If you didn't have a degree but some college (Howe: schools, contractors)

[vintagelady]

and are going back to school to finish up with these two things in mind : Electrical Engineering or Something in the Health Field (particularly Occupational Therapy). Which would you finish up in? I'm trying to help my husband with a tough decision. He would love to be an engineer but to get a job it will take at least 3-8 years experience to even land a job. He feels like the health field would be a great field to go in because the jobs are endless or so he thinks, lol. If you had to choose a field which would you choose and why? Thanks in advance.

[DanielWayne]

Electrical engineering is a good field that has good salary potential with experience. However the demand for engineers ebbs and flows. At least that is true in the Clear Lake area. Contractors in Clear Lake will be laying off lots of folks when the shuttle retires in 2010 or so. That includes lots of engineers. Some of my engineering co-workers (I do software) have been laid off, and it was very difficult to get re-hired. However I have read lots of articles that say health care is always hiring - even during a down economy simply because there will always be sick people. With NASA at JSC, you have a job if there are contracts for you to work on. When the contracts dry up, you may or may not have another job. If I had it to do again, I would consider pharmacy or physician assistant. Both avg pay is supposed to be $70,000+ and the schooling is about 6 years total I believe.

[Sea2LV2Hou]

Your going to need experience in either field, but the opportunities in the short run are probably better in the health field. He can study EE while he is working.

[lhafer]

Go the OT route. Texas Woman's University in the medical center has one of the top rated OT/PT schools in the country. Therapists start out much higher than nurses regarding salary (High 50-60's). And there's so much more opportunity to go with a public institution or private practice, or start your own business.

[EM1956]

Originally Posted by lhafer

Go the OT route. Texas Woman's University in the medical center has one of the top rated OT/PT schools in the country. Therapists start out much higher than nurses regarding salary (High 50-60's). And there's so much more opportunity to go with a public institution or private practice, or start your own business.

As an RN with lots of years experience, I can only second this opinion. OT or PT has lots of opportunity

[vintagelady]

Thanks so much for replying everyone! He's leaning more towards the health field right now so that's a good thing.

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by vintagelady

and are going back to school to finish up with these two things in mind : Electrical Engineering or Something in the Health Field (particularly Occupational Therapy). Which would you finish up in? I'm trying to help my husband with a tough decision. He would love to be an engineer but to get a job it will take at least 3-8 years experience to even land a job. He feels like the health field would be a great field to go in because the jobs are endless or so he thinks, lol. If you had to choose a field which would you choose and why? Thanks in advance.

Depends on what interests you. Probably EE. Health Care is great also.

[texas7]

There seems to be a shortage of engineers - because a lot of the major companies have programs to encourage more females and young men to go into the math/science professions - and highly promote engineering.

[TVC15]

Being part of the health care world I would encourage him to go with OT as well. Lot's of possibilities with a good starting salary!