5 Benefits of Pursuing an Allied Healthcare Career

October 8, 2013

The allied health field offers a wide array of options for future healthcare workers. Some of the career options include preventive and diagnostic services, rehabilitation therapy, nutritional and dietary advice, managing health systems, and other health-related jobs. Many of these careers don't require the intensive training that physicians, registered nurses, veterinarians, dentists and optometrists require.

Categories of Allied Health Jobs

Allied health workers are often referred to as technicians and technologists. Although these terms can often be used interchangeably, technicians and technologists are not always considered the same. Health care workers in diagnostic fields are more commonly known as technologists. Some examples include MRI technologists, electroneurodiagnostic technologists, and cardiovascular technologists. However, professions like ultrasound and x-ray techs may be referred to as technicians or technologists.

Some examples of other allied health technicians include medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomy technicians, physical therapy assistants, and EKG techs. These professionals often work under the direct supervision of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, or other medical staff.

Career prospects for allied health professionals include many of the same benefits and personal satisfaction that other medical personnel enjoy. In fact, allied health workers, such as surgical techs, ultrasound technicians, medical assistants, MRI techs and IVF technologists, often perform noninvasive medical procedures using cutting-edge technologies in top fields such as genetics, neurology, cardiology and ophthalmology. Personal and career advantages of these extraordinary jobs include the following perks:

  • Allied healthcare job opportunities continue to increase every year.

  • You can learn practical medical techniques that advance your education and skills when training for other medical careers.

  • Short training programs make these careers suitable for people who are looking for a career change.

  • Training for allied health professions is often less expensive than a traditional college education.

Detailed Benefits of Allied Healthcare Professions

  1. Flexibility

Fast training leads the list of benefits for these exciting careers. Although earning an advanced degree is certainly worthwhile, many people need to make money or enter the workforce quickly. Allied health training programs can range anywhere from 1 month to 2 years depending on the field.

Health professions include jobs all over the world in all types of settings. You can work in a hospital, laboratory, offer in-home counseling and therapy, work for corporations and government agencies or provide medical billing and coding services for physicians or dentists.

Allied health professionals have a lot of options for relocation as well. Though each state may not have the exact same certification or licensing requirements, most states follow similar standards. Therefore it is often not that difficult to become eligible for employment in other parts of the country.

2. Personal Satisfaction

People often choose these careers because they enjoy working with people, giving advice and helping patients live better lives. There are very few jobs that are as fulfilling as a career in healthcare. This profession allows you to truly make a difference in someone else's life.

3. Job Security

The Bureau of Labor Statisticsranks the field of health care as one of the country's largest and fastest growing industries. Many of these jobs don't require extensive training but still provide good salaries and advancement opportunities. As an allied health professional, you can choose from numerous career paths, many of which are expected to grow by 25 percent or more each year.

4. Competitive Pay and Benefits

Starting salaries for many technicians and technologists rival experienced professionals in other industries. Most allied health professions offer an impressive array of career benefits as well, including vacation time, health insurance, and retirement plans.

5. Military-career Advantages

Allied health training may open the door to a career in military service where you can help people and serve your country. You receive free or low-cost health care, dental and life insurance and many other benefits of working for the military. In addition the training you receive will be invaluable to your career after completing your service.

A lot of medical professionals spend four years in undergraduate studies and from three to eight years in specialized training. Allied health workers, on the other hand, can complete their training in two years or less and start working immediately. This field is a great way to get started in the healthcare field, and for many it can turn out to be a very fulfilling career.