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The need for education will never stop. As long as there is a new class of learners, there will be a need for educators to pass on knowledge to the next generation. Though the need for education stays the same, the face of education is always changing – and with it the rise and fall of different careers. Whether you’re already in the field of education or looking to join it, it’s always good to know where the industry is headed and where the prospects for future growth lie. Below are five careers in education worth a look.

Postsecondary Education Administrator

While the need for K-12 education administrators is slowing – the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts this field to grow just six percent by 2022, much slower than average for all occupations – the need for administrators at the next level of education is on the rise. The BLS predicts that between now and 2022, the field for postsecondary education administrators is predicted to grow by 15 percent – faster than average for all occupations – with more than 23,000 new jobs predicted to be created¹.

The term “postsecondary education administrator” is broad and encompasses a wide variety of careers that involve working with students and faculty at the college or university level. In a postsecondary education administration role you might find yourself recruiting and advising students in an Admissions Counselor or Student Advisor position; or you might be hiring, managing and directing faculty and staff as an Academic Dean, Provost, Department Head or even College President. Postsecondary education administrators are needed at a wide variety of collegiate levels, from community colleges to traditional four-year universities¹.

Most positions in a postsecondary education setting require at least a Master’s or higher. Possible degree choices include Higher Education Administration and Educational Leadership¹. If you’re interested in working at the postsecondary level, Alliant’s EdD in Educational Leadership and Management degree program can help prepare you for roles in executive leadership and educational administration at the community college and university level, among other settings.

Special Education Preschool Teacher

One of the up-and-coming trends in education is a greater emphasis on preschool education. With more value being placed on early education, it’s no surprise that the need for preschool teachers is likely to grow in the next half decade. And considering that employment of special education teachers tends to lag behind employment of other teachers at the same grade level, it’s definitely no surprise that the need for special education preschool teachers is expected to grow 15 to 21 percent by 2022, much faster than average for all occupations².

Special education preschool teachers typically work with children who have a wide range of disabilities, including developmental delay and learning disabilities, autism, speech and language impairments, and mental retardation. Using specially-designed curriculum, these teachers usually work individually with their students to ensure that each one has the best opportunity to reach their learning potential. While often challenging, a career as a special education teacher is also often very rewarding.

If you would like to pursue a career in special education as a preschool teacher in California, Alliant offers several programs at different levels that can help you meet this goal. Our programs include:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Authorization
• Clear Education Specialist Teaching Credential (Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities)
• Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential (Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities)

School Psychologists

When most people hear the term “school psychologist,” they probably think of a guidance counselor or maybe even an on-staff therapist that helps students with their personal problems or academic issues. While school psychologists can help students and their families work through behavioral issues and solve personal conflicts, they also play a much larger role. School psychologists conduct psychological and academic tests to help diagnose learning disabilities and assess student eligibility for special services. They also help improve the overall academic performance of schools by providing consultation to teachers and administrators on different learning styles and behavior modification techniques, collecting and analyzing student performance data, and adjusting classroom routines and policies to promote student engagement³.

With the overall increase in learning disability diagnoses, the need for school psychologists is on the rise. The BLS predicts that by 2022, the field for school psychologist employment will grow 12 percent with more than 30,000 new jobs opening up nationwide³.

If you are interested in becoming a school psychologist, you will need to earn a Master’s in School Psychology and be certified or licensed by your state³. Whatever your level of interest in the field, Alliant has a program for you. Our wide range of School Psychology degree, certificate and credential programs includes:

• MAE in School Psychology
• PsyD in School Psychology
• PPS Credential in School Psychology

Health Specialties Educators

Health specialties teachers represent a very specific subset of educators. These are teachers who instruct, usually at a college or university level, in areas such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, physical therapy and more. This highly specialized branch of education obviously requires an expertise in the medical field. Although this option isn’t open to everyone, for those who have the background and qualifications, the future looks bright. The Occupational Information Network predicts that employment as a postsecondary health specialties teacher will grow 22 percent by the year 2022 – much faster than average for all other occupations⁴.

Bonus: Training and Development Specialists

Though it might not bear an immediate connection to the education industry at first glance, if you have a degree in education, careers in the field of training and development could be open to you. Training and Development Specialists encompass a wide range of careers, including Corporate Trainer and e-Learning Developer. These type of roles are responsible for assessing employee education needs and developing curriculum for training programs – skills and knowledge that match well with what you learn in an education program⁵.

Want to learn more?

Would you like to learn more about pursuing a career in education? Contact an Alliant admissions counselor at 1-866-825-5426 or click here for more information.

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Sources

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Postsecondary Education Administrators : Occupational Outlook Handbook," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 08, 2021. Accessed November 29, 2021. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm
2. O•NET OnLine, "Summary Report for: 25-2051.00 - Special Education Teachers, Preschool," O•NET OnLine. Accessed November 29, 2021.  https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-2051.00
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "School and Career Counselors and Advisors : Occupational Outlook Handbook," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 08, 2021. Accessed November 29, 2021. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm
4. O•NET OnLine, "Summary Report for:
5. 25-1071.00 - Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary," O•NET OnLine. Accessed November 29, 2021. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1071.00
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Training and Development Specialists : Occupational Outlook Handbook," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 08, 2021. Accessed November 29, 2021. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm