What Is Allied Health?

The Definition of Allied Health

Allied health professionals are integral to the treatment of patients, even though they work indirectly in the areas of medicine or nursing. They use the same scientific principles as other healthcare professionals in helping to diagnose, evaluate and treat diseases. Many health services are provided by allied health professionals filling non-nurse and non-physician-based roles.

ASAHP estimates that about 60% of the healthcare workforce can be classified as allied health professionals. Occupational therapists, nutritionists and radiologic technologists are considered allied health professionals (ASAHP). Others include behind-the-scenes roles such as pharmacy technicians or medical laboratory scientists. Allied health professionals also work in consultative positions, including as genetic counselors and diabetes instructors.

Allied Health Professionals vs. Nurses

Allied health is a broad term that describes professionals who work within and alongside the medical community. The type of work they perform is different from that done by medical professionals such as doctors and nurses.

Some allied health roles do involve direct patient care, but other roles are more supportive. For example, a pharmacy technician will fill prescriptions and educate patients on the medicines they take.

If you work in imaging, you may take X-rays and perform other diagnostics to support the medical team in patient diagnosis and treatment.

The steps it takes to enter these careers are distinct from medical providers. The steps for becoming a nurse include completing a nursing education program — through a diploma, associate-degree or Bachelor of Science in Nursing pathway, depending on the state and employer — and becoming licensed. All three program types remain active, NCSBN-tracked routes to first-time RN licensure nationally (NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics). The path for allied health careers can also include earning an allied health degree. However, there are non-degreed allied health certifications that can prepare you to work in the healthcare field.

Types of Allied Health Careers

Allied health jobs are diverse and include a wide variety of roles. These include the following:

• Audiologists focus on issues relating to hearing, the ear and balance in terms of patient diagnostics and treatment. Their working environments can include schools and health-related retail stores.
• Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians may collect samples from a patient and perform tests. They typically work in hospitals, diagnostic labs and physician offices.
• Dental assistants help with patient records, scheduling and other limited patient care. Training requirements vary significantly by state: some states allow entry-level dental assistants to learn largely on the job, while others require formal coursework or licensure for certain duties. California, for example, requires completion of board-approved coursework (covering radiation safety, infection control and related topics) for a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) to legally perform expanded functions such as pit-and-fissure sealants and ultrasonic scaling — duties unlicensed assistants in that state cannot perform (Dental Board of California).
• Dental hygienists provide direct patient care, including examining patients for oral diseases and preventive care such as teeth cleanings.
• Exercise physiologists design fitness programs that help patients recover from injuries, disease and illness. They work for hospitals and clinics or may be self-employed.
• Medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians use diagnostic imaging equipment to perform patient tests. They usually work in hospitals, doctors’ offices or laboratories.
• Nuclear medicine technologists administer radioactive drugs to patients used for imaging and treatment. This includes explaining procedures to patients, preparing radioactive drugs for use and supporting physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
• Athletic trainers often work in educational settings, hospitals, clinics and workout centers or for sports teams. They help prevent, diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses that affect bones and muscles.
• Speech-language pathologists diagnose and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. They work in schools, hospitals, private practices and rehabilitation centers (ASHA).
• Occupational therapists treat a variety of patient injuries, disabilities and illnesses using therapeutic activities. They can work in schools, homes or any health-related institution.

Potential Benefits of Being an Allied Health Professional

Allied health career benefits include the diversity of roles that are available to you within the profession. Depending on the role, your work environment may not be limited to healthcare facilities. You can also select a career path with direct patient contact or indirect care roles.

Flexibility

Allied health careers offer a high degree of flexibility compared to many other healthcare jobs. Allied health career training varies widely, from traditional degree programs to certifications.

While an audiologist, for example, may need a more traditional degree, a medical assistant or pharmacy technician may simply need certification. This can allow you to quickly gain the right allied health training to jumpstart your career.

Career Satisfaction

Many people find working in healthcare rewarding. Those working in allied health jobs play a critical role in the care and treatment of patients.

They may touch every aspect of the healthcare industry, from offering diagnostic services to working alongside the medical team to improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Competitive Salary

An allied health salary depends on many factors, including location, industry, experience, education level and the specific role. There is a large range of salaries within the allied health field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for audiologists was $95,780 in May 2025, while dental assistants had a median annual wage of $48,070.

Meanwhile, healthcare support occupations had a median annual wage of $38,340 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Skill Improvement

As with all healthcare roles, a good base education and continuing education is a key component of any allied health career. This may include education that is specific to your field, such as learning new skills and procedures to help provide elevated levels of care.

Continuing to improve communication-related skills is also important since allied health careers involve communicating with patients and working with extended healthcare teams.