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What are the Best Allied Health Certifications to Advance Your Career?

Demand for allied professionals is surging, making this the perfect time to focus on career growth — and earning new certifications is a great way to do just that. Here's what you need to know about allied health certifications, which ones to get, and how they can help take your career to new places. 

  • Looking for a new allied health job? Browse hundreds of per diem, travel, and local contract jobs here

How to Advance Your Career with Allied Health Certifications

From therapists and technologists to aides and assistants, allied health includes a huge range of careers that support clinical teams in diagnosing patient conditions, providing treatment and prevention programs, and much more.

This is important work, proven by the increasing demand (and salaries) for allied professionals. And the smart way to make sure you're getting the most from these opportunities is by earning allied health certifications that show off your skills and experience. 

Do you need to get allied health certifications?

Some allied health jobs (like therapists) require a state-issued licenses, while others (mostly techs) only require getting a degree or passing an exam.

So, for many of these jobs, going through an allied certificate program isn’t required. Instead, it’s voluntary — something you can do to improve your chances of landing a job, advancing into a higher position, or earning more.  

How does allied health certification work?

Most allied health certificate programs require you to pass a training course, usually for a fee of a few hundred dollars. (This is usually tax deductible, and, in some cases, your employer may pay for it on your behalf.) You may also need some work experience or a license to qualify. 

Every allied profession also has a different set of certifications. Check with your state board (or your local job listings) to see what's required where you live — and then browse our list of allied health certificates below for more info on each.

Allied Health Certifications: The Basics

Even allied health jobs that don't require professional certification may still require basic life-saving certificates (especially therapy jobs). So, for almost every allied career on this list, it's a good idea to have:

Allied Health Certifications for Technicians and Technologists

Certifications aren't usually required for tech jobs. But passing the certificate programs listed below can help you specialize in certain fields, improve your job prospects, and help you stand out among other applicants for competitive jobs.

Behavioral health technicians

Cath lab technologists

Dialysis techs

PRO TIP: Dialysis is one of our most in-demand specialties! Learn more here.

Electrophysiology / EKG / telemetry monitor technicians

Emergency medical technicians

 

Medical and clinical lab technicians

Nuclear medicine technologists

 

Patient care technicians

Pharmacy technicians

Radiology technologists

Sterile processing and endoscopy technicians

Surgical technologists

Allied Health Certifications for Therapists

Almost all types of therapists must be licensed to work in every state. (As noted above, BLS or ACLS certification are usually required, too.) And getting the certifications listed here will help you specialize and advance your career.

Physical therapy

  • Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology, Geriatrics, Neurology, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, Sports, Women's Health, and Wound Management certifications from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Occupational therapy

Speech therapy

Respiratory therapy

Allied Health Certifications for Medical Assistants

Allied Health Certifications for Education, Coding, and Management Positions

Earning certain allied health certifications can also let you move into other fields on the same career path, like education, administration, or medical coding.

Put Your Allied Health Certifications to Work with HealthTrust Workforce Solutions

Once you've earned your allied health certifications, we're here to help you get the most from them! At HealthTrust, we specialize in placing allied professionals like you with the jobs that best match your skills, experience, and personal preferences. See what's available — browse hundreds of allied health jobs now.

Search Open Allied Jobs Now

Topics: Allied Health

  

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