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Allied Health Training Programs and Schools

Allied Health - Career Information

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The healthcare industry provided 14 million jobs in 2006, making it the largest labor sector. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare will generate three million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016 - more than any other industry.

About two million people are currently employed as allied health professionals in the United States and there is substantial demand for many more, especially mid-level specialties in the medical field. Allied health professionals are clinical healthcare workers, distinct from medicine and nursing, who practice independently or work as a team providing continual evaluation and assessment of patient needs. When you work in allied health, you are involved (directly or indirectly) with patient health, and you are regarded as an expert in your field. Allied health professionals also play a major role in informing the attending clinician of the patient's progress and response to treatment.

Some allied health professions focus on hands-on patient care, while others are more inherently technical in nature. All allied health professionals must be proficient in a variety of skills. Some of these skills are medical terminology, acronym and spelling, basics of medical law and ethics, understanding of human relations, interpersonal communication skills, counseling skills, computer literacy, ability to document healthcare information, interviewing skills, and proficiency in word processing, database management, and electronic dictation.

The allied health professions fall into two broad categories: technicians (assistants) and therapists/technologists. Technicians are trained to perform procedures, and their education lasts less than two years. They are required to work under the supervision of technologists or therapists. This part of the allied health field includes physical therapy assistants, medical laboratory technicians, radiological technicians, occupational therapy assistants, recreation therapy assistants, and respiratory therapy technicians.

The educational process for therapists or technologists is more intensive and includes acquiring procedural skills. In addition, students of therapy/technology learn to evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans, and understand the rationale behind various treatments in order to judge their appropriateness and potential side effects.

Top Careers in Allied Health

There are as many as 200 different allied healthcare professions, including:

  • Athletic training
  • Audiology
  • Bioengineering
  • Biomedical science
  • Cardiovascular technologists
  • Chiropractic
  • Dentistry
  • Dental auxiliary (dental assistants, dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and denturists)
  • Diagnostic medical sonography
  • Emergency medical technician and paramedic
  • Exercise rehabilitation
  • Hemodialysis technicians
  • Kinesiotherapy
  • Massage therapy
  • Medical assistants
  • Medical laboratory technicians
  • Medical physics
  • Medical technologist
  • Medical transcription
  • Midwifery
  • Nuclear medicine technology
  • Nutrition and dietetics
  • Occupational therapy
  • Optometry
  • Orthotics and prosthetics
  • Orthopaedic technologist
  • Pharmacy
  • Physical therapy and physiotherapy
  • Podiatry
  • Psychology
  • Radiation therapy
  • Radiography
  • Radiologic technologist
  • Recreational therapy
  • Respiratory therapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Social work
  • Ultrasound
  • Venipuncture (phlebotomy)

Here is a brief description of some of these specialties:

  • Athletic Trainer - Prevents, recognizes, manages, and rehabilitates injuries that result from physical activity.
  • Cardiovascular Technologist - Assists doctors with diagnosing and treating cardiovascular ailments.
  • CT Technologist - Uses computed tomography scans to diagnose injuries to the head, neck, and spine.
  • Diagnostic medical sonographers - Uses sound waves to generate an image used for assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions.
  • Kinesiotherapists - Develops and monitors exercise programs to help people regain muscle strength and function lost due to injury or disease.
  • Medical Assistant - Performs routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly.
  • Medical MRI Technologist - Uses magnetic resonance imaging technology to diagnose patients' internal injuries.
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist - Administers radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients and then monitors the function of tissues and organs.
  • Occupational Therapist - Helps people with disabilities develop the ability to perform tasks needed for daily living and work functions.
  • Orthotics and prosthetics - Evaluates, fabricates, and custom fits artificial limbs and orthopedic braces.
  • Polysomnography Technologist - Works with patients to diagnose and treat various sleeping disorders.
  • Radiation Therapist - Uses radiation to treat patients with cancerous tumors.
  • Radiologic Technologist - Works with medical imaging equipment to diagnose injuries and diseases.
  • Respiratory Therapist - Treats patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders.
  • Speech-Language Pathologist - Involves diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders related to oral communication.
  • Ultrasound Technician - Uses medical ultrasonography equipment for the assessment of various medical conditions.

Allied Health Career Training & Schools

Individuals preparing for allied health careers can enter programs leading to a certificate or a degree at the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level. Two-year programs resulting in certificates or associate degrees are the minimum standard credential for occupations such as dental hygienist or radiologic technologist.

Most therapists and social workers have at least a bachelor's degree. Health diagnosing and treating practitioners - such as optometrists and podiatrists - are among the most educated workers, with many years of education and training beyond college.

Larger healthcare establishments usually offer a broader range of opportunities, such as on-the-job or classroom training and continuing education. Hospitals are most likely to provide training programs and advancement opportunities. In other segments of healthcare, the variety of positions and advancement opportunities are more limited.

Allied health specialists with clinical expertise can advance to department head positions or even higher level management jobs. Medical and health services managers can advance to more responsible positions, all the way up to chief executive officer.

Resources

Schools for Allied Health are listed in the column to the left.

Careers and Salary Data

This table shows summary data on occupations in the US. Clicking on any occupation name brings you to a page showing job prospects and salaries for that occupation in hundreds of metro areas across the country, with data updated through 2008.(Where data is denoted by an asterisk (*), summary info was not available.

The green bars in the table below indicate the relative salary levels and growth rates of each occupation, compared to the others. The levels are determined by sorting the occupations (by salary or growth rate, separately) and then dividing them into ten groups corresponding to the the ten possible green bar levels. So a single bar means the occupation is in the bottom 10% for that characteristic compared to others on this page.

Click each Occupation title for more details.

 

Allied Health

OccupationJobsMedian Pay% Growth
2006-2016
Video
Athletic Trainers15,070     $39,640     24.3%
Cardiovascular Techs48,040     $47,010     25.5%
Dental Assistants293,090     $32,380     29.2%
Dental Hygienists173,090     $66,570     30.1%
Dental Laboratory Technicians42,640     $34,170     3.7%
Dietetic Technicians24,620     $26,080     14.8%
Dietitians and Nutritionists53,630     $50,590     8.6%
EMT and Paramedics207,610     $29,330     19.2%
Health Technologists and Technicians74,990     $37,950     15% 
Home Health Aides892,410     $20,460     48.7%
Medical Assistants475,950     $28,300     35.4%
Medical Lab Technicians149,670     $35,380     15%
Medical Lab Technologists166,510     $53,500     12.4%
Nuclear Medicine Technologists21,200     $66,660     14.8%
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists53,250     $62,250     8.1%
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians10,540     $45,360     14.6% 
Occupational Therapists94,800     $66,780     23.1%
Opticians59,470     $32,810     8.7%
Optometrists25,970     $96,320     11.3%
Orthotists and Prosthetists5,490     $62,590     11.8%
Pharmacists266,410     $106,410     21.7%
Pharmacy Aides53,190     $20,100     -11%
Pharmacy Technicians324,110     $27,710     32%
Physician Assistants71,950     $81,230     27%
Psychiatric Technicians54,800     $29,250     -3.2% 
Radiation Therapists14,850     $72,910     24.8%
Radiologic Tech208,570     $52,210     15.1%
Recreational Therapists22,510     $38,370     3.7%
Respiratory Therapists103,870     $52,200     22.6% 
Respiratory Therapy Technicians16,210     $42,430     0.9%
Sonographers48,920     $61,980     19.1%
Speech Pathologists107,340     $62,930     10.6%
Surgical Technologists89,600     $38,740     24.5%

Schools for Allied Health (including online schools)

These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).

Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.

SchoolLocationsDegreesQuick Info
ATI Career Training CenterFL, NM, OK, TXAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
All State Career Healthcare DivisionMD, PADiplomaGet Info
American Career CollegeCACertificateGet Info
American Career InstituteMA, MDCertificateGet Info
Anthem Career CollegeTNAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Anthem CollegeAZ, CA, CO, FL, MN, MO, OR, TX, WIAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Anthem InstituteNJ, NV, NY, PADiplomaGet Info
Antonelli CollegeMS, OHAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Argosy UniversityMNAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Ashworth CollegeOnlineDiplomaGet Info
Bauder CollegeGACertificateGet Info
Blue Cliff CollegeLA, MSAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Branford Hall Career InstituteCT, MA, NYCertificateGet Info
Broadview UniversityUTAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Brookline CollegeAZ, NMCertificate, DiplomaGet Info
Brown CollegeMNAssociateGet Info
Brown Mackie CollegeAL, AZ, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, MO, NM, OH, OK, SC, TXAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Bryan CollegeCAAssociate, CourseworkGet Info
CHI InstitutePAAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
California College San DiegoCAAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Career College of Northern NevadaNVAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Career Point CollegeOK, TXAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Carrington CollegeAZ, ID, NM, NV, OR, WAAssociate, Bachelor, CertificateGet Info
Carrington College CaliforniaCAAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Central Career SchoolNJCertificateGet Info
Charter CollegeAK, CA, WAAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
CollegeAmericaAZ, CO, WYAssociateGet Info
Colorado Technical UniversityCO, MO, SDAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Computer Career CenterNM, TXAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Coyne CollegeILDiplomaGet Info
Daytona CollegeFLAssociateGet Info
DeVry UniversityAZBachelorGet Info
ECPI UniversityNC, SC, VAAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
Empire CollegeCAAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Everest CollegeAZ, CA, CO, IL, IN, MO, NV, ON, OR, TX, UT, VA, WAAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Everest InstituteFL, GA, MA, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, WVDiplomaGet Info
Everest UniversityFLAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
First InstituteILCertificate, DiplomaGet Info
Florida Technical CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Fortis CollegeAL, AZ, FL, IN, MD, NJ, OH, PA, SC, UT, VAAssociate, Certificate, Coursework, DiplomaGet Info
Fox Institute Diagnostic Medical SonographyCT, NJDiplomaGet Info
Grand Canyon UniversityOnlineBachelorGet Info
Hallmark CollegeTXAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Harris School of BusinessDE, NJ, PACertificateGet Info
Harrison CollegeIN, OHAssociateGet Info
Heald CollegeCA, HI, ORAssociateGet Info
Herzing CollegeMB, ON, QCAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Hesser CollegeNHAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Illinois School of Health CareersILDiplomaGet Info
Institute of TechnologyCACertificate, DiplomaGet Info
IntelliTec CollegeCOAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Kaplan Career InstituteMA, MI, OH, PAAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Kaplan College KHEAZ, CA, CO, FL, IN, NC, NV, OH, TX, VA, WIAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Kaplan University KHEIA, MD, ME, NEAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Kaplan University OnlineOnlineAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Keiser Career CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Keiser University CampusFLAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Keiser University eCampus OnlineOnlineAssociateGet Info
King's CollegeNCAssociateGet Info
Lincoln College of TechnologyFL, GA, IL, KY, OHCourseworkGet Info
Lincoln Technical InstituteCT, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RICourseworkGet Info
Medical Careers InstituteNC, SC, VAAssociateGet Info
Milan InstituteCA, ID, NV, TXDiplomaGet Info
Minnesota School of BusinessMNAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaGet Info
National American University CampusCO, KS, MN, MO, NM, SD, TXAssociate, BachelorGet Info
National CollegeIN, KY, OH, TN, VA, WVAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
New England Institute of TechnologyRIAssociateGet Info
Northwestern CollegeILAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Pinnacle Career InstituteKS, MOAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Pioneer Pacific CollegeORAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Pittsburgh Technical InstitutePAAssociate, Cisco CertificateGet Info
Platt CollegeCAAssociateGet Info
Prism Career InstituteNJCourseworkGet Info
Rasmussen CollegeFL, IL, MN, ND, WIAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Salter CollegeMAAssociate, CertificateGet Info
Salter School of Nursing and Allied HealthNHCertificateGet Info
Sanford Brown CollegeAZ, CT, GA, IL, IN, MI, MO, OH, OR, TX, VA, WIAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Sanford Brown InstituteFL, MD, NJ, NY, PA, RIAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaGet Info
Seacoast Career SchoolsME, NHCertificateGet Info
South Texas Vocational Technical InstituteTXDiplomaGet Info
South UniversityOnlineAssociateGet Info
South University CampusAL, GA, SCAssociateGet Info
Southern Careers InstituteTXCertificateGet Info
Southern Technical CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Southwest Florida CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaGet Info
Stevens Henager CollegeID, UTAssociate, BachelorGet Info
Stratford Career InstituteOnlineDiplomaGet Info
Sullivan UniversityKYAssociate, Diploma, Microsoft CertificateGet Info
TESST College of TechnologyMDCertificateGet Info
Texas School of BusinessTXDiplomaGet Info
The Salter SchoolMACertificateGet Info
The University of LiverpoolOnlineMasterGet Info
UEI CollegeCADiplomaGet Info
Ultimate Medical AcademyFLCertificate, DiplomaGet Info
University of PhoenixAL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WYAssociateGet Info
University of Phoenix OnlineOnlineAssociateGet Info
Vatterott CollegeIA, IL, KS, MO, NE, OH, OK, TNDiplomaGet Info
Walden UniversityOnlineMasterGet Info
West Coast UniversityCABachelorGet Info

Allied Health Schools by State

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Allied Health.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.

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