Fast Growing Careers in Healthcare: What Are Allied Health Careers?

(Anesthesiology Assistant, Sonography, Healthcare Administration, and More!)

When you think about working in healthcare, it is likely that the first occupations that pop into your mind are doctors, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, and optometrists. What if I told you it is estimated that over 60% of jobs in healthcare exist outside of those fields? (Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP), 2020).

The healthcare industry is expected to continue growing at a rapid pace over the next decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). Specifically, allied health professions are ever-growing and necessary professions to promote the health and wellbeing of patients in a variety of settings.

Allied Health is defined as professions involving “the delivery of health or related services pertaining to the identification, evaluation and prevention of diseases and disorders; dietary and nutrition services; and rehabilitation and health systems management, among others” (ASAHP, 2020).

You can complete training for several allied health careers right here at Kansas State University, including:

• Athletic Training
• Dietetics
• Healthcare Administration
• Medical Laboratory Science
• Speech Language Pathology

Other common allied health professions include:

• Anesthesiologist Assistant
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• Health Information Management
• Perfusionist
• Respiratory Therapy

Education Requirements: You can complete some allied health programs through an associate’s degree program, while others may require bachelor’s or graduate-level training. Many allied health programs require prerequisite courses before applying, and prerequisite courses vary by occupation and school—view individual program websites for more information.

Job Responsibilities: We encourage you to learn more information about the job responsibilities and education requirements of each of these professions through online research and by pursuing shadowing opportunities in the field.

Average Salaries: For information about the average salaries for allied health professions, search for the profession on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Accreditation: Attending an accredited program can help you ensure you are receiving quality education that will prepare you for the job market in your desired profession. Check out the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs to search for accredited programs.

If you think you might be interested in an allied health profession, schedule an appointment with your Pre-Health Advisor to discuss your next steps.