Top 5 Things You Can Do With an Associate's Degree

You may think that an associate's degree can't open up as many doors for you as a bachelor's degree.



Think again.



Truth be told, there's a lot you can do with an associate's degree these days. It can a faster, less expensive way to start a one of 2010's top careers, start a rewarding vocational career, or work towards a four-year degree.



Here are our 5 favorite things an associate's degree can do for you:



1. Start a Vocational Career
If you don't want to spend your weekdays locked in a cubicle, there are a lot of fantastic, high-paying vocational careers out there for you to explore. From cosmetology careers to automotive careers, these options can help you to turn your favorite hobby into a paycheck.



To start these careers, you'll need highly-specialized skills. That's where the associate's degree comes in. Many community, junior and technical colleges offer associate's degrees for a variety of vocational careers, which provide the skills and technical know-how you need to get started.



That means the minute you have your degree in hand, you'll be ready to join the workforce. No unpaid internships required.



2. Start a Career You Can Advance In
Who doesn't want a career that you can start fast, advance in, and make a good paycheck? Associate's degrees are often the keys that can unlock these kinds of career options.



Take nursing, for example. You can become a registered nurse by earning your Associate's of Science in Nursing. In approximately two years, this degree will have you working in a hospital, treating patients and helping doctors.



While you're working as an RN, you can take the next steps by earning a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing online. This will give you more career options, and the chance to eventually earn a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN). The MSN allows you to become a nurse practitioner and enter a whole range of specialties, some of which pay a higher salary than a doctor's.



And it all starts with the associate's degree.



3. Work Towards a Bachelor's Degree
If you want a bachelor's degree, or know you'll need one to eventually advance in your career, but can't commit to a four-year program just yet, an associate's degree is a great place to start.



The associate's degree will allow you to complete your prerequisites and preliminary coursework, many of which will count towards a four-year bachelor's degree program when you're ready to enroll.



(An added bonus: associate's programs tend to be less expensive per credit hour than bachelor's programs, which will allow you to save some serious cash on your first two years of school.)



4. Make a Career Change
Let's say you're already working on a particular career path. One day, you wake up and realize you hate your job and what you really want to do is start a cupcake delivery business. (When you do, feel free to put the myFootpath corporate office address on your delivery route. Thanks.)



But while you need to get some business classes under your belt, you already have a bachelor's degree in accounting, and you don't want to start another four-year program. So what are you to do?



Enter the associate's degree. A specialized associate's degree can build on the education you already have, and provide the knowledge you need to make that career change.



5. Start One of Today's Best Careers
You don't need a PhD in rocket science to land one of today's top careers. These days, an associate's degree is the key to entering one of the 2010 top careers, including veterinary technician careers, dental hygienist careers, physical therapist assistant careers, and more