Choosing a college degree can be a very difficult decision to make. There are many things to consider but it is important to decide on the right college degree for the type of occupation that you want to pursue. You may find that you do not actually need a degree but that a certificate or diploma will be sufficient, or your chosen profession may require further study after a college such as medicine or law.    Certificates or diplomas require a shorter period of study than a traditional degree and are usually taken by students wanting to pursue a career in an occupational field.
Quite often a certificate or diploma can be taken before embarking on a college course.    An associate degree is awarded after completing a two-year degree course. Some community colleges and other universities offer an associate degree program which allows you to transfer to a four-year college degree course after you have been awarded the appropriate associate degree. There are a number of occupations where a two-year degree is recommended or required including:     Administrative Assistant   Automotive Mechanic   Cardiovascular Technician   Commercial Artist   Computer Technician   Dental Hygienist   Drafter   Engineering Technician   Funeral Director   Graphic Designer   Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician   Hotel or Restaurant Manager   Medical Laboratory Technician   Medical Record Technician   Insurance Agent   Registered Nurse   Surgical Technologist   Surveyor   Visual Artist   Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator    A traditional four-year college degree is the most frequently required qualification for a number of occupations. Some examples of professions requiring a four-year college degree in an appropriate discipline are:     Accountant   Computer Systems Analyst   Dietitian   Editor   Engineer   FBI Agent   Investment Banker   Journalist   Medical Illustrator   Pharmacist   Public Relations Specialist   Recreational Therapist   Research Assistant   Social Worker   Teacher   Writer    There are also a number of occupations that require a student to obtain a degree that is longer than the conventional four-year college degree programs.
These extended professional degree programs include:     Architect   Biologist   Chiropractor   Dentist   Diplomat   Doctor   Economist   Geologist   Lawyer   Librarian   Management Consultant   Palaeontologist   Priest   Psychologist   Public Policy Analyst    It is important to choose a college course that is suitable for the career path you want to follow. If you are unsure of which field of occupation you want to enter then it is advisable to take a certificate or diploma course first. This will enable you to change disciplines without having spent four years on a degree course that ends up not being something that you want to pursue.
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