FIREFIGHTER...
DESCRIPTION: Firefighters control and extinguish fires to protect communities against loss of life, injury, and property damage. They work as team members using a variety of firefighting equipment. They use different firefighting techniques depending on the type of fire involved. They fight residential, commercial, and industrial fires within their district and assist firefighters in other districts when additional help is needed.
ACTIVITIES: Firefighters perform many tasks. They present fire safety and prevention programs to school children and civic organizations. They also put out motor vehicle fires and control gasoline, chemicals, and other materials due to car and truck accidents.
EDUCATION: A high school diploma is the minimum requirement for employment. Apprenticeships may also be available. Individuals interested in an apprenticeship must have a high school diploma, pass an aptitude test, and interview with the appropriate apprenticeship committee. Apprenticeships vary from two to five years and include both formal classroom instruction and on-the-job training experiences.
SALARY RANGE: 32,000 - 108,000
DENTIST...
DESCRIPTION: Dentists care for the teeth and gums of their patients. They examine their patients' teeth and gums using dental instruments and radiographs. They clean teeth and fill dental cavities using rotary dental tools. They help patients to maintain healthy teeth and gums by teaching them how to properly brush and floss their teeth.
ACTIVITIES: Dentists usually work 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday. They may be on call for emergencies. Dentists like helping people. Dentists work in offices with dental tools and equipment. Many are self-employed or form partnerships with other dentists.
EDUCATION: Students should take courses that exceed college entrance requirements, including advanced courses in math, science, English, and social studies. Helpful high school courses would include Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Foreign Language (minimum of two years), and Statistics. Dentists often graduate from a four-year bachelor's degree program. Many bachelor's degree programs are acceptable preparation for admission into dental school. However, the majority of people admitted into dental schools have an undergraduate degree in pre-dentistry studies or one of the life sciences.
SALARY RANGE: 75,000 - 166,000+ Individuals with special skills can earn salaries double or triple the top of this salary range. The self-employed determine their own benefits.
ARCHITECT...
DESCRIPTION: Architects design homes, schools, churches, office buildings, apartment complexes, and shopping centers. Architects meet with their clients to determine the function and size of the building they want designed. They often work with engineers, city planners, and landscape architects to create safe, functional, and attractive structures. They design the structures and estimate the construction costs.
ACTIVITIES: Most architects work in offices. Some own their own businesses, but most work for large architectural firms. Others work for builders or real estate agents. When the buildings are complete, architects carefully check the structures, and list the problems that they find. When the builders correct the problems, architects approve the work and the buildings are turned over to their clients.
EDUCATION: High school classes that will help prepare students for college include Calculus, Drawing, Geology, Geometry, and Trigonometry/Advanced Algebra. Architects qualify to take state licensing examination after a combination of college study and work experience-totaling seven years. Architectural technicians who have seven years of work experience without a bachelor's degree in architecture may also take the licensing exam.
SALARY RANGE: 51,000 - 140,000
