What Is Allied Health? A Complete Career Guide

In today’s healthcare system, successfully treating patients requires teamwork. While physicians and nurses focus on primary diagnoses and treatments, allied health professionals provide essential support services that enhance patient outcomes. Their expertise spans diagnostics, rehabilitation, and patient education, contributing to a more holistic approach to healthcare.

There is also a growing demand for allied health professionals in the healthcare system, which is underscored by the fact that they make up 60% of the sector’s workforce.

Whether you are a current health professional considering a career pivot or just thinking about entering the field, discover the reasons why the allied health profession can be an especially rewarding career.

What Is Allied Health?

Definitions of allied health vary greatly. However, the American Medical Association's Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) defines it as any healthcare-related profession that assists, facilitates, or complements the work of physicians and other specialists.

For example, nursing and medicine focus on direct clinical care, while allied health professionals complement these services with specialized diagnostics, therapies, and administrative support. Because allied health professionals do such varied work, they take on a vast array of key roles and responsibilities.

Depending on the job title and its function within an organization, this may include educating patients, operating technology, and providing corrective or rehabilitative services. Some allied health professionals also assess disorders, devise treatment plans, and provide medicine and medical assistance.

The Importance of Allied Health Professionals in Healthcare

Allied health professionals positively impact patient care by providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive care services that support the patient’s treatment plan. This approach to care allows doctors and nurses to focus on the core medical issues.

Allied health professionals then get the opportunity to support other aspects of the patient’s health, which improves the quality of life and the likelihood of positive outcomes. For example, while a cardiologist might suspect heart failure in a patient experiencing shortness of breath, they typically need cardiovascular technologists to perform an echocardiogram to confirm.

Additionally, an orthopedic surgeon may perform a hip replacement. However, the patient could then need physical therapy to regain strength, mobility, and range of motion.

Types of Allied Health Careers

What is an allied health professional? That depends on who you ask. Allied health is a broad sector with numerous occupations across diverse categories:

• Therapeutic Services: Physical therapist, occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, exercise physiologist
• Preventive: Dental hygienist, health educator, athletic trainer
• Diagnostic Services: Radiologic technologist, medical laboratory technician, medical sonographer, phlebotomist
• Health Informatics and Support Services: Health information technologist, nutritionist, registered dietitian, emergency medical technician, health administration
• Advanced Practice Providers: Physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner

These professionals support clinical care teams in ensuring patients receive the care they need to enhance treatment effectiveness.

Education and Training for Allied Health Professionals

Common educational pathways into allied health include:

• Certifications: Complete a training program and sit for an exam to gain and validate critical skills
• Associate’s Degrees: Complete a two-year degree that offers theoretical foundations and practical applications
• Bachelor’s Degrees: Complete a four-year degree that includes more in-depth study
• Advanced Degrees: Complete a master’s degree or doctorate to become qualified for advanced practice or leadership roles

Many educational programs incorporate clinical rotations and internships to offer students hands-on experience. This experiential training is crucial for ensuring specialized skill development, making real-world applications of theoretical knowledge, and understanding how care teams work.

The Importance of Program Accreditation

Medical professionals must follow established quality standards to ensure safe and effective care. Program accreditation is an essential step in achieving this goal. Programs vetted by trustworthy organizations with rigorous evaluation processes demonstrate integrity in delivering high-quality education. They have shown they can truly prepare students for the profession.

Career Opportunities in Allied Health

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those in healthcare occupations earned a median salary of $80,820 in May 2023, though this figure includes physicians and nurses. Those in healthcare support occupations earned a median salary of $36,140 in that same time frame. Salary ranges for individual occupations vary. Here are some examples:

• Athletic Trainers: $43,180 to $80,640
• Dental Assistants: $35,470 to $61,060
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: $36,620 to $105,140
• Dietitians and Nutritionists: $44,910 to $98,830
• Physician Assistants: $86,280 to $170,790

Many allied health professions have optimistic growth forecasts for the foreseeable future. For example, audiologist jobs are projected to expand at a rate of 11% between 2023 and 2033. Some other high-demand allied health fields include:

• Respiratory Therapists: 13%
• Physical Therapists: 14%
• Medical Assistants: 15%
• Speech Language Pathologists: 18%
• Home Health and Personal Care Aides: 21%

Though growth forecasts vary, the BLS expects employment opportunities across all healthcare professions to grow much faster than average in the coming years.

The Benefits of Pursuing a Career in Allied Health

Allied health is an expanding field with consistent demand, which means salary and job security can be high for many specialties. Career advancement opportunities are plentiful, especially with further education and training. Allied healthcare workers enjoy more flexibility with the option to work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practices, long-term care facilities, and client homes.

Training for some allied health professions can be highly accessible, with shorter training periods and less expensive programs than those required to become a doctor or nurse. Finally, allied health job satisfaction can be higher as well because employees get to positively impact the health and lives of patients and their families.

How to Become an Allied Health Professional

Becoming an allied health professional requires meeting educational, experiential, and personal criteria. The following information can guide you toward the next step in achieving your goals.

Steps to Enter the Allied Health Field

To enter the allied health field, you need to:

1. Choose a specific career path
2. Research and complete education requirements
3. Obtain required certifications or licenses
4. Gain experience through internships and entry-level roles

Check with your state’s professional boards to obtain state-specific requirements for your chosen career path.

Key Qualifications and Certifications

Allied health professionals will need at least a high school diploma, though some roles require an associate’s, bachelor’s, or even a doctorate degree. Other qualifications include knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare law, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and critical thinking in high-stakes situations.

The certifications you need depend on state requirements for your chosen profession. For example, certified medical assistants may require a credential awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Resources for Educational Programs and Job Opportunities

Multiple accrediting bodies, associations, bureaus, and professional societies serve to help candidates find educational pathways and opportunities in the allied health space:

• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• Association of Schools Advancing Health Professionals
• National Center for Competency Testing
• American Medical Certification Association

There are also many professional associations for specific allied health careers, including medical assistants, audiologists, medical technologists, sonographers, athletic trainers, and more.

The Role of Healthcare Staffing Agencies Like GHR

One of the best ways to gain experience is to work with a healthcare staffing agency. GHR connects candidates with allied health job opportunities in their specialty and location. Healthcare staffing agency recruiters can provide targeted guidance through the process of finding the right match to land a role and career you love.

Discover a Rewarding Career in Allied Health

Allied health professionals are the backbone of treatment success, providing the essential support that drives positive health outcomes. Without their expertise, patients wouldn't receive the comprehensive care essential for their recovery and well-being.

Allied health offers a dynamic and rewarding career path filled with opportunities for growth, impact, and professional fulfillment. Ready to launch your career? Secure your next allied health opportunity with GHR Healthcare.