Which Allied Health Path Interests You?

• • Medical assistants provide support to doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals with routine administrative and clinical duties. A 160-hour externship working in a medical office is required for certification.
  • Nursing assistants work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse to perform basic nursing duties and assist patients with their daily health care needs. Certification requires completion of 40 hours in a skilled nursing facility.
  • Phlebotomists collect blood from finger sticks or with a needle from veins or arteries, verify patient information, label specimen vials, and submit specimens for further processing or testing. Phlebotomy technician training requires completion of 120 hours in a clinical laboratory setting.
  • Medical laboratory assistants collect and process patient specimens — urine, blood, cultures, etc. — to assist with diagnosis. Certification requires students be at least 18 years of age and complete a minimum of 150 hours in a clinical laboratory setting.  
  • Medical coding and billing specialists provide diagnostic and procedural coding and billing services in settings such as clinics, physician offices, hospitals, managed care organizations, and private billing or insurance companies.
  • Patient care technicians work alongside doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in providing direct patient care in a variety of settings. They perform personal care to complex patients and implement portions of a care plan, such as respiratory and rehabilitation services, EKG, and phlebotomy, under the supervision of a registered nurse.
  • Dental assistants help provide oral healthcare, X-ray imaging, and other clinical procedures as part of a professional dental team.