Allied Healthcare Careers Quick Reference

Occupation
Salary Range
Program Length (note prerequisite information)
Cert/License
Demand
Certified Nursing Assist
$14-20/hr
160 hours (offered at community colleges, voc/tech, and adult ed centers--no entry requirements)
State Cert

Low (acute care) / Moderate (skilled care)

Clinical Lab Scientist
$34-44/hr
1-1.5 years (post-bacc program with 4-6 prerequisites)
State license
High
Medical Lab Technician
$17-25/hr
2 years (2-4 prerequisites)
State license
Unknown
Dental Assistant
$13-24/hr
5-24 months (depending on community or voc/tech program)
State registration recommended
Moderate
Dental Hygienist
$25-55/hr
2 years (4-6 prerequisites + waiting period for admission)
State license
Moderate
Dental Lab Tech
$12-21/hr
4-12 months (voc/tech only)
Cert of completion
Very Low
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
$37-46/hr
*1.5-3.5 years (can be offered in conjunction with radiologic technology training or as a certificate program)
State license/natl cert
Moderate (small occupation)
EKG Technician
$15-19/hr
5-12 months (program is usually completed in conjunction with Medical Assisting or Phlebotomy--program completion time will vary)
Cert of completion
Very Low
Emergency Med Tech
$10-18/hr
~6 months (usually completed as a part-time course of study)
State cert/natl cert
Moderate (high turnover)
Home Health Aide
$8.50-15/hr
CNA + 40 additional training hours (offered at community colleges and adult ed programs--can be completed in <3 months)
State cert
High (per diem)
Licensed Vocational Nurse
$25-31/hr
*1.5 years (offered at community and voc/tech colleges-prerequisites range from 0-4 depending on training program)
State license
Low-Moderate
Massage Therapist
$15-35/hr
6-18 months (offered at community and voc/tech colleges--prerequisite requirements vary)
Business License
Low-Moderate (small occupation)
Medical Assistants
$14-20/hr
5-24 months (offered at community and voc/tech colleges--introductory courses may be required prior to enrollment depending on program)
Recommended nat'l certification
Moderate (declining)
Medical Biller/Coder
$16-22/hr
6-12 months (offered at community and voc/tech colleges and adult ed programs--externship placements may have long waiting periods resulting in delay in program completion)
Certificate of completion
Low-Moderate (declining)
Medical Records/Health Info Tech
$17-25/hr
6-12 months (community and voc/tech colleges and adult ed programs--prerequisites not usually required; may need to demonstrate computer proficiency)
Certificate of completion
Low (EMR experience in demand)
Medical Transcriptionist
$18-24/hr
5-12 months (offered at community and voc/tech colleges)
Certificate of completion
Low
Occupational Therapist
$32-44/hr
*2 years (This is a Master of Science program)
State license
Moderate-high (growing)
Occupational Therapist Assistant
$21-29/hr
2 year associate degree
State license
Moderate (growing)
Opticians, Dispensing
$19-24/hr
1 year and/or OJT (voc/tech colleges)
Recommended nat'l cert
Very Low
Optometrists
$44-62/hr
Bachelors degree plus *3 years (Clinical doctorate program)
State license/nat'l cert
Low
Orthotist/Prosthetist
$20-31/hr
1 year (Post-bacc credential)
National certification
Low (small occupation)
Pharmacy Aide
$10.5-14/hr
On the Job Training
N/A
Low
Pharmacy Tech
$17-23/hr
6-12 mos (offered at community and voc/tech colleges and adult ed programs--prerequisites may not be required)
State license/reg
Low
Phlebotomist
$17-23/hr
8-24 months (community and voc/tech colleges--prerequisites vary by program)
State certification
Moderate (declining)
Physical Therapist
$34-44/hr
*2 years (Master's program)
State license
High (growing)
Physical Therapist Aide
$12-16/hr
On the Job Training (Prior healthcare experience often preferred and English fluency is usually required)
No
Moderate (growing)
Physical Therapist Assistants
$23-31/hr
2 years (A.S. degree program)
State License
Moderate (growing)
Physician Assistant
$40-51/hr
*1.5-2 years (Master's degree program--prerequisites are extensive and admission is usually competitive)
State license
Moderate (growing)
Radiologic Technologist
$31- 43/hr
*2 years (offered at community colleges and select hospital-based programs--2-6 prerequisites depending on program)
State license
High
Registered Nurse
$39-55/hr
*2-4 yrs (offered at community and state colleges--4-6 prerequisites))
State license
Very High
Respiratory Therapist
$32- 38/hr
2 years (offered at community and state colleges--3-5 prerequisites prior to admission)
State license
High
Speech Language Pathologist
$34- 43/hr
*2-3 years (this occupation currently requires a minimum of a masters degree for practice, but a clinical doctorate is recommended)
State license
Moderate (growing)
Sterile Processing Tech
$11-19/hr
6-12 months (voc/tech colleges and adult ed centers--prerequisites not required)
Certificate of completion
Low-Moderate (trend unclear)
Surgical Technologist
$21-30/hr
*6-12 months (offered at community and voc/tech colleges--prerequisites may be required at the community college level)
Recommended national cert
Moderate (small occupation - trend unclear)