Since most allied health careers are specialized, the most important first step when choosing an allied health college is deciding which career to chose. Determining your financial budget and time allocated for advanced studies are also important factors. Many allied health professionals can attended a specialized school, or what is known as a technical school, where they gained the education specific for their career of choice. Others, on the other hand, attend college and attain a bachelor’s degree before moving onto the area of career interest.
Which allied health college to choose depends on also the level you wish to attain. In other words, assistants or technicians, such as ultrasound technicians or medical assistants, can normally finish up training in less than four years of higher education. Depending on the career chosen, some require less than one year to complete. Some allied health technologists require at least an associate degree, which involves a two-year school commitment. Many wishing to attain a therapist level in an allied health college usually need to commit between four to seven years to their education after high school.
When choosing an allied health college, one requirement you should be adamant about is its accreditation. Since there is such diversity in each allied health program, you should research prospective schools. The allied health program you choose should be a CCAHEP accredited school. CCAHEP is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Education Programs.
Though not mandatory for some allied health careers, attending an accredited school assure that the quality of education received and the quality of educators teaching meet with the standards for the health care profession. Accreditation also assures the employers and fellow professionals of your qualifications once you start your professional career. Accredited allied health programs also assure you to be eligible to sit for any certification or licensing exams that may be necessary to practice in the chosen profession.
The typical allied health college is a traditional college setting. Many do offer financial aid. Today, however, there are many online programs available to cater to busy working adults. Check for their CCAHEP accreditation as only a select few offer such accreditation. Make sure, if choosing an online school, that you still can attain the level of training necessary to excel at your chosen profession as there are some allied health some professions, such as massage therapy, in which it is unwise to attend an online school, as hands-on practice is vital to your success.
