How Much Does a Dance Therapist Make

Dance movement therapists take advantage of movement and dance to help enhance a person’s emotional health, improve confidence or relieve stress.

How Much Does a Dance Therapist Make?

For newly qualified dance therapists, they can earn as much as $41,000 annually. With increasing experience, this can almost double. However, the salaries of dance therapists can differ depending on some factors such as employer and geographical location.

According to a survey, the sector under the health care industry wherein the greatest number of dance therapists is employed is nursing facilities. For this sector, the average income of a dance therapist is around $36,440. For those working in surgical and general medical hospitals, the average salary is around $45,650; for dance therapists in substance abuse hospitals, they can earn around $43,300. Salary rate for community health facilities on the average is $35,000 while dance therapists working for residential care institutions for disabled people earn around $36,890.

According to geographic location, wages of dance therapists that were highest are in Los Angeles, with an average of $57,368. New York and Charlotte respectively earned the 2nd and 3rd place in the highest paying cities for therapists. Places which pay the least for dance therapists are Houston with $37,240 and Atlanta with $37,449.

It is estimated that employment opportunities for dance therapists will increase to up to 15% in the next few years. However, according to statistics, it is said that candidates in this field will probably face plenty of competition for different fields.

What a Dance Therapist Does

Clients of dance therapists can include adults and children with behavioral or emotional problems, language and speech difficulties, disabilities, recovering from addiction or mental illness. Dance therapists work together with other health care workers like physiotherapists, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech/language therapists.

Dance therapists do not just teach dance; they persuade clients to use body movement to communicate by dancing in order to help in expressing what they want, to develop insights and to find different ways to relate to other people, to help become aware of their emotions, to interact with other people confidently and to bring a more positive outlook in life.

Dance therapy sessions can be done with a group or one-on-one. Therapists and clients work actively together in sessions through improvisation and movements. Dance therapists establish the needs of a patient, formulates an appropriate program of activity whether as a group or one-on-one basis. Then, a dance therapist observes the client’s progress and may modify the program if needed.

Pros and Cons of Being a Dance Therapist

A dance therapist has long been the career choice for many dancers in the past. A dance therapist is basically somebody who helps a person get out of their stress through interpretive dance and movements. This is a wonderful way to get rid of all the bad feelings and vibes in your body, as dancing is healthy to the immune system and body.

What most dancers are now wondering is whether or not being a dance therapist is decent career choice. The basic truth is that there are many pros and cons of being a dance therapist, but it truly does depend on the person if that’s the career they decide to pursue.

The Pros of Being a Dance Therapist

There are many benefits to being a dance therapist, with the salary being one of the main benefits. In fact, it’s been said by many sources that dance therapists make anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 a year depending on which training center they decide to join. However, with experience and the choice of choosing a good training facility, most dance therapists make more than $100,000 per year. If you’d like to make the most possible income, working near the New York area should be your best bet for big money.

Despite the money being very good, the real main benefit is being able to help others and yourself through this wonderful way of dance. For some, they hire a dance therapist for simple enjoyment and relaxation, but others really want to work with these dancers because of the feelings of peace they are not able to feel without the dancing.

Dance therapists are also psychologists, so this form of dancing is good in digging deep into the soul and putting it at peace while still here on earth. If ever you feel down, you can also start dancing in your home and relax yourself through this beautiful form of dancing.

The Cons of Being a Dance Therapist

One of the main disadvantages is the years it takes to become a dance therapist. In fact, you must make sure that you take performing arts in college and that you minor in psychology. This is not exactly what other dancers are willing to do, so these requirements could put this career off in some people’s eyes. Going to college and majoring in one thing is already expensive, but taking on another career could add even more to the expenses.

Overall, it really does depend on each person what they decide to do. It is definitely worth the time in the end though, as you will finally get to help people through this wonderful work of dance. When you become a dance therapist, think about all the people you will help and the amounts of joy you can bring to all those people. Of course, no career is ever perfect and there will definitely be a few disadvantages to any career. With all the wonderful benefits, this is still a very beautiful career worth getting into.

Dance Therapist Education Requirements

Dance therapy is a method of recuperation that develops a healthy body image through combining physical, cognitive and emotional stimulation and interaction. Dance therapists work with clients to enhance their self-esteem through dance. To become a dance therapist, it is required to possess a fundamental belief in the power of creative therapy.

In early times, people danced to their gods with their all their being and soul. They had war dances, hunting dances, and rain dances. They were happy dancing people. To them, dancing is a lifestyle. Today, dancing is still a lifestyle but has also become a powerful remedy in stabilizing a person physically, socially, psychologically, and emotionally.

The first prerequisite for dance therapists should be to love everything about dancing. Becoming very involved as a dancer is a great way to become a dance therapist. Get involved with different dance programs. Eventually, it is a good idea to study the basics of dance as movement therapy because dance therapists must have the knowledge of and the appreciation for the healing power of dancing.

Undergraduate Education

A bachelor’s degree in performing arts or a similar field is needed to practice dance therapy. Courses in Psychology are highly recommended because in addition to physical therapy, dance therapy also consists of psychotherapy. After getting a bachelor’s degree, apply for a graduate program accredited by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA). Prerequisite for entering such a program include theoretical knowledge of dance therapy, and also a broad dance experience.

Graduate Education

A graduate program that helps an individual become a dance therapist will teach on matters of communication skills, counseling, stimulation and interaction. Also, graduate level study will rely heavily on anatomy and physiology, as not only an understanding of the body but also a thorough comfort with it. After completing the graduate program, the aspirant is will be eligible to join the ADTA. Advantages of joining this group include additional information about the field, annual dance conferences and job postings. The Dance Therapist Registered (DTR) is also provided by the ADTA, which acts as a license for a dance therapist to work in mental health or rehabilitation facilities, as well as in schools.

Qualifications

Creative therapy is considered to an outlet for emotional difficulties and stress, and dancing is one of those outlets. Dance therapy helps clients with psychological issues to recognize their worth by educating them the strategies for building self-esteem through movement therapy.

Communication hindrances can also be broken by the person as the dance therapist teaches him how to express himself through physical movement. The individual who decides to become a dance therapist undertakes the responsibility for teaching coping mechanisms for stressful situations. Physical stimulation can provide distraction from anger, worry or fear.

But before a person can become a dance therapist, he must demonstrate a passion for helping others and for the human body. According to individual experience and preference, the movement therapist will work in a nursing home, psychiatric ward, counseling center, school or crisis prevention facility.

How to Become a Pharmacist

There are so many career paths to choose from and just in case you want to work in a pharmacy or be involved in the clinical field, you have come to the right place because this article will focus on how to become a pharmacist and eventually become good at it.

A pharmacist is a medical specialist who assists patients regarding the medicinal drugs that they need to purchase. They are usually found in drugstores, hospital pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies as well. They advise patients on how they should take their medicines according to the doctor’s prescription and they can even recommend certain medicines of the same kind just in case the ones that they are looking for are not available. They have the right knowledge when it comes to all forms of medicines and because of this they are able to advise consumers on what drugs are good for them and help them have a better understand side effects that may occur when they take a particular medicine.

Let us enumerate the steps on how to become a pharmacist to give you an idea on the things that you should do just in case you want to pursue this profession. It is important that you determine early on if you really want to pursue a degree in pharmacy so you’ll be able to finish this course in no time at all.

Step 1: Get Admission to Undergraduate Education

Right after graduating in high school, you need to find a college that offers courses to complete the prerequisites and check them out. Try to look for the top schools so you can be sure that you’re getting quality education. Check for the necessary requirements such as grade quota and other basic stuffs that you need to pass when enrolling in a university or college.

Step 2: Complete the Prerequisites for Pharmacy School

After your admission, you need to complete a 2 year coursework before finally proceeding in getting a Pharm D or most commonly known as doctorate of Pharmacy Degree.

Step 3: Prepare for the PCAT

You need to study hard before you take the Pharmacy College Admission Test or PCAT. Pass it with flying colors and you will be well on your way to getting a pharmacy degree. It will take you about 4 years to complete Pharmacy school once you get in, or you can take the easy route because there are accelerated programs that can help you finish the said degree in 3 years’ time.

Step 4: Acquire Work Experience

You should have at least a year or two of experience to have a better understanding on how the pharmacy world goes. There are different jobs that you can take depending on your field of specialization.

Step 5: Licensure Exam

You need to pass your licensure exam to become a registered pharmacist. It actually depends on the state that you are in with regards to the type of exam you should take but the most common is NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam).

The steps on how to become a pharmacist is simple and the success of your career in pharmacy will all depend on you. You should work hard and you need to have the will power to get through the obstacles that might come your way. There are so many perks in being a pharmacist and you just need to be good at it in order to succeed and to fully enjoy the benefits of being one.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Pharmacist

Becoming a pharmacist is a rewarding career to pursue; especially since the profession is considered the most leading profession in the United States. There are; however, other things to consider when a student considers studying for a career in pharmacy. One of the most asked questions by students interested in this career path is, “How long does it take to become a pharmacist?” A full-time student should expect to finish their pharmacist studies in eight to nine years. In this time frame schooling is broken down and exams will need to be completed before continuing on to each step required to become a fully licensed pharmacist.

Undergraduate Education

The first step in becoming a pharmacist involves obtaining a bachelor’s degree. The typical student can expect to earn this degree in four years on a full-time attendance with no breaks or time off. After obtaining the bachelor’s degree in science a student needs to join a college of pharmacy and work to obtain a PharmD degree.

Pharmacy School

In order to obtain a PharmD degree a student will attend three to four more years of graduate education on a full-time attendance with no breaks. To enter a pharmacy school students will need to pass an admissions test, which is required for all students who wish to enter pharmacy school.

Even after eight years of schooling and acquiring the credentials to practice as a pharmacist, pharmacists-to-be will need to pass the state licensure exam. Students are not considered a “true” pharmacist until this exam is taken and passed. After passing the licensure exam and many years of school a student is then awarded a degree in a rewarding degree that pays well – a huge plus for attending so many years of college.

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Pharmacist

While the cost of schooling will be 50,000 dollars or more, the average salary for a practicing pharmacist is more than 100,000 dollars a year, putting pharmacists in the top 10 percent of high earners in America. Pharmacists are high in demand and often have recruiters contacting them for a job instead of having to apply for jobs themselves. The downside of being a pharmacist, if employed as a retail pharmacist, is the fact that sometimes the high pay is based on production. You will need to have so many prescriptions coming in and going out in order to earn the high salary, which can lead to mistakes if a pharmacist is not paying close attention to detail in filling medication or is neglecting prudent business management.

Becoming a pharmacist may take time, but the benefits of schooling outweigh any negative aspects of the career. As a pharmacist you will earn good money and help others in the community by controlling disorders, diseases and sicknesses they presently have; developing a relationship with the community members you help along the way. If you study and work hard, your dream of becoming a pharmacist is not as far off as you might think.

How Much Does a Pharmacist Make

A pharmacist is a health professional involved in the field of health sciences which places emphasis on the effective and safe use of medicine. University-level education and proper training is highly needed in order for a person to become a pharmacist. They are responsible for researching the biochemical mechanisms of specific drugs. They are also accountable for the professional interpretation of therapeutic roles, latent contacts and other side effects of a specific drug.

How Much Does a Pharmacist Make?

As with all occupations pertaining to a scientific field, the salary of a pharmacist heavily depends upon the experience of the person. The industry and the various geographic aspects also play a role in the increase of the salary. Furthermore, there are other specialties that a number of pharmacists may opt to study. Most of them may choose to work for a full week, but some may decide to work part time and still earn a decent amount.

According to the Department of Labor Occupational Employment Statistics, there are over 268,000 pharmacists employed in the US as of the month of May in the year 2010. It is said that the average mean hourly wage of pharmacists goes as high as $111,000 per year. Ten percent of these people earn $82,000 while twenty-five percent earn $88,000. There are various mental health and facilities in the country that pay pharmacists an annual mean wage of about $122,380 every year.

A nuclear pharmacist and a clinical pharmacist receive different amounts. Nuclear pharmacists can earn as much as $112,000 per year due to their commitment to work under a physician. Most of the time the physician will give them orders as to which type of medicine is better for a specific disease. A clinical pharmacist, on the other hand, receives lower wages. They can only earn a maximum of $90,000 per year.

Pharmacists can also enjoy benefit packages such as health insurance, paid vacation leaves, paid holiday leaves, and even retirement plans.

Pharmacist Work Environment

Pharmacists can work inside hospitals or offices. Others may work under important companies responsible for the manufacturing of drugs and other medical substances. Most of the time, companies make use of the services of the pharmacist in order to test a drug to see if it can be used for human consumption. The highest salary, however, is given to those who work within the field of Individual and Family Services while the lowest is given to those who work for the Federal government.

Pros and Cons of Being a Pharmacist

A pharmacist is a person that delivers the medications for prescriptions that doctors prescribe to their patients. A visit to the pharmacist almost always follows a doctor’s visit, where patients pick up their medications.

Pharmacists make a lot of money; many of them are sole proprietors that can set their own schedules. There are a lot of good things about being a pharmacist; however the profession isn’t without drawbacks.

The Pros of Being a Pharmacist

One of the biggest advantages about being a pharmacist is the money that pharmacists make. The average salary for pharmacists rages from $81,000 to $113,000 per year. This is much higher than the average salary of most careers, including teachers, nurses, and social workers. As a pharmacist, it is possible to begin making more money than the principal of your high school makes.

Another wonderful part about being a pharmacist is that you will have wonderful job security. People get sick, that is just a fact of life. Even the healthiest person still gets sick every now and then. All of these people are going to have to go visit a doctor then a pharmacy when they need their medication prescriptions filled, and you are the person that they are probably going to come to. Now there is always the chance that you could get laid off, but pharmacists have been in demand, even during the recession, and it is expected that they will continue to be in demand.

Another great thing about being a pharmacist is that you can work in a safe environment. When you are working around medicine, you must make sure that you work in a safe, clean environment. This means that there is no heavy machinery that can hurt you, and there is little chance of you slipping or tripping on something, as you must make sure to keep everything in your work area organized.

The Cons of Being a Pharmacist

Even though this career may sound great, there are both pros and cons to becoming a pharmacist. One of the biggest cons about being a pharmacist is that the work is monotonous. There is a set procedure that you are required to follow by law when you are filling prescriptions. You must do it the same exact way every single time. This can translate into very boring work for most people.

One major thing that pharmacists see as downsides to the profession is that you might have to work evenings or weekends. If you are employed by a large company, like a grocery store company, you might see a lot of evenings and weekends on your time sheet. Sadly people get sick on the weekends and during the evenings, and there must be someone there to fill their prescription.

There are many pros and cons of being a pharmacist. However if you are passionate about helping people, being a pharmacist might not be a bad career choice for you.

Pharmacist Education Requirements

Pharmacists are licensed medical professionals who dispense drugs to patients according to prescriptions by doctors or other medical clinicians. Pharmacists have extensive knowledge of the chemistry of various drugs and how they interact and react in human bodies. Pharmacist also educate patients on how to take prescribed medicine, inform the patient on possible side effects, advise on illness prevention, monitor patient progress, and advise doctors on medication issues. Pharmacists work in health care facilities and drug stores.

Pharmacist Undergraduate Education

Pre-pharmacy students must complete a two year training program in an accredited college to meet the requirements for a pharmacy school. Most applicant complete 3-4 years of a bachelor’s degree program. Undergraduate course work does not require one to major in any specific field; however, students must undertake courses in chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics which provide a good foundation for advanced pharmacy training.

Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (Pharm.D.)

To be eligible for a Pharm.D. program, a student must have completed at least two years of prerequisite courses, which include biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, humanities and social sciences. In addition, most students have three years at accredited colleges or university before proceeding on to a Pharm.D. program, although this is not specifically required for admission.

Pharm.D. programs usually take four year to complete. The course work offered is designed to train students in all areas of drug therapy, communication with other health works and patients, professional ethics, public health and concepts in business management.

In addition, students pursuing a Pharm.D. program must undergo clinical training to gain practical experience in pharmacy operations under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Course offered under this program may include: toxicology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, biopharmaceuticals, disease treatment, patient care, pharmacy ethics and law.

Post–Graduate Pharmacist Training

Pharm.D. graduate may choose to pursue additional training through residencies or fellowships. These programs last 1-2 years and allow Pharm.D. graduates to gain experience in community pharmacies and hospital operations. Pharmacy residents can undertake training in general or specialty pharmacy practice. In addition, they are required to complete research projects. Pharmacy fellowships are highly specialized programs designed to prepare students to work in specialized aspects of pharmacy such as biomedical research, clinical practice and geriatrics pharmacology. Pharmacists who own pharmacies or are willing to establish one in future can obtain a master’s in business administration. Other pharmacists may pursue a degree in public health or in public administration.

Pharmacy Licensure

Pharm.D. program graduates must pass the North America Pharmacist Licensure Examination. This examination is administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for safe distribution of drugs. Most states also require Pharm.D. graduates to have the NABP’s Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination which test pharmacy laws as stated in federal and state laws. Some states require additional examinations that are specific to their jurisdiction. All jurisdictions require a specific number of hours of experience in a pharmacy setting before a license is issued. In most states, a license applicant must have attained a specified age and meet the required criminal background screening.

Foreign pharmacy school graduates can obtain licensure in the U.S. after meeting several conditions. The foreign student must apply for certification from the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee. After approval, the graduates must pass the Foreign Pharmacy graduate Equivalency Examination, Test of English as a Foreign Language, Test of Spoken English Examination, and pass all the examinations and requirements needed by licensing jurisdiction.

How Much Does a Clinical Chemist Make

If you have a knack for medical puzzles and want to have a career in medicine, you may want to try clinical chemistry. For such a field, you can select among various types of roles ranging from lab technician to medical research.

Clinical Chemist Average Salary

The average wage for typical medical and clinical chemists ranges from $23,850 to $55,210 per year. Meanwhile, most medical and clinical chemists earn around $37,540 to $75,960. Also, most medical scientists earn around $41,320 to $138,840.

What a Clinical Chemist Does

The field of clinical chemistry deals with testing various types of chemicals in the body in order to help verify the general health of a person. Other medical professionals such as veterinarians and doctors use clinical chemistry to assist in their diagnosis and in curing diseases or illnesses. The most common specimens analyzed by clinical chemists include urine and blood. Sometimes, a clinical chemist may also test skin, hair and other tissues of the body. When a person works in this field, he or she will perform tests in order to determine a person’s level of electrolytes, proteins, hormones and other chemicals in the body. Sometimes, testing is used to determine how chemicals deal with antibodies. Aside from medical offices and hospitals, clinical chemistry also plays a vital role in research units and the pharmaceutical industry.

There are plenty of jobs for a clinical chemist including being a technician, doctor or laboratory assistant. Technicians and assistants usually do routine tests while med techs take part in research. Supervisors of clinical chemists manage the scientists and the laboratory while their directors work with doctors and also lead researches.

Clinical Chemist Education

An individual interested in pursuing a career in clinical chemistry must concentrate on their math and sciences even during their high school. Higher education depends on the type of clinical chemistry job that you like. Technicians and assistants usually require an associate’s degree or a vocational training.

Medical and clinical technicians need license. The requirements for getting a license may vary according to the state you’re located. Medical technologists usually need a bachelor’s degree related to the clinical science field like medical lab science. Licensing is also required for medical technologists and is provided by the state where a technologist works.

It is also important for a person yearning to become a laboratory supervisor to have a master’s degree. There are various programs in related areas of clinical chemistry such as pharmaceutical chemistry, clinical chemistry or clinical laboratory science. For those who are interested in clinical research, they might have to finish doctorate degree at medical schools.

How to Become a Clinical Chemist

Clinical chemists are professionals who utilize chemistry to evaluate patient’s health. They may study DNA, evaluate blood, study cells or examine tissues. They may also be a developer of a diagnostic product or a research scientist. Clinical chemists have been traditionally known to work in laboratories, but today, they may either work in an industry or in academic environments.

Step 1: Get the Proper Education

If you aspire to become a clinical chemist, it is essential that you are well-educated. Proper preparation for this career would include a rigorous study in mathematics, statistics, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. It is helpful to get an internship before graduating, as this can give an invaluable experience that is quite attractive to any of your prospective employers. Depending on the level you would like to have in the field, you may opt for studying to an associate degree or vocational to be an assistant, and all the way up to a doctoral degree if you’re interested of becoming a laboratory director.

Step 2: Get the Necessary Skills

There are basically three things needed to become a clinical chemist. These things include post-secondary program, laboratory skills and related work experience. Clinical chemists are responsible for completing any complicated analysis. Work is often focused on analyzing the patients’ samples. The information plays a vital role to assist with the treatment, investigation and diagnosis of a wide variety of diseases. It is the core responsibility of clinical chemists to liaison with healthcare professionals in order to obtain both context and data for the results.

People who intend to become a clinical chemist should be detail-oriented, have high level of mental focus, enjoy working independently and are very accurate. The degree of knowledge needed to be successful in this field is very important, and requires quality education and a high level of study and dedication. The most desirable part of being a clinical chemist is being able to focus on creating different compounds that provide several health benefits. These projects employ a huge impact on both the growing industry of combined commercial and medical specialties and the cost of consumer products.

The initial requirement to become a clinical chemist is to obtain a post-secondary education training from an accredited university. Career advancement as a clinical chemist can be achieved through either history of solid work experience or further education.

Step 3: Develop Work Experience

Related work experience may include an experience obtained through internship during the study or a job placement program. Laboratory skills are vital for aspiring candidates. Ample time is spent in the laboratory: documenting the properties, testing compounds, looking for different types of bonds, conducting experiments to rule-out treatment options, making research and helping physicians develop a more precise diagnoses and tailoring appropriate therapy for patients. Precision, focus and accuracy are all important to achieve a high-quality work product.

Step 4: Find a Job and Advance Your Career

Career advancement for clinical chemists are based on the level of knowledge and the skill set. Promotions usually require further education and good history of work experience. Teaching and research positions are also linked to candidate’s academic credentials. To open more opportunities, consider an academic degree (M.S., B.S., Ph.D. or M.D.) and advanced training programs.