Which Allied Health Career is Right for You?

Psychiatric or Behavioral Health technicians work with psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to care for patients. Often, they work in mental health facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and larger mental health facilities. Typical duties include monitoring patient well-being, helping patients keep up with personal hygiene, and assisting with rehabilitation programs. In this role, expect lots of patient interaction and time on your feet.

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If you like to tinker with technical equipment, you might find a career as a biomedical technician fulfilling. These technicians maintain and repair healthcare technology. They deal with critical equipment in healthcare practices; the demand for individuals with this skill set is rapidly growing.

For a Deeper Dive: Biomedical Technician Degrees Online

A dental assistant provides care alongside a dentist and dental hygienists. Dental assistants are responsible for taking x-rays, keeping records, and managing appointments. Their job is critical for the everyday operations of dental offices. The demand for dental assistants is growing faster than most fields.

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Like a dental assistant, a dental hygienist works in a dentist’s office. Dental hygienists are responsible for cleaning teeth and examining patients for various dental conditions, such as gingivitis or cavities. They also provide dental hygiene care in most offices.

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Diagnostic medical sonographers often work in cardiology or OB GYN departments, though they can work anywhere that utilizes sonography procedures and ultrasounds. Often they perform the tests, though a doctor reads and interprets the results. Specific technical knowledge is needed and an associate degree is required for this role.

For a Deeper Dive: Sonography and Ultrasound Tech Degree Programs Online

With more Americans fighting kidney disease than ever before, the demand for dialysis technicians is growing. A dialysis technician helps operate specialized equipment for kidney dialysis. Many certificate programs needed for this job can be completed in as little as three months.

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Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are responsible for getting patients to the hospital in emergency situations. They not only respond to emergency calls, but they also perform medical procedures as they transport patients to the hospital in ambulances. The demand for this service is high, with minimal training needed to enter the field.

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A nutritionist educates the public on healthy living practices; one path into this field is a degree in nutrition. Health education specialists or nutritionists work one on one with patients or perform large, community-based health interventions. The demand for health education specialists is expected to grow rapidly in the next ten years.

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Health information management clerks manage patient records, test results, and appointment schedules. Often they work in bigger facilities and must coordinate between different medical departments. They are less likely to work with more complicated informatics technologies and less training may be required as compared to the training needed to become a medical informatics technician.

For a Deeper Dive: Health Information Management Programs Online

If you want to enter the field of histology, or the study of microscopic anatomy, becoming a histotechnician might be a good job for you. These professionals study the anatomy of cells from animals and plants and often work in medical research facilities. This job makes an impact in the field of medical research instead of through patient interaction.

For a Deeper Dive: Histotechnician Degree Programs Online

Home health aides serve those who wish to live in their own home but are unable to perform everyday tasks without help. Most patients are senior citizens or those with special needs. Because a home health aide’s role is in the home, their hours can be different from a traditional office job and may require more one-on-one contact with a patient compared with other allied health careers.

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Human service assistants work in a variety of fields, though most often in social work facilities. They may also work in the offices of psychologists and in rehabilitation centers. Often, their work includes providing client services.

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Kinesiologists focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries and illnesses that affect the muscles and bones. Kinesiologists often work at schools, hospitals, fitness centers, physicians’ offices, and for sports teams.

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Massage therapists manipulate muscles and skin tissue to help clients get relief from physical pain caused by a variety of conditions. The demand for specialists in this field is growing faster than other fields. Massage therapists work in spas, fitness facilities, hotels, and hospitals.

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A medical administrative assistant performs a variety of administrative duties in medical facilities. They often must have an in-depth knowledge of medical terminology. Because of this, an associate degree is usually required.

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A medical assistant completes different administrative and technical duties in medical offices. They work in any size medical facility, from smaller physician’s offices to hospitals. Many enter the field with only a high school diploma, but an associate degree is often needed for more technical medical assistant positions.

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A medical biller works in financial operations for a medical facility. Medical billers process bills, discuss bills with patients’ health insurance companies, and complete other billing responsibilities. Many code and sort medical information as well.

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A Medical Health and Services Manager performs a variety of administrative functions at hospitals and smaller medical facilities. Unlike managers in other industries, Medical Health and Services Managers need specific training in medical terminology and management. Their job often includes acting as a liaison between medical professionals, administrative professionals, and the public.

For a Deeper Dive: Healthcare Administration Degree Programs Online

A medical informatics technician helps healthcare facilities organize their healthcare information, sorting, coding, and organizing data so it’s usable across hospital departments. These technicians spend most of their days in front of a computer, so some technical knowledge is required. Often you can get the needed technical knowledge in a certification or associate’s program.

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A medical lab technician works in a medical laboratory. This technician interacts with patients to perform tests, collect samples, and analyze the results. Usually a medical doctor delivers results to the patient.

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A medical scientist investigates medical problems in a clinical setting. Their work involves less patient interaction and their contribution to the medical field is often through medical research papers and clinical experiments. A PhD typically is needed to be a medical scientist.

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Medical transcriptionists play an important role in medical facilities. Typically, they listen to recordings from medical appointments and transcribe them for administrative services and patient use. Some work in hospitals while others work for third-party transcription services.

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A nuclear medical technologist works in a radiology lab or office. The nuclear medical technologist prepares nuclear drugs that are used for imaging services; sometimes they also help prepare drugs for nuclear treatments. An associate degree is required for this field.

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An occupational therapist helps patients recover from injuries that affect their ability to work or carry out everyday functions. Occupational therapists are employed in a variety of healthcare facilities, from occupational therapy offices to hospitals to assisted living centers. A master’s degree is required to enter this profession.

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An occupational therapy assistant works in a nursing care facility or an occupational therapy practice. These allied health professionals help patients recover from injuries and adapt to everyday life and work. Occupational therapy assistants also help set up technology and equipment in offices.

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An ophthalmic technician helps ophthalmologists set up equipment and assists with patient appointments. Ophthalmic technicians educate patients on how to use corrective lenses, they administer eye exams, and they help patients with eye medications. An associate degree is often required to enter this field.

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Paramedics respond to emergency calls and are often the frontline response for emergency health situations. They transport patients to the hospital in ambulances and work with EMTs to provide any needed medical care in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. A postgraduate degree is required to work as a paramedic.

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Pathology assistants work alongside pathologists in medical labs and other healthcare facilities. In pathology labs, assistants and pathologists analyze body tissues to diagnose medical conditions. Pathology assistants also work in specialized fields, such as surgical pathology. A master’s degree is required for this career.

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A patient care technician is the perfect role for someone who wants a fast-paced job in the medical field. Patient care technicians are constantly on the move, going from one patient room to another to make sure all equipment is set up properly and to provide care to patients. Typically, this profession requires an associate degree.

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Looking for a job that combines finance and healthcare? Consider becoming a patient finance manager. Typically, these individuals not only handle appointment billings, but they also coordinate with health insurance companies to make sure they are billing patients properly based on what their insurance plan covers. This job often requires a bachelor’s degree in health management.

For a Deeper Dive: Healthcare Management Degree Programs Online

Interested in healthcare and medications but unsure you want to go through the schooling to become a pharmacist? Then consider becoming a pharmacy technician. These individuals work alongside pharmacists to provide patients and healthcare facilities with necessary medications. A postsecondary certificate is often required to work in this field.

For a Deeper Dive: Pharmacy Technician Programs Online

A phlebotomist draws blood, facilitates transfusions, and helps at blood donation clinics. Phlebotomists interact closely with patients and often work alongside medical researchers, who analyze the blood samples phlebotomists draw.

For a Deeper Dive: Phlebotomy Degree Programs Online

Physical therapists help people get back on their feet–literally. They often work in physical therapy offices, at hospitals, and in patients’ homes to help them recover from physical injuries. Often, their job requires both technical knowledge and insight on different exercises patients can perform. A doctorate of physical therapy and significant work experience is needed to join this profession.

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Physical therapy assistants work alongside other physical therapy professionals to help patients regain mobility and minimize pain from injuries. They guide patients through different physical therapy activities and assist with equipment in physical therapy offices. Physical therapy assistants are always supervised by a physical therapist. They receive on-site training, though an associate degree is required.

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Looking for a fulfilling role in healthcare but don’t want to attend medical school? Consider becoming a physician’s assistant (PA). PAs work in hands-on roles with patients to provide excellent medical care. While they are supervised by a doctor, they have significant autonomy to diagnose conditions and provide treatment plans.

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A radiation therapist usually works in a radiology office or radiology department of a hospital. They administer radiation treatment to those with critical conditions, such as cancer. This work often requires specific training and an associate degree.

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If you’re looking to work in radiology and love operating and tinkering with technology, becoming a radiology technician might be the job for you. These professionals set up and conduct maintenance on radiology technologies, such as x-ray machines. Specific technical knowledge is required for this role.

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Respiratory therapists work with patients who have trouble breathing or have respiratory conditions such as asthma. Often, they work in hospitals or doctor’s offices and administer care directly to patients. An associate degree is required for this career.

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A speech language pathologist diagnoses and treats communication, speech, and swallowing disorders. Typically these professionals work in schools and hospitals.

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A speech language pathology assistant helps a speech language pathologist. Often, they facilitate patient care and make sure all equipment is ready. This career has above-average job growth.

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If maintaining the highest levels of safety and quality of care is important to you, consider becoming a sterile processing technician. These professionals coordinate with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to make sure medicine and equipment is transported to the right place at the right time. They also ensure all equipment and medication is free from contamination and ready for use.

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Becoming a surgical technologist allows you to assist in surgeries without going to medical school. These professionals set up equipment for surgeries and are often present to help with anything needed during a surgery. Sometimes they assist in patient care after surgery as well.

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If you’re looking for a job where you can be near animals all day, consider becoming a veterinary assistant. These allied health professionals work with a veterinarian to provide quality care for pets. They also can check pets’ vitals and perform other medical and administrative tasks in the office.

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A veterinary technician works in a veterinary office or hospital. This role typically includes performing tests that help veterinarians diagnose medical conditions in pets. Vet techs are also sometimes responsible for maintaining veterinary equipment.

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