Can anyone give me some info

on becoming an X-ray tech, dental assistant, medical biller or pharmacy tech- Im a little interested in going back to school for something and Im interested in these career paths...

Where are the local schools that offer these programs ???

How hard it is to find a job in these positions????

Whats the avg salary for these chosen careers ??

TIA

Message edited 5/15/2007 9:32:04 PM.

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Branford Hall Career Institute in Bohemia has some great programs. The location would be ideal for you. Here's a link:

Branford Hall

Oh here's more local places.....
Hunter Business School in Medford
Briarcliffe in Patchogue
Sanford Brown on Garen City

Message edited 5/16/2007 6:42:39 AM.

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Re: Can anyone give me some info

I took the Dental Assisting Course through Stonybrook University Dental School.

It was a long program though. It was everyday full day for a yr.

I was a Dental Assistant but then broke my back and had to stop

Re: Can anyone give me some info

there are less intense DA programs on LI.
as of right now DA's do not NEED to be certified or registered in NY, although I believe it will happen by 2010.
You can try to find an office that will train you & if you like it you can get certified later.

I have been a DA for 19 years, I was taught in an office & I'm studying for the Dental Assitant National Board now.

if you have any other specific questions about being a DA let me know.

I looked in the local x-ray programs for my son, there is one at Mercy in RVC & one at Stony Brook. They are both two years I believe.

Re: Can anyone give me some info

My cousin is in the process of finishing up a course for X-Ray Tech right now. I'm not sure exactly where it was but I believe it was in the Commack/Northport area. She did it everyday for two years- they survived only on her DH's salary and it was really tough but she did it.

There are a lot of job openings in that field and it pays well. She said the class is very intense and that was the hardest thing she has ever done. But, I'm sure if you put your mind to it you could do it.

Re: Can anyone give me some info

just an FYI, when I was in the hospital when I was pg, I was talking to different techs about going into the field and they all said whatever you do do not go to Sanford Brown, I don't know why, I don't remember but I just thought I'd pass along the info

Re: Can anyone give me some info

my friend is an x-ray tech - she did a program at winthrop. I believe it was 2 years.

she had an associates before she did it -
she went back to finish her bacholers - she was getting bored, there really is no "career" path unless you go back to school to learn new "machines".

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Thanks so much for the info...

Im so lost as of what to do in my life (I guess because the only thing I really want to do is be a SAHM- unfortunately the ($$$) income doesnt pay to well

Can someone give me an idea of what DA make / hour??

I DO NOT want to go back to school for something that will give me a pay cut from what I make now....

I work in billing right now- so thought maybe medical billing and coding might be good (although my exp. is not med. I do have my feet wet dealing with a/r a/p) but I dunno...

I also saw a EKG Tech program that looked interesting... but again- I dont wanna take a pay cut and I dont know how hard it is to get a job

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Marissa,

Eastern Suffolk Boces also has a wide variety of medical programs. They do have Dental Assistant programas well

Re: Can anyone give me some info

What about medical transcription? A lot of people do that from home!

Re: Can anyone give me some info

My sister did the Pharmacy Tech course last Summer and passed the State test to get certified. They told her the techs make at least 40k, but when she graduated and got out into the real world..they pay more like $7-8 an hour, which is crazy!! CVS wanted to pay $8 and Walgreens wasn't much better. I did hear that the hospitals and Sam's and Costco pay pretty well, but those places want actual experience, not just the schooling. So of course she wasted about $1500 on the class because she is working an office job now which pays a lot more than what she would have made being a pharmacy tech.

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Posted by Princessmaris

Thanks so much for the info...

Im so lost as of what to do in my life (I guess because the only thing I really want to do is be a SAHM- unfortunately the ($$$) income doesnt pay to well

Can someone give me an idea of what DA make / hour??

I DO NOT want to go back to school for something that will give me a pay cut from what I make now....

I work in billing right now- so thought maybe medical billing and coding might be good (although my exp. is not med. I do have my feet wet dealing with a/r a/p) but I dunno...

I also saw a EKG Tech program that looked interesting... but again- I dont wanna take a pay cut and I dont know how hard it is to get a job

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Posted by jandt2006

Posted by Princessmaris

Thanks so much for the info...

Im so lost as of what to do in my life (I guess because the only thing I really want to do is be a SAHM- unfortunately the ($$$) income doesnt pay to well

Can someone give me an idea of what DA make / hour??

I DO NOT want to go back to school for something that will give me a pay cut from what I make now....

I work in billing right now- so thought maybe medical billing and coding might be good (although my exp. is not med. I do have my feet wet dealing with a/r a/p) but I dunno...

I also saw a EKG Tech program that looked interesting... but again- I dont wanna take a pay cut and I dont know how hard it is to get a job

it really depends on your experience as a dental assistant and the office u work for. i would say about 15-18 again depending on the office and what i've seen working in the dental field.

Re: Can anyone give me some info

My SIL went to Branford Hall. She is a Medical Assistant. She learned how to take EKG's, draw blood, etc. There are alot of jobs available in that field. ALso a friend of mine went there for medical billing and coding. THat was originally going to be my career path since I have 5 years experience in that, but unfortunately it takes a while to make good money in that field.

Re: Can anyone give me some info

Posted by KellyFG

Posted by jandt2006

Posted by Princessmaris

Thanks so much for the info...

Im so lost as of what to do in my life (I guess because the only thing I really want to do is be a SAHM- unfortunately the ($$$) income doesnt pay to well

Can someone give me an idea of what DA make / hour??

I DO NOT want to go back to school for something that will give me a pay cut from what I make now....

I work in billing right now- so thought maybe medical billing and coding might be good (although my exp. is not med. I do have my feet wet dealing with a/r a/p) but I dunno...

I also saw a EKG Tech program that looked interesting... but again- I dont wanna take a pay cut and I dont know how hard it is to get a job

it really depends on your experience as a dental assistant and the office u work for. i would say about 15-18 again depending on the office and what i've seen working in the dental field.

I work in nassau as a DA, and I make $30.50 plus benefits but my salary is based on my experience. However there are DAs in my office(its a really high quality practice) with MUCH less experience than me that make over $20 per hour. Even the temp agencies are paying around $20 now.
The training programs are good, but IMO being willing to work for less money in an office that will train you is a faster way to earn more money.
If you try training in an office & you like it you can always invest in a training program to add to what you have learned & it will make you "worth" more in the end.
good luck, if you have more specific questions, let me know