retraining: MPH or Med Tech?

**mek42** · 08-22-2011, 09:10 PM

As some of you know I was laid off from the chemical industry about a year ago and have been teaching part-time at a local community college since. There is low demand for chemists in my area. The layoff moved jobs overseas, so I am potentially eligible for Trade Act retraining money. This means that I would not be paying out of my own pocket for the retraining options given below.

The two choices I am wrestling with are going for an MPH (Master of Public Health) with an environmental option. The other is to retrain into the field of Medical Technologist (i.e. working in the hospital lab).

I have already applied for an MPH program and, in fact, received my acceptance letter today for UIS (U Illinois at Springfield) online MPH program. The major cons of this are that I'd need to come up with $3-4k additional scholarships, I'm not exactly sure what work I could do with an MPH and I do not think that the MPH is not considered a terminal degree - this means that MPH programs want PhDs as professors and not MPH holders.

The Medical Technology option would pay similar to what I was making in industry, I could finish in a year to 18 months, a notable online option fits in my Trade Act budget and a Master degree is considered a terminal degree for most programs - meaning that I could teach at a 4 year school or even a Master program with an MT license and my existing Master degree in chemistry. The major con is that I did good at math, chem and physics back in college, but not so good at biology. Another pro is that my understanding is that the job entails lab work similar to what my analytical chemistry job experience was - obviously not the same - different test procedures, but still analytical work.

Well, so far I can only think of cons for the MPH and pros for the MT. My real hope is to find a full-time teaching job soon, but I'm thinking I also want a back-up plan.

I posted here mostly to gather my thoughts, but I would also love to hear from fellow FVers, especially if any of you have experience with either field.

Thanks!

**nodmicks** · 08-22-2011, 09:34 PM

It sounds like the MT option is much more promising and fiscally sound from what you have written. Which ever you decide to do good luck!

**Russ** · 08-23-2011, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by mek42

Well, so far I can only think of cons for the MPH and pros for the MT. My real hope is to find a full-time teaching job soon, but I'm thinking I also want a back-up plan.

I think you have answered your own question, but just to add to it... with a baby on the way and the loss of the wife's income for a time, you NEED the job that has more security.

**mek42** · 08-25-2011, 10:22 AM

Russ, thanks. I'm going forward with the MT plan. My wife has plenty of sick and vacation time, so won't be losing income, but more stability would be nice. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a tax auction property in September, get moved, lose the mortgage and get back to where I used to be income-wise within 18 - 24 months.

**mek42** · 08-31-2011, 02:33 AM

Well, as of today I am officially a student again. Nervous about the biology side of things, but hopefully the work will end up similar to what I've already done.