

So don’t wait. Understanding the steps to becoming a fitness trainer is crucial to your success in the field.

The Bottom Line

Here’s the bottom line: no matter what career pathway you choose, you will be required to put forth time and effort. As such, it’s crucial to understand the professional designations necessary for your career.

Today, it’s increasingly important that you have the degrees, certifications, or licenses necessary to practice in the field of your choosing. This list of careers that are expected to boom in 2019 and beyond is a good starting point for anyone looking to enter growing career pathways.

By understanding the information in this guide, you will be one step closer to making your dream a reality. If you are looking for a career and are not sure if it’s worth the time and investment, don’t worry.

Though it may seem pricey to get an education and obtain certifications and licenses, you will find that these expenses are more than covered by a quality career. That’s why it’s imperative you choose a career pathway that seeks long-term stability and advancement opportunities. 

No matter what career you choose, you should make sure to check out the requirements and potential opportunities for investment before you fully commit. You may find that your pathway doesn’t offer as much opportunity as you thought. On the other hand, you may find that another career offers attractive advancement opportunities—as long as you have the right certification.

If you are looking for a great, forward-thinking career, start today! We’ve provided five strong ones for you here.

We hope this helps!