Train for a New Career in 6 Months
Choosing a new career path can feel daunting when you consider the change from a bird’s eye view. Yet, the change is not impossible, and it doesn’t have to take eons either. Did you know you can prepare for a new career in 6 months? Taking small, actionable and measurable steps can help you succeed in pursuing a new career path.
The first step is to decide on what career you want to pursue. This blog highlights four of Blackstone Career Institute’s online, short-term career programs that can help you train for a new career in 6 months.
Find the Right Career Fit for You
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
A paralegal works closely with a law firm to prepare preliminary documents, interview prospective clients or witnesses, fact-check information, perform administrative duties, and follow confidentiality protocols for sensitive case matters.
Blackstone’s Legal Assistant/Paralegal Program is designed to prepare individuals for successfully understanding basic legal terms, identifying aspects of torts, explaining the process for legal research and criminal procedures, and more.
Medical Office Assistant
There are a variety of jobs in the healthcare field, including medical office assistants. As a medical office assistant, an individual is generally expected to communicate effectively and in a friendly manner with patients, maintain current electronic patient records, coordinate hospital transfers and lab results, and more.
Blackstone’s Medical Office Assistant Program will provide an overview of medical terms and how they relate to the body, as well as training on administrative skills. The curriculum is designed to equip individuals with knowledge of the ins and outs of working in a medical office.
Pharmacy Technician
A pharmacy technician works closely with a pharmacist to fill prescriptions, ensure accurate measurements of medications, and organize inventory so that there are ample supplies.
The goal of Blackstone’s Pharmacy Technician Program is to help individuals gain confidence in basic pharmacy technician practices such as drug code classifications, medical ethics, abbreviations and terminology, and the differences between pediatric and geriatric patients.
Dental Office Assistant
A dental office assistant is an essential member of the healthcare team, who provides services such as scheduling exams and procedures, sterilizing equipment, and maintaining updated patient records.
By the end of Blackstone’s Dental Office Assistant Program, an individual will have the knowledge to interact in a positive manner with patients, successfully work with a team of professionals, and adhere to proper medical ethics.
Manage Your Coursework
Regardless of the career path you choose, in order to achieve the goal of training for a new career in 6 months, you need a plan.
If you choose one of Blackstone’s self-paced career training programs, you can practice time management by looking ahead at all the units in the program outline and scheduling out which days and/or weeks you will complete each unit. Establish a schedule early on for consistency, which will not only help keep you accountable, but will also remind you that you are serious about working toward your goal of preparing for a new career in 6 months.
In a Blackstone career training program, an instructor is available to answer questions you may have so you can be prepared with the knowledge you need for the field. Once you complete all the necessary work and receive your diploma, it’s important to consider professional certification.
Earn Your Certification
Obtaining your career diploma is a big step in your career, but there is another step you can take. Each of these four highlighted programs aligns with a certification exam. Certification can set you apart when applying for positions and show employers you are dedicated to growth and excellence in the field.
To further your career as a paralegal, you can sit for the Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam, and once you pass, you will be a certified paralegal. This credential can help you discover advanced career opportunities and increase your earning potential.
As a medical office assistant, you can complete an exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA®) to become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). If you purchase the certification bundle in Blackstone’s bookstore, you will receive a study guide and practice test to help equip you for test day.
Advancing your career as a pharmacy technician first starts with an externship that is a required part of your coursework before receiving your diploma. You will receive practical, hands-on experience with built-in networking opportunities. Upon completion of Blackstone’s Pharmacy Technician Program, you will be eligible to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination® (PTCE®), administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board® (PTCB®), to earn national recognition as a CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician).
Becoming a certified dental assistant is available through the National Entry Level Dental Assistant certification exam that is given by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). To take the certification exam, graduates of Blackstone’s Dental Office Assistant Program must also earn a CPR, BLS or ACLS certificate from a DANB-accepted provider that includes CPR and a hands-on skills exam. Successful completion of the NELDA exam can open opportunities to increase your earning potential and grow in the field.
Discuss Your Interest to Start a New Career in 6 Months
Whether this is your first career move or you are qualified in a variety of job placements, it is possible to start a new career in 6 months. Managing your time and chunking tasks can help you finish your coursework in less than a year and start working toward your dream job.
If you have questions about which online program might be the right fit for you as you work toward a new career in 6 months, talk with an admissions advisor at Blackstone Career Institute today.
Written by Laura Conaway
