Colorado Northwestern Community College is a public community college with two campuses, one in Rangely, Colorado, and one in Craig, Colorado. The school has around 1,100 students and is in a rural setting. They have a good selection of different programs at both of their campuses.
Colorado Northwestern Community College’s mission is to enhance people’s lives by providing accessible and affordable quality education.
They offer the following degrees:
Colorado Northwestern Community College is physically located in Rangely, CO, and Craig, CO. According to Bestplaces, the cost of living in these areas is below average. The average two-bedroom apartment is $946 in Rangely and $979 in Craig. This makes these two locations affordable for those receiving GI Bill benefits.
Rangely Campus
Craig Campus
Job Title | Estimated Average Salary
Telemedicine Nurse | $73,681
School Nurse | $53,881
Registered Nurse RN | $71,529
Hospice Nurse| $81,285
Travel Nurse | $92,495
Salary and job information from Salary’s website.
Job Title | Estimated Average Salary
Oral Hygienist | $65,404
Dental Hygienist | $79,806
Dental Assistant | $45,164
Salary and job information from Salary’s website.
Job Title | Estimated Average Salary
Automotive Technician | $53,639
Service Technician | $46,640
Automotive Mechanic | $51,879
Diesel Mechanic | $47,086
Salary and job information from Salary’s website.
If you decide to go to a trade or vocational school, they often have programs that can be completed within 2 years and will help their students land jobs in their area of study. This allows you to get the education you need and get job placement assistance to start your career off strong. Most trade and vocational schools have partnerships with companies in the local area and around the country to ensure their graduates move on to fulfilling careers after graduation.
Active-Duty Military Members
If you are an active-duty military member transitioning, this route allows you time to use your Tuition Assistance benefits to ensure you have career options after leaving the military community. You can begin the education process 2 years before your projected transition date. Right before your transition or soon after you will be able to get career placement assistance from the trade or vocational school you attended to help land your next career.
Veterans
Using your benefits earned through service is a big decision. Be strategic in where and how you use those benefits. Trade and vocational schools allow you to find a career that is focused and sustainable. Trade and vocational schools are more affordable allowing you to limit or have zero out-of-pocket costs. Not to mention direct connections into the industry of your choice.
Military Spouses
If you are a military spouse looking to find a career that can ensure job security at each assignment, consider exploring education programs at a trade or vocational school. Often education programs at these schools can lead to career paths that can be found on or near military installations around the world.
Learn more about Colorado Northwestern Community College, see what programs are offered online, and contact the school directly.
The Operation Warfighter Program was developed by the Department of Defense for recovering service members who are still on active duty while they wait to return to regular duty or to transition out of the civilian world. The OWP is a temporary assignment and internship program to provide meaningful activity outside of the hospital and to prepare them for life after the military.
Those in the OWP program must be American citizens who are on active duty in the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. The program is open to all wounded, ill, and injured service members assigned to a service wounded warrior program. Service members will need to be medically cleared in order to participate in the program.
OWP allows service members to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable federal government work experience. Service members will be placed in host offices, and assigned a supervisor and mentor. The employers will be limited to federal agencies and service members will also need to fulfill the security clearance requirements that are set by the offer where they want to work.
Once you are selected for the program, your manager will start processing your appointment and complete the pre-employment documents. Your assigned mentor will assist you with in-processing logistics as well as throughout the assignment. This will give you guidance and allow for an easier transition into the program.
Service members will also need to fulfill the security clearance requirements that are set by the office where they want to work.
Duty schedules are determined by the treatment schedule. You will work around 20 hours per week. They will also provide transportation to and from your temporary assignment at no cost to you the service member.
The average assignment lasts 3-5 months and you may be asked to take additional training to enhance existing skills and to learn new skills.
No, this internship does not promise a future job. However, once the service member is released from medical hold, they will be considered potential candidates for full-time employment with the DoD pending separation from the military. This would make finding a job after military service easier.
No, the Operation Warfighter program is an unpaid internship, however, you will still receive your military salary while on the assignment. The DoD Computer/Electronics Accommodation Program also provides any electric equipment, transportation, and sign language interpreter services that are needed.
If you are interested in the program, you would need to submit your resume and a brief description of the type of temporary assignment that you are looking for. Visit the Operation Warfighter page for more information and to apply for this program.
As a National Guard or Reserve service member, there will be times when you will have to be away from your civilian job because of military service. There will be your regular drill weekends, when you get mobilized, going away for trainings, and deployments. While USERRA offers protection while serving in the guard or reserves and working in a civilian job, having a good relationship with your employer is a must.
Letting your employer know what is going on with your military service is important and mandatory. Keep them updated on scheduled drill periods and annual trainings and inform them as soon as you can when it comes to unexpected mobilizations or deployments. Not only is this required but it will make for a smoother relationship between you and your civilian employer.
Know that you can’t be required to find a replacement worker for your time off because of military service. You also are allowed to use your vacation time during military service. This would give you a civilian paycheck and a military paycheck at the same time. However, your employer can not force you to do so. That way, you can still take time off from both jobs during the year.
Some businesses and employers will provide pay while you are on military duty, but all that is required by law is giving you unpaid leave. Make sure you understand what your employer does. You can read more about pay in this Career Recon article.
Whenever you have to be away from your civilian job, adjustments will have to be made, depending on your job. Your employer may have to hire temporary workers to fill your position or they may have to shift job duties around.
While you are away, you may want to be aware of what is going on back at your civilian job. This is dependent on a few different factors. Some MOSs would make communicating with your employer difficult and depending on your civilian job, hearing about what is happening back at the job is unnecessary and distracting. You do need to focus on your military job when you are serving on military duty.
For others, being aware of what is going on back home is important and possible to do. For shorter times away, talking to your employer isn’t necessary unless there is a schedule change. If you are away for a longer period of time, such as a longer training period or a deployment, checking in with your civilian job could be a good idea. Again, this really depends on your role at your civilian job.
Depending on the time away, you may need to be retrained on certain aspects of your job. There will also be an adjustment period of time as you get back to your civilian job. This can be the case after a deployment or longer training period.
Be aware of any new policies, new hires, position changes, or people who have left the job while you were away. That can change your workplace environment.
Your employer is also required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), State Disability Discrimination Laws, and USERRA. This means you do have protections about returning to work. One example is if you can’t perform your regular job due to a disability you receive from military service, your employer must provide the nearest type of job in light of your disability and the limits associated with it. However, they may not be obligated to re-employ or accommodate employees with disabilities if those accommodations make for an undue hardship for the civilian employer.
The Purepost Passport is the perfect tool for veteran job seekers!
Purepost is a veteran-owned company that was born out of a desire to help veterans successfully transition to civilian careers. Their tool, the Purepost Passport, is able to make resume creation easier. Here is what you need to know about this tool.
The Purepost Passport is a quick way to find career opportunities that match your skills. The company created the first cloud-based software that fully translates a wide range of previous work experiences (military and civilian) into transferable hard, soft, and technical skills. They have mapped over 75,000 skills across 40,000 unique job roles. When you enter your information, you would then get back a profile customized based on your work history and skills.
Within the tool, Purepost will convert your military experience into common-sense business terms that employers will understand. This is a helpful way of creating a resume for the civilian world.
To use Purepost Passport, you would create an account to sign up. Once you have done that you can start adding your most recent work or volunteer experiences. You can also add your education, certifications, and training.
You will then be able to see the resume that was created which includes details about the job. For example, if you put in that you worked as a “dental receptionist” it would fill in details such as, “Greeted persons entering establishment, determined nature and purpose of visit, and directed or escorted them to specific destinations.” The tool will also make a list of your proficiencies and you should be able to edit any of the information.
After your passport is created, you can download the resume for job fairs, upload it to an employer job application website, or share your passport as a public link.
Yes, Purepost will provide you with job listings based on your skills and talents. You can then go in and search by keywords, employers, and location.
As you can see, the Purepost Passport is an amazing tool for veterans looking for a job. They make resume creation easy, and possible for you to quickly create one to use in your job search. Resumes are a must when job hunting and this tool should be in your job hunting toolbox.
If you are looking for more information about resumes and the job search, check out our articles, Where Military Veterans Can Go for Resume Help and Military Employment Guide: Resume Writing for Military.
Many companies offer the military community free or low-cost Six Sigma certification courses. These courses allow you to upskill or reskill to land your desired job. Many companies that provide these courses also have career services to help with the military transition, post-military career search, or military spouse employment.
Onward to Opportunity (O2O) is a free career skills program Syracuse University offers. The courses are accredited. The program is designed to help bridge the gap between the military-connected population and the skills employers seek. Learn more.
O2O offers the following categories of free Six Sigma Courses:
Career assistance resource at O2O:
Sigma Forces is a military spouse-owned, veteran-owned, accredited training provider of professional education and certifications. They offer courses and other career help. Learn more.
Sigma Forces offers the following free Six Sigma Courses:
Career assistance resources at Sigma Forces:
AAPM is the leading graduate certification organization in the world known for project management certifications. They offer a Six Sigma course that anyone can apply for, fees may apply. AAPM also offers over 100 certificate courses, some courses have special exemptions for the military community. Learn more.
AAPM offers the following Six Sigma Courses:
Career assistance resource at the AAPM:
AAPM does not have career assistance resources or programs for the military community.
Coursera offers Six Sigma free or low-cost college courses and certifications. With over 5,800 courses in whole veterans and military spouses can start or advance their careers with professional certificates from 275+ universities and companies. Some certificates and specific skill courses may cost. Learn more.
Coursera offers courses in the following categories:
Career assistance resource at Coursera:
Coursera does not have career assistance resources or programs for the military community.
Alison offers 4,000+ free online courses, they offer multiple Six Sigma courses for free. While the courses are free the certificates and diplomas to showcase course completion are not. Courses are built by subject matter experts. Alison’s courses qualify for Continuing Professional Development standards and benchmarks, This CPD Certification Service provides recognized independent CPD accreditation compatible with global CPD requirements. Learn more.
Alison offers courses in the following categories:
Career assistance resource at Alison:
There is a big demand for Six Sigma Certifications in the current job market. These courses are a great opportunity for those looking to improve their hire-ability, whether they are a service member transitioning to the civilian world, a military spouse looking for a career change, or a veteran looking to up their skills.
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Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a branch of diagnostic medical imaging. Those in this career learn how to use medical ultrasound for a medical diagnosis with 2D and 3D images of the body. Ultrasounds beam high-frequency sound waves into the body and then a doctor translates the echoes into colorful, visual images that provide the needed medical information to help the patient.
Within the Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical field, there are many different concentrations. Under General Sonography you can find:
In addition to General Sonography, there is also Cardiac Sonography. This is where the tech uses echocardiograms to check the size and structure of the heart muscle and valves and traces the movement of the blood that goes through the heart.
Ultrasounds provide versatile images that can give us a better look at soft tissues. They are also widely accessible, as well as non-invasive. Most people won’t feel much discomfort with an ultrasound and there is less risk than there is with CT scans and x-rays. Ultrasound is a needed diagnostic tool and a great field to go into.
If you feel like you are emotionally mature, highly motivated, self-disciplined, and enjoy working with people, you might be a good fit for a job in Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
The career outlook for the Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography field is good as ultrasound is an important tool in healthcare. There are different types of sonography and different jobs you can work towards if you want to go into this field.
BLS, which is the Bureau of Labor Statistics, states that the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians is projected to grow 10% from 2021-2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations. There are over 10,000 job openings for this field projected each year, on average, over the next decade.
When it comes to salaries, a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer can make an average of $79,300 according to Salary.com.
Here is a breakdown of similar careers and how much you can expect to make from each of them.
Annual Salaries – Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonographer |
|||
JOB TITLE | Lower Range | Average | Higher Range |
Neurodiagnostic Technologist | $54,970 | $58,852 | $70,223 |
Obstetric Sonographer | $65,158 | $71,950 | $78,918 |
Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer | $73,600 | $81,800 | $90,800 |
Ultrasound Tech | $62,258 | $71,225 | $83,518 |
Head Ultrasound Technologist | $90,900 | $101,100 | $111,900 |
All salary information is from Salary.com.
Location can also play a part in your salary. In California, the average annual salary for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is $109,350, while in Texas, it is $74,630. You can read more about locations at BLS.
Within the Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography field, there are a variety of degrees you can pursue. Some examples are:
Within these degree programs, students will develop the skills they need for a career in Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography. These skills include:
There are different types of careers you can pursue within the Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography field. Here are a few examples:
While you can have a Career in Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography with just an associate’s degree, getting your bachelor’s degree would be a good idea. An associate’s degree will take between 18 months and two years and a bachelor’s degree would take four unless you find an accelerated program. It is also possible to get a master’s degree in this field, however, there are not that many programs and it would be for those who are interested in going into a management or leadership role.
Getting your master’s in Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography, you would take courses in:
For a bachelor’s degree, you can get a Bachelor’s in:
For an associate degree, you can study::
Of course, there are more options than those listed, but that should give you a good idea of what your options might be. The name of the program depends on where you go to school and what type of program you are looking for.
You should also need to look into being licensed in your state once you get your degree. Each state might have different qualifications. While not all will be required by your state, certifications are a great way to set yourself apart in the job market. Here are three certifications for this field.
American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
With ARDMS, you would need to meet the requirements of a prerequisite that meets your education and clinical ultrasound experience and take the exam. The different options are:
Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
CCI offers certifications and credentials for those focusing on the heart and vascular systems. You would create an account, select the right exam and pathway and apply. Some of the pathways they offer are:
American Registry for Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
ARRT is to recognize people who are qualified to perform the role of a sonographer. They offer the primary eligibility pathway and the post primary eligibility pathway. You can earn credentials in:
You must have an associate’s degree or higher and completed an ARRT-approved educational program in the same discipline as the credential you are pursuing. There is an ethics requirement as well as an exam.
Industry Pathway: Ultrasound Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Melinda Brillhart, EdD, RDMS, RVT, RDCS, of Johnstown
Becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer requires formal training & education. When people think about a career in sonography, they often associate ultrasound with pregnancy. A career in sonography can do so much more. Sonography involves the use of an ultrasound tool for diagnostic purposes for several different areas of the body.
COTC offers the Bachelor of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology. The BAS incorporates the highly regarded curriculum with advanced training in special modalities, giving graduates a competitive edge in the job market. The BAS in DMS is an accelerated, three-year program.
Sonographers perform clinical assessments and a variety of ultrasound examinations, both invasive and non-invasive using highly specialized equipment.
The program has 2 distinct majors: General or Cardiovascular
In the General program, students learn how to perform a variety of examinations including:
In the Cardiovascular program, students learn how to perform a variety of examinations including:
In order to gain employment as a trained sonographer, candidates must successfully pass their national credentialing examinations to become registered. In the United States, sonographers can earn their credentials through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Interested candidates must take 2 prerequisite courses prior to applying for the sonography program: Math 140: College Algebra & PHYS 105: General Physics
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An education from an accredited college and passing the credentialing examinations are required to work as a sonographer.
Once you are a sonographer, there are many opportunities to cross-train into a new sonography specialty. For example, if you are a general sonographer, there are opportunities to cross-train into vascular sonography, OB/GYN, Breast, Musculoskeletal, and other ultrasound departments.
Strong customer service skills translate to strong patient-care skills. Sonographers are interested in STEM, science, technology, and math and often demonstrate high levels of intellectual curiosity. Individuals who enjoy understanding “how things work” and “why” become the best students.
The sonography program at COTC is selective admission, meaning that students are ranked by and the highest ranked students are offered a seat for admission. The best way to prepare for a career in sonography is to maintain a high GPA (>3.4) and perform well on the entrance exam (HESI). Sonography is a science-based program so students who are strong in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and other STEM areas are most successful.
Enroll part-time at Central Ohio Technical College and complete the two pre-requisite courses. Take College Algebra one semester, then take General Physics a different semester. That way, you can still work and fulfill your job duties while taking and focusing on only one class at a time. You can also prepare and study for the entrance examination (HESI). There are online study material and preparation books that can be used to ensure you perform well on this exam.
Remain physically fit—you might not think of ultrasound as a physical job, but sonographers work on our feet 8-10 hours a day and scanning require repetitive movements and strength. Shoulder, back, upper arm, and grip strength is essential for daily work.
Working as a sonographer is very rewarding. Most sonographers work in a hospital setting, but there are many other options including out-patient clinics, imaging centers, physician offices, urgent care centers, etc. Anywhere there are patients, there is a need for a sonographer. Some facilities have on-call responsibilities, but most out-patient facilities are only open Monday-Friday with no on-call requirements.