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If you like Anatomy and enjoy working with your hands, you might want to consider a career making orthotics and prosthetic devices.  There are only about five schools in the nation, but one of them is in Long Beach, CA. The program is not competitive to get into since many people do not know about the field. No matter what the general economy is, there is always a demand for people in this field since 45,000 people a year lose a limb and are in need of a prosthetic device. This career pays $50,000 the first year. In 1 1/2 years, you can get level 1 Certification and will then earn about $65,000 a year. In another 1 1/2 years, you can get level 2 Certification and can earn about $80,000 a year. Right now, it is a 9-month program for either prosthetics or orthotics only, and costs $17,000. If you want both degrees, it is another 8 months and another $14,000. As of 2012, it will become a 2-year Master's Degree program, you will get a degree in both orthotics and prosthetics, and will cost about $30,000 (?).

You first need to get a Bachelor's degree, including the following courses. For more information, visit www.OPCareers.org