Following secondary education, certificate programs allow students to pursue education and qualification on specific subjects. Over the course of a few months to a year, learners can strengthen their career background, supplement it with related expertise or prepare for a new field.

Medical students may wonder, “What is a certificate in allied health?” This refers to a broad category of programs designed to provide knowledge and practical experience with clinical or individual medical work. Depending on the particular field and specialty students pursue, courses can cover subjects such as medical billing and coding, personal assistance and support for patients with chronic conditions, or preparation and usage of medical testing equipment. The program may complement online or campus classes with practical work in a medical environment.

Through earning a certificate in allied health, medical scholars can develop valuable skills in clinical or assistant work. Possible benefits range from refining interpersonal and technical writing skills to informed decision-making, including in stressful situations.

Programs for obtaining a certificate in allied health can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to complete. Between this, and the general differences between schools and universities, interested individuals should be ready to look into potential costs for registration and tuition at institutions of their choice.

Depending on the specialization, a certificate in allied health can prepare learners for medical careers in clinical, technical or assistive positions. For those with an aptitude for accounting and documentation, medical coders and transcriptionists are often in demand. As an example of a more technical role, diagnostic medical personnel use scientific procedures and testing equipment to assist in the identification and evaluation of medical conditions in patients. Finally, students more interested in personalized patient care may pursue careers as medical assistants or physical therapists.

Most institutions with medical schools offer programs geared toward earning a certificate in allied health, with a variety of online and on-campus options between them. To begin, search for your program below and contact directly the admission office of the school of your choice by filling in the lead form.