Step-by-Step Career Guides
Explore step-by-step career guides that outline education requirements, training options, certifications, and clear action steps for starting careers across many fields.
Career guides help you explore different professions by breaking down the steps needed to enter each field. These resources offer a straightforward way to compare career paths, understand required education, and learn what early roles typically involve so you can choose a direction that fits your goals.
Whether you’re preparing for your first job or planning a career change, these guides make it easier to see what each pathway requires. They provide practical details on training, job duties, and advancement so you can move forward with confidence.
What You’ll Find in Career Guides
Most career pathways begin with some form of education or training, and these guides help you understand what each field expects. Some jobs may require a short certificate, while others involve earning an associate or bachelor’s degree before you can qualify for entry-level work.
You’ll also find information on recommended skills, industry certifications, and any licensing rules you may need to follow depending on your state and profession. This structure helps you understand not just how to start, but what to prepare for as you grow in your career.
Popular Career Areas Covered
Career guides span many industries, giving you access to clear, organized steps for starting a career in fields that interest you. You’ll find resources across areas such as healthcare, protective services, technology, education, business, skilled trades, and community service.
Common topics featured on this page include:
- how to become a teacher
- how to become a police officer
- how to become a psychologist
- how to become a nurse
- how to become a project manager
- how to become a social worker
- how to become a software developer
- how to become a medical assistant
Each guide breaks the process into manageable steps so you can better understand what your future career may look like.
Why These Guides Are Helpful
A well-organized career guide brings essential information together in one place, saving you time and helping you compare multiple career options more easily. Instead of searching across dozens of sources, you get a clear overview of requirements, job outlook, salary expectations, and advancement opportunities all in one resource.
These guides also help you move forward with greater confidence by explaining what to expect at each stage of a career path. With realistic timelines and actionable steps, you can prepare for education programs, certification exams, internships, or job applications with more clarity.
Explore Popular Careers
If you’re ready to start planning your next move, the articles below can help you understand the steps involved in today’s most popular careers. They offer reliable direction and practical advice for building the skills and qualifications you need to begin working toward your goals.
Midwifery is a growing field with many advantages for women who want to plan their deliveries in the hospital or another setting. Learn about what the requirements are for this profession and if a nursing degree is necessary.
Learn what it takes to become a certified nursing technician. Find out the requirements that must be met and the education needed to start your career as a certified nursing technician by reading on.
Before beginning ministry in settings like hospitals, prisons and military bases, aspiring chaplains complete chaplain training programs and chaplain certification programs after earning a graduate degree in divinity or theology. Keep reading to learn about the qualifications to be a chaplain and see if this career path speaks to you.
Explore the career requirements for a cosmetic dermatology role. Get the facts about job duties, education requirements, and median salary to determine if this is the right career for you.
Explore the career requirements for demolition experts. Get the facts about education requirements, employment outlook, job duties, and average salary to determine if this is the right career for you.
Get all of the information you'll need to explore a career as a fighter pilot. You'll learn about the educational requirements, the requisite training, the key skills and the salary.
Food safety inspectors help to ensure that the food you buy is not contaminated and is safe to eat. Read on to learn about the education requirements, required skills and salary and job outlook for food safety inspectors.
Learn how to become a forensic scientist. Read about job duties, education requirements, job outlook, and salary to find out if this is the career for you.
Discover how to become a general contractor. Learn about salary, job outlook, contracting school, and how long it takes to become a contractor. Explore your options for general contractor certification and industry training.
A hearing aid specialist improves people's hearing and so can be a rewarding career. Learn about the training requirements and salary, to see if a career as a hearing aid specialist could be the perfect fit for you.
Find out how to become an MDS nurse. Read on to discover the training and certification required for this role, and see what you would be expected to do as an MDS nurse.
Explore the career requirements for a nail technician. Get the facts on education, licensure, job growth, and salary to determine if this is the right field for you.
Gain insight into the career of military medicine and the opportunities it presents. Find out the requirements, the education and training needed, how military doctors are paid, and more by continuing below.
Nurse estheticians use their clinical knowledge and ability to provide care to help patients improve their appearances. Learn about the training and certification requirements to see if this could be a career for you.
Research what it takes to become a pediatric radiologist. Learn about education requirements, licensure and certification, job outlook and salary to find out if this is the career for you.
Learn about how to become a postmaster. Read about education requirements, job duties, postmaster salary, and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Explore the career requirements for polysomnographers. Get the facts about duties, education requirements, professional licensure and the employment outlook to determine if this is the right field for you.
Pet groomers provide cleaning and aesthetic services for pets, including dogs, cats and others. These services include trimming hair, bathing, styling, cleaning ears and clipping nails. Find out how to become a pet groomer in five steps.
Drafters take the ideas of designers and translate them into reality by creating complex visual representations of designs. Most draftsmen work with computer-aided design (CAD) software, but some still sketch their designs. Being a drafter requires formal training, usually at a technical school or community college.
Explore the career requirements for professional tailors. Get the facts about education requirements, salary, job outlook and skills to determine if this is the right career for you.
If you're interested in how to become a SWAT team member, you must meet specific SWAT requirements, including experience and specialized training. Learn more about these requirements and training.
Discover the three steps you need to take to become a radiology technician.
Discover how to become a radiologist assistant. Learn about radiology assistant programs and certification requirements, along with job outlook and salary information, to find out if this is the career for you.
Safety officers on oil rigs are responsible for the health and safety of the staff who work on oil platforms. Research and learn about the requirements for becoming an oil rig safety officer to see if this career could be for you.
Discover the five steps to becoming a sheriff, from education to experience. Explore the rewarding path of law enforcement and serving your community.
Get the facts about theoretical physicists. Research the median income and projected job growth, as well as the education requirements and the skills you'll need to pursue a career in this field.
Research what it takes to become a title closer. Learn about the job duties, education and certification requirements and salary to find out if this is the career for you.
Explore the steps to becoming a wildlife photographer. Look at the typical education, job duties, median wages and projected job growth to be fully informed.
Anesthesia assistants help to ensure that patients undergoing surgery or other difficult procedures are adequately sedated for the duration. Find out how to become an anesthesiologist assistant, the education and training required, salary and career information, and more.
This article will look at the education requirements and qualifications needed to become an animal physical therapist. Read on to learn more and determine whether this is the right career for you.
Research what it takes to become an anesthesia technician. Learn about the educational requirements, certification, job outlook, and salary information to find out if this is the career for you.
Here are the steps you need to take to become a teacher for free online, with options ranging from state-offered grants to free online courses and resources.
Need to know what it takes to become an ambulance driver? Here you'll find the education requirements, job duties, average salary and job outlook for ambulance driving as a career.
If helping children who struggle with their behavior sounds like a rewarding career for you, consider a career path as a behavior interventionist. Learn about how to become one, the education requirements, training, the skills, and the certification for a career as behavior interventionist.
Discover the career path to becoming a comic book artist. Learn about the key skills, education and training you'll need as well as the salary you could make.
Explore the career requirements for orthopedic surgeons. Get the facts about job duties, education, licensure requirements and job growth to determine if this is the right career for you.
Learn about the route to becoming a behavioral health technician, mental health technician, or psychiatric technician here.
Research what it takes to become an orthotic and prosthetic technician. Learn about education requirements, job duties, training and certification options to find out if this is the career for you.
Discover the types of certification available for administrative assistants and how to qualify.
Research what it takes to become a pediatric surgeon. Learn about education, training, licensure and certification requirements and salary to find out if this is the career for you.
Discover how to get into pharmaceutical sales. Learn about education requirements, job duties, median salary and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Becoming a SWAT officer involves special training and skills. These law enforcement officers often have college degrees and several years of work experience.
Research what it takes to become an armored truck driver. Learn about the job responsibilities, licensure and certification requirements, along with salary information, to find out if this is the career for you.
Forensic criminologists use their knowledge of crimes and the criminal justice system along with an interest in science to address legal and investigative problems. Learn about the education requirements and salary stats to see if this could be the ideal career for you.
Teacher's aides act as assistants in classrooms, helping teachers calm students, prepare for lessons, and keep the class orderly. Find out how to become a teacher's aide, including the education and training needed, by reading below.
Research what it takes to become a welding inspector. Learn about education requirements, job duties, salary and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Learn what steps to take in order to become a certified medical tech.
Explore the steps, requirements, and options to become a certified homeland security officer. Read more to get the facts about pursuing certification to work in this field.
Learn what a certified lab technician does and the four steps it takes to become one.
Research what it takes to become a casino manager. Learn about education requirements, job duties, median wages and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Explore the steps on how to become a certified alcohol and drug counselor, from education to licensure, in this detailed guide. Read now for help on starting your career.
Read for an overview on the options to become a certified emergency manager. Get the facts on available designations, training and degree requirements.
Read for an overview on the steps required to become a certified property manager. Learn about the certification requirements and salary expectations for this field.
Explore how to begin a career as a certified personal assistant. Find out current information on educational and training requirements, along with the potential for job growth.
Arizona has over a million Spanish speakers living in the state, making Spanish teachers a necessity for student success both within and beyond the classroom. Find out how you can get certified as a Spanish teacher in Arizona!
Certified medication aides (CMAs) are certified nursing assistants (CNAs) with medication training. Learn what a CMA does and the steps to take to become a CMA.
Explore the steps on how to become a child welfare social worker. Read about education requirements, and necessary licensing to start a career in child advocacy.
Discover how to become a chief financial officer. Learn about job duties, education requirements, salary, and job outlook to see if this career is suitable for you.
Explore the career requirements for chemists. Get the facts about education, salary and potential job growth to determine if this is the right career for you.
Take a look at what it takes to become a chartered accountant. Read on to find out details about the qualifications, requirements and certification required to enter this career.
Explore the career requirements for civil engineers. Get the facts about education and licensure requirements, salary, and potential job growth to determine if this is the right career for you.
Discover how to become a chief operating officer. Learn about the schooling, experience, typical industries, and the professionals you might work with inside of various organizations, to see if this career is suitable for you.
Learn about what it means to be a child psychologist and discover the five steps required to become a child psychologist.
Learn about the duties of computer forensic analysts, the education and certification requirements you need to meet, and the salary and job growth you can expect in this field.
Explore the journey of how to become a coroner with this thorough guide, outlining the necessary steps and education, offering career insights to get started.
Research what it takes to become a computer repair technician. Learn about education requirements, job duties, median wages, and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Clinical molecular geneticists help to diagnose and treat genetic abnormalities that contribute to diseases. Read on to learn about the educational requirements to see if this is the right career for you.
Research what it takes to become a cosmetology instructor. Learn about job duties, training requirements, licensure and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Discover how to become a computer programmer. Learn about their job requirements and responsibilities, as well as how long it takes to become a computer programmer in this informative article
Explore the requirements to become a community college teacher. Learn about entry requirements, salary and career progression to determine whether this is the right profession for you.
Explore the career requirements for copier technicians. Get the facts about salary, training requirements and career outlook to determine if this is the right career for you.
Discover what it takes to become a clinical lab scientist and get a 5-step guide to becoming one. Learn about medical laboratory scientist education, how to obtain a cls license, cls certification options, and what a clinical lab scientist job is like.
Learn how to become a college professor in five steps, including the educational, experiential, and certification requirements you'll need to meet on your journey.
A data analyst collects and analyzes data in order to communicate information on a specific subject. Read on to learn more about how to become a database analyst, including education and certification requirements and recommendations.
As the internet becomes more integrated in people's lives, cybersecurity becomes all the more important. Learn how to break into this hot career.
Explore the career requirements for criminal investigators. Read on to learn about the basic entry requirements, along with salary and job outlook information, to determine if this is a suitable career for you.
Explore the career requirements for dental laboratory technicians. Get the facts about education and certification options, potential job growth and duties to determine if this is the right career for you.
Research what it takes to become a court transcriptionist. Learn about job duties, education and certification requirements to find out if this is the career for you.
Explore the career requirements for cytotechnologists. Read the facts about job duties, education requirements, licensing and employment outlook to determine if this is the right career for you.
Becoming a court interpreter is an exciting job with a lot of variety. To learn how to prepare for this career, read this article that outlines the steps to take to become a court reporter.
Driving instructors train people to safely operate motor vehicles. Discover the prerequisites and education and licensure requirements for driving instructors.
Research what it takes to become a dental technician. Learn about job duties, education requirements, and training to find out if this is the career for you.
Research what it takes to become a fish and game warden. Learn about education requirements, job duties, average salary and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Research what it takes to become a film director. Learn about the education requirements, job outlook and salary information to find out if this is the career for you.
Explore the career requirements for first responders. Get the facts about education and licensure requirements, salary, and potential job growth to determine if this is the right career for you.
Find out what federal magistrate judges do and how you could become one. Learn about the education needed, the training required, the selection process, and more.
Research what it takes to become a dessert and pastry chef. Learn about education and training options, job duties, certification and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Find out about firefighter EMTs and if you have what it takes to become one. See what training is required, the kind of education needed, how they are paid, and more.
Research what to takes to become a farm manager. Learn about job duties, education and experience requirements, certification and salary to find out if this is the career for you.
Explore the career requirements for flight attendants. Get the facts about training and certification requirements, job duties and salary to determine if this is the right career for you.
Forensic pathology assistants help forensic pathologists determine a person's cause of death. Find out more about the education requirements and job description to see if this career is right for you.
Research what it takes to become a Ford mechanic. Learn about education requirements, key responsibilities, job outlook and average salary to find out if this is the career for you.
Research what it takes to become a framing carpenter. Learn about the education, training and work experience you'll need, along with job outlook and salary information, to find out if this is the career for you.
Research what it takes to become a food scientist. Learn about job duties, degree requirements, salary and employment outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Learn more about the career of a forensic investigator, the educational requirements and how you can get a foot in the door to help law enforcement officials solve crimes.
Find out about the educational and certification requirements to become a forensics pathologist, as well as how to gain work experience and the salary and job outlook you can expect.
Explore the career requirements for fitness instructors. Get the facts about education and certification requirements, salary, and potential job growth to determine if this is the right career for you.
Explore the educational requirements, duties and responsibilities of forensic morgue technicians to determine if this is a good career choice for you.
Research what it takes to become a geriatric nursing assistant. Learn about education requirements, job duties, average wages and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.
Get the step-by-step process to becoming a health education specialist, including education and certification requirements.
High school sciences classes in Texas can cover a variety of topics, from physics to chemistry to astronomy. Keep reading the article below to find out what qualifications you need to teach these classes in the state.
Many people ask themselves 'Is 50 too late to become a teacher?' Explore the possibilities of becoming a teacher in your 50s and discover if it's too late.
Discover the complete step by step process to become an engineer at 30, offering an in depth guide to change careers and thrive in the engineering world.
How long does it take to become a lawyer? Before entering this profession, students must complete undergraduate and graduate programs and pass the bar exam. Read on for specifics on how to become a lawyer.
With certifications, internships, and opportunities to gain experience, you can work in the logistics industry without needing to earn a college degree.
You don't need an education degree to teach in elementary schools. Alternative certification programs and teaching experiences can help start your career.
You can enjoy a successful cybersecurity career with a business degree. Great jobs are available in cybersecurity consulting and risk and GRC analysis.
While switching from a career in finance to a career in cybersecurity isn't easy, it's certainly possible. This career change usually requires completing another degree program.
You don't need a degree to enter the computer science field. Taking advantage of online resources, bootcamps, and freelance work can give you a great start.
With an IT degree, you can pivot to the cybersecurity field due to the overlapping job opportunities. There are many ways to get into cybersecurity with an IT degree.
There are many ways to enter the field of psychology without a degree. Pursuing psychology certifications and gaining relevant experience are a few to consider.
Working in healthcare without a degree is possible. Medical assistants, phlebotomists, and licensed practical nurses have non-degree educational requirements.
You can get a job in IT without a degree. Consider pursuing entry-level tech jobs, internships, and certifications to build your skills and grow your resume.
Getting into cybersecurity with a teaching degree is possible by using teaching skills and achieving a cybersecurity degree, earning cybersecurity certificates, or completing a bootcamp.
You can work in sports management even if you don't have a degree. Consider pursuing certifications and gaining experience to improve your hireability.
You don't need a degree to become a supply chain manager if you have experience in the field working supply chain jobs and have obtained certification.
From taking advantage of a private school's independence to attending teacher certification programs, here's how to become a teacher without a teaching degree today.
You can work in AI without a degree. Learning programming languages, taking online courses, and earning certifications are all great ways to start your career.
While it can be harder to get a government job if you don't have a degree, there are several government jobs that don't require you to have a college degree.
It's possible to work in mental health without a degree. You can do this by gaining relevant experience and pursuing professional mental health certifications.
Explore 15 in-demand business degree jobs with salary data, job outlook, and career tips. Learn how a business degree can open doors across industries.