Do You Want to Go to Dental School?

After watching their older siblings, other relatives and friends struggle to find a job after graduating from college, many young adults are starting to seriously question whether their intended career is the right choice. Therefore, before they enroll in such a program, they want to know if dental school is a desirable option.

The Job Outlook

One of the major components that goes into determining whether or not a job is desirable is the employment outlook. Are there going to be a lot of jobs available when you graduate? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 21 percent projected rate of employment increase exists in this field for the years 2010 to 2020. The average job growth for occupations is 14 percent, so the field of dentistry is clearly above average. Though, to be sure, the outlook differs according to region, so those looking to become a Dentist in College Station, TX will likely have different options than those looking in the Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, or New York City regions.

The Salary

When individuals attend college and dental school, they often have to take out a lot of loans. Therefore, they want to know that they are eventually going to be able to make the money back and pay off their debt. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has positive information to report in this field as well. The site notes that the median salary of a dentist is $146,920 per year or a rate of $70.64 per hour. These numbers are as of 2010, so you could expect a possible slight increase in the future.

The Ability to be Self Employed

The American Dental Association, in its article "Ten Great Reasons to be a Dentist," reminds dental students that they have the ability to eventually become self employed. Many people want to work for themselves, set their own hours and have high levels of control over their business. When you choose to work as a dentist, you will have the opportunity to do so. You will likely have to work up a reputation in the community at another practice or with a partner before you open your own practice.

An Understanding of the Sciences

You also must consider your own strengths, abilities and weaknesses when you are deciding if dental school is the right option for you. Making a high salary and owning your own business certainly seem like two positive points; however, if you do not have the necessary tools to become a dentist, your endeavor is likely to fail. Evaluate how well-versed you are in the sciences and other disciplines related to the field of dentistry. Be prepared to take some extra courses if you have not succeeded in these types of classes.

A Passion for Dentistry

Ultimately, you also need to want to be a dentist in order to succeed at dental school. No matter how much money you make or how excellent of a schedule you have, your time spent at work is going to be miserable if you do not enjoy the job. Enroll in a college that has a pre-dental program, so you are able to take some courses in the field. If you are unable to find a college with such a program, you must at least look into taking some other classes that are related to the field in order to determine if this is the occupation for you.

Basically, whether or not dental school is a desirable option depends upon what you think. In terms of salary and job availability, yes, it is. However, if you do not like the field, then it is simply the wrong career for you to pursue.

This piece was composed by Reginald Wadsworth, a freelancer who focuses on education, professional training, employment trends and other topics. Those concerned about their oral hygiene should consider obtaining the services of an experienced dental professional with impeccable credentials and an established track record of success.

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Interior Design Career: Licensing and Certification

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"You should be an interior designer.” How many times have you heard that when someone walks into your home and sees the beautifully decorated rooms? Or how many times have you watched the professionals on home and garden programs, or flipped through a magazine, and thought, “I could do that!”

With the proliferation of TV shows, magazine, books and online sources these days, it seems like almost anyone can call themselves an interior designer or decorator. However, what many people may not realize is that in order to be considered an interior designer in most states, you need to hold a license, or at least be registered with the appropriate regulatory agencies.

Reasons for Regulation

If you’re not familiar with the interior design profession, you might be thinking, “Why do designers need to be licensed? Aren’t they just choosing furniture and decorating rooms?” And while yes, those tasks are certainly part of the equation, they are just the tip of the iceberg.

Professional interior designers do more than just paint and hang curtains, especially when they are hired for a major remodeling job. Designers need to have a fundamental understanding of the principles of architecture, as well as building codes, plumbing, electrical work and other regulations, in order to manage projects. Without that knowledge, the outcome could be dangerous -- even disastrous. Requiring those who carry the designation “interior designer” to meet certain requirements helps to protect consumers, and ensure that buildings meet the minimum safety standards set by the government.

State Laws

Each state has its own laws and regulations regarding the practice of interior design – and about half don’t have any laws at all. However, of those that do have laws, most place strict restrictions on who can use the term interior designer and some actually limit the practice of interior design to those who meet the state licensing requirements.

To determine your state’s requirements, contact the licensing authority, or the American Society of Interior Designers, a professional organization that maintains a comprehensive listing of state requirements.

Getting Certified

Qualifying for licensure in interior design is much like earning a license in other fields. You can only qualify for the designation after meeting strict education, experience and testing prerequisites.

Of the states that do regulate the profession, most require at least two years of education in interior design; some states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada and Virginia, actually require four years. Some states specify a minimum number of years of combined education and experience, but all states require at least six years of experience.

In addition to completing an education at one of the accredited interior design colleges, most states require licensed interior designers to pass an examination covering the fundamentals of the profession. The most commonly required exam is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam, a multi-day exam that’s limited to those who hold a degree and have a minimum number of years of experience.

While the NCIDQ is generally required by state licensing boards, there are other certifications that designers can seek within their areas of specialization. For example, those who work in the kitchen and bath design field, and meet the education, experience and training requirements, can seek the National Kitchen and Bath Association certification, while those who work exclusively in residential interior design can seek certification through the Council for Qualification of Residential Interior Designers.

A growing field of design is “green,” or environmentally friendly design, and experienced designers can seek certification in that area as well. The National Association of Green Designers sponsors a certification for those who specialize in eco-friendly design, the Certified Green Designer designation, which indicates the designers’ commitment to environmentally friendly design and use of sustainable materials.

Of course, completing all of the licensing requirements for your state doesn’t always mean you are licensed for as long as you practice. Most states require continuing education or professional development courses to keep the license current.

In the end, states enact certification and licensing requirements to protect both consumers and designers. Earning the right to call yourself an interior designer is a major achievement, and one that all designers and students should take seriously.

Image from Flickr’s Creative Commons

Yvette Conolly is an award-winning licensed interior designer. The owner of a successful residential design firm, she serves as an advisor to aspiring designers. Her work has been featured in several magazines.

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What Can You do With an Education Degree?

A degree in education may seem like a one-way street to a lifetime in the classroom, but there are many different career options for people who don't want to teach in a classroom. For those who simply want to be involved in educating kids without the pressures of the classroom setting, alternative careers do exist. In fact, some of these career opportunities allow the educator a better opportunity to engage with young people.

Museums and cultural centers
Many museums and cultural centers need the services of professional educators. Qualified candidates can serve as tour group leaders, small group educators and customer service representatives. In each of these jobs, they will be educating and engaging with kids. Someone who works at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, for instance, will need to teach about Chickasaw history and culture each day while helping visitors of all ages during their visit.

Someone who works at a children’s museum will need to guide children in interaction with the exhibits throughout their visit. The same need exists in art museums, history museums and cultural centers throughout the country. In each of these locations, understandinging how to teach and guide children is a vital skill, even though no formal teaching happens.

Non-profit organizations
Non-profit organizations often work with children and need people who are trained to do so. For example, the Girl Scouts, YMCA and Big Brother/Big Sister programs all give people the chance to teach and guide children without being in a formal educational setting. Teachers often volunteer in these organizations in the summer, but the groups need long-term commitments as well. Those with a teaching degree who are not working in a classroom can find paid opportunities with these organizations. Whether someone serves as a counselor in a camp, helps out with an after-school care program or acts as executive director of one of these non-profits, training in education will be a vital asset.

Tutoring
Tutoring is teaching on a smaller scale. Rather than working with a classroom filled with students, a tutor interacts with students on a one-on-one basis. Personal attention can be quite powerful for both students and educators, as tutoring gives the teacher the chance to work with a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses and help him or her achieve.

Community educators
Community educators work with institutions and government groups to provide education to the community as a whole. Hospitals may need educators to help spread information about health and wellness programs. Government welfare agencies may need educators to teach about proper nutrition and exercise. Financial institutions may need educators to help promote their products and provide education about finances. A degree in education makes it far more likely to land a position as a community educator, regardless of the type of organization offering the educational programming.
Education does not have to happen just in the classroom. Opportunities to teach and learn exist at museums, cultural centers, tutoring facilities and many other locations. Each of these career options engage students' minds in a less formal venue than a classroom setting. Whether a teacher is looking for a break from the classroom or a young person is considering a degree and exercising their options, educational careers show just how flexible a teaching degree can be.

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Applying a Degree in Forensic Psychology

Sadly, this country has experienced over the last 20 years a rise in sensational, media-bloated shootings, all of which have left communities grieving and wondering why – why would anyone do such a horrible, evil thing? Even worse, we’ve become almost accustomed to the tragedies, as if accepting of their eventualities, as if we’re unsurprised that people exist who can walk into a movie theater and murder a dozen strangers.

We accept that there is something psychologically wrong with the killers, but what goes on their heads intrigues us while it repels. It is because of this that we turn to forensic psychologists now more than ever, hoping their expertise and ability to delve into the psyche of truly disturbed people will offer us clues on how to spot a potential murderer and stop them, before something like the Aurora shooting happens again.

Forensic Psychologists: A Career Profile

Forensic psychologists are specifically trained psychologists who specialize in criminal investigation and the law. While the field actually encompasses surprising issues like custody disputes, insurance claims and lawsuits, a population among forensic psychologists does pursue criminal profiling while working with law enforcement and/or legal personnel. Forensic psychologists’ tasks include competency evaluations, recommending sentences, testifying in court cases and evaluating child custody cases.

One of the things that forensic psychologists do – which, thanks to popular media, both scripted and real, has become the popular conception of their job – is create criminal profiles, as well as give their expert opinion whether or not a suspect is psychologically competent to face charges and/or stand trial. This is, of course, a small and very specific aspect of forensic psychology, but it’s both fascinating and essential.

Interested candidates must start with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. (Thanks to the technology of today, nontraditional students can consider pursuing their initial psychology degree online, with a wide variety of internet-based programs.) A career in forensic psychology absolutely requires a doctoral degree; some schools offer programs with a forensic focus and will often provide the student with courses in both psychology and law. Graduate work can take between five to seven years to complete. On top of that, years of experience are necessary before the candidate should feel ready to apply for American Board of Forensic Psychology certification.

The forensic psychologist salary varies based on experience. Those just starting out can expect something in the range of $40,000-50,000. What’s incredible about the field is that those in the upper echelons of earning command yearly salaries of almost $120,000. Those forensic psychologists who work independently as consultants (who can, therefore, set their own rate) can expect the higher pay.

What Forensic Psychology Has to Say about Mass Shooters

 

While there is no definitive answer for why a person will carefully plan out an attack to murder innocent people, forensic psychologists have studied past cases and weighed in with their insight.

Some have articulated groups especially at risk based on personality traits. They cite delusional individuals, whose beliefs, though proven wrong, become their own personal truths; narcissists, who care little for others and will do whatever they must to obtain their own goals; and the severely depressed and suicidal, those who despair so deeply of living that they can be driven to take others down with them, fueled in part by their feelings of anger and self-justification at wrongs done to them.

This anger can come out in a few different ways. Some killers specifically target those who have “wronged” them – a boss who fired them or a woman who rejected them. Others will target a “representative” group: a poor student might shoot at a group of wealthy ones, even if none of them ever actually ridiculed him or her. Forensic psychologists say that a third type, the kind that targets indiscriminately, like James Holmes, the accused shooter in Aurora, CO, is the least common and the most difficult to understand – certainly the most difficult for the public to comprehend.

Forensic psychologists say that certain behaviors may offer clues: increasing interest in weapons or past mass murderers, violent fantasies or even expressed threats, however subtle or direct. What is clear is that forensic psychologists and law enforcers can only do so much. It’s a frightening truth of our time that we must be aware of these signs and symptoms and ready to speak up when someone makes us uneasy.

David Michaels is a contributing writer and psychology major in his senior year of college. He hopes one day to own his own practice as a child psychologist.

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