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Allied health professionals play a vital role in patient care. Some deliver services that help identify, evaluate and prevent disorders and diseases. Others administer therapies to manage conditions and help patients recover from injuries and procedures. You can find allied health workers in hospitals, diagnostic imaging centers, clinics, long-term care facilities, private practices and home health services, among others.
Certification and licensing are two key concerns for allied health professionals. A license is a state-issued credential that a professional needs to work legally in allied health careers within that state. A certification is a credential awarded to professionals who meet specific requirements, such as completing an approved education program and passing an examination.
Some states require certification to gain licensure. In other places, certification may be voluntary. However, earning professional certifications can open the doors to higher-paying allied health jobs, as many employers prefer to hire certified allied health professionals. Explore the allied health certifications that are currently available and learn more about the top specialties in allied healthcare.
Top Allied Health Specialties
If you’re interested in allied health careers, seeking certification in a top specialty can lead to a higher rate of pay or an easier time finding employment. Refer to the table below for some of the highest-paying allied health specialties.
| Allied health specialty | Average annual wages | Salary range |
| Cath Lab Technicians | $92,717 | $51,500 to $128,500 |
| Occupational Therapists | $92,159 | $39,000 to $149,000 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $92,093 | $42,000 to $146,500 |
| Clinical Laboratory Scientists | $91,309 | $31,500 to $147,000 |
| Physical Therapists | $89,349 | $47,000 to $135,000 |
| Echocardiograph Technicians | $89,340 | $60,500 to $121,000 |
| Interventional Radiology Technicians | $88,807 | $52,500 to $129,500 |
| Cardiovascular Surgical Technicians | $85,391 | $32,500 to $153,500 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technicians | $84,341 | $48,500 to $125,500 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $81,160 | $51,500 to $117,500 |
Source: Vivian Health
Government agencies expect the demand for many allied health specialties to increase over the next decade. Specifically, the Health Resources & Services Administration or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies these specialties as those likely to be among the fastest-growing through 2031 with the following increases expected:
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: 14.7%
- Physical Therapists: 16.9%
- Physical Therapy Assistants: 26.5%
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: 14.7%
- Occupational Therapists: 13.9%
- Occupational Therapy Assistants: 25.4%
- Phlebotomists: 10.2%
- Psychiatric Technicians: 10.9%
- Respiratory Therapists: 13.6%
- Speech-Language Pathologists: 21.3%
List of Allied Health Certifications
There are dozens of certifications available for qualified allied health professionals. Refer to this table to explore options for various allied health specialties. Select any certification to learn more about requirements.
| Allied Health Certification | Certifying Body | Allied Health Specialty | Cost | Renewal Time Frame |
| Diagnostic Imaging | American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) | Clinical Medical Physicists | $880 to $1,600 | 5 years |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | ABMP | Clinical Medical Physicists | $880 to $1,600 | 5 years |
| Medical Health | ABMP | Clinical Medical Physicists | $880 to $1,600 | 5 years |
| MRI for Radiation Therapy | ABMP | Clinical Medical Physicists | $1,240 | 5 years |
| Advanced Cardiac Sonographer | Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) | Echocardiograph Technicians | $450 | Varies |
| Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians | National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) |
Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics | $136 | 2 to 3 years |
| Advanced Radiology Life Support | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | Allied health workers in the radiology department | $275 | N/A |
| American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technicians | $350 | 3 years |
| Technologist in Blood Banking | American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) | Medical Technologists | $240 | 3 years |
| Board Certified Behavioral Analyst | Behavior Analyst Certification Board | Behavioral Analysts | $245 | 2 years |
| Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist | Board of Pharmacy Specialties | Pharmacists | $600 | 7 years |
| Bone Densitometry Radiologic Technologist | American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) | Radiology Technologists | $225 | Annually |
| Biomedical Equipment Technician | Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) | Biomedical Equipment Technicians | $350 to $400 | 5 years |
| Breast Sonography Radiologic Technologist | ARRT | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $225 | 1 year |
| Certified Associate in Biomedical Technology | AAMI | Entry-level healthcare technology management professionals | $225 to $275 | 5 years |
| Certificate in Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery | National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Dermatology | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Emergency Medicine | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Hospital Medicine | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Nephrology | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Orthopaedic Surgery | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Pediatrics | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| CAQ in Psychiatry | NCCPA | Physician Assistants | $350 | 10 years |
| Certified Autism Specialist | International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards | Allied health professionals working with patients on the autism spectrum | $495 | 2 years |
| Technologist in Chemistry | ASCP | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $240 | 3 years |
| Certified Ambulatory Surgery Sterile Processing Technicians | Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) | Sterile Processing Technicians | $128 | 5 years |
| Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician | AAMI | Biomedical Equipment Technicians | $375 to $425 | 3 years |
| Certified Cardiac Device Specialist | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) | Electrophysiology Technicians | $1,195 to $1,475 | 10 years |
| Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician | Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) | Dialysis Technicians | $225 | 3 years |
| Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician – Advanced | NNCC | Experienced Dialysis Technicians | $250 | 3 years |
| Certified Cardiographic Technician | CCI | Electrocardiograph Technicians | $175 | Varies |
| Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist | IBHRE | Electrophysiology Technicians | $755 to $799 | 10 years |
| Certified Electrophysiology Specialist | IBHRE | Electrophysiology Technicians | $950 to $1,165 | 10 years |
| Certified Endoscope Reprocessor | Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) | Sterile Processing Technicians | $25 | 1 year |
| Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor | CBSPD | Sterile Processing Technicians | $128 | 5 years |
| Technologist in Cytogenetics | ASCP | Cytogenetics Technologists | $225 | 3 years |
| Certified Health Education Specialist | National Commission for Health Education Credentialing | Allied health professionals working as educators | $225 to $385 | 1 year |
| Certified Healthcare Leader | HSPA | Sterile Processing Technicians | $125 | 1 year |
| Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician | Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology | Dialysis Technicians | $225 to $250 | 4 years |
| Certified Healthcare Technology Manager | AAMI | Allied health professionals specializing in healthcare technology | $450 to $525 | 3 years |
| Cardiac-Interventional Radiography Radiologic Technologist | ARRT | Interventional Radiology Technologists | $225 | 1 year |
| Certified Instrument Specialist | HSPA | Sterile Processing Technicians | $125 | 1 year |
| Certified Industrial Sterilization Specialist | AAMI | Sterile Processing Technicians | $600 to $700 | 3 years |
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | ASCP | Clinical Laboratory Scientists | $9,708 to $25,566 | 3 years |
| Certified Medical Audit Specialist | Council for Certification of Medical Auditors | Medical Coding and Billing Specialists | $299 | 3 years |
| Certified Medical Administrative Specialist | American Medical Technologists (AMT) | Medical Administrative Assistants | $135 | 3 years |
| Certified Medical Dosimetrist | Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board | Dosimetrists | $575 | 1 year |
| Certified Medical Laboratory Assistant | AMT | Medical Laboratory Technician | $135 | 3 years |
| Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) | Nuclear Medicine Technicians | $175 | 1 year |
| Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant | National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy | Occupational Therapy Assistants | $515 to $555 | 3 or 4 years |
| Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist | National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) | Respiratory Therapists | $200 | 5 years |
| Certified Pharmacy Technician | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board | Pharmacy Technicians | $129 | 2 years |
| Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician | CCI | Electrocardiograph Technicians | $175 | 3 years |
| Certified Registered Central Service Technician | HSPA | Sterile Processing Technicians | $125 | 1 year |
| Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist | AAMI | Biomedical Equipment Technicians | $375 to $425 | 3 years |
| Certified Respiratory Therapist | NBRC | Respiratory Therapists | $190 | 5 years |
| Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialist | NBRC | Respiratory Therapists | $180 to $250 | 5 years |
| Sleep Disorders Specialist | NBRC | Respiratory Therapists | $300 | 5 years |
| Certified Surgical First Assistant | National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting | Surgical First Assistants | $190 to $225 | 2 years |
| Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician | CBSPD | Sterile Processing Technicians | $128 | 5 years |
| Certified Specialist in Poison Information | American Association of Poison Control Centers | Allied health professionals employed by poison control centers | $250 | N/A |
| CSPM Certified Sterile Processing Management | CBSPD | Sterile Processing Technicians | $153 | 5 years |
| Certified in Thanatology | Association for Death Education and Counseling | Allied health professionals providing support for terminally ill patients and their families | $380 to $599 | 3 years |
| Computed Tomography Radiologic Technologist | ARRT | Computed Tomography Technologists | $450 | 1 year |
| Cytotechnologist | ASCP | Medical Laboratory Technician | $95 | 3 years |
| Computed Tomography | NMTCB | Computed Tomography Technologists | $185 | 1 year |
| Cardiovascular-Interventional Radiography RT | ARRT | Interventional Radiology Technologists | $30 | 1 year |
| Diplomate in Laboratory Management | ASCP | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | $405 | 3 years |
| Certified EKG Technician | National Healthcare Association | Electrocardiograph Technicians | $117 | 2 years |
| Emergency Medical Technicians | NREMT | Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics | $98 | 2 to 3 years |
| Technologist in Hematology | ASCP | Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $240 | 3 years |
| Histotechnician | ASCP | Histology Technicians | $215 | 3 years |
| Histotechnologist | ASCP | Histology Technicians | $215 | 3 years |
| Licensed Psychiatric Technician | National Board for Certified Counselors | Behavioral Health Technicians | Varies | N/A |
| Mammography Radiologic Technologist | ARRT | Mammography Technicians | $225 | 1 year |
| Medical RDCS AE RDMS Adult EchocardiographyTechnologist | AMT | Medical Technologists | $235 | 3 years |
| Nuclear Medicine Technology Radiologic Technologist | ARRT | Nuclear Medicine Technicians | $250 | 1 year |
| Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer | CCI | Echocardiograph Technicians | $365 | Varies |
| Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist | CCI | Electrophysiology Technicians | $365 | 3 years |
| Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist | CCI | Cardiac Catheterization Technologist | $365 | 3 years |
| Registered Cardiac Sonographer | CCI | Echocardiograph Technicians | $365 | Varies |
| Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) with Adult Echocardiography Specialty | American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) | Echocardiograph Technicians | $250 | 5 years |
| RDCS with Fetal Echocardiography Specialty | ARDMS | Echocardiograph Technicians | $250 | 1 year |
| Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) with Abdomen Specialty | ARDMS | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $250 | 4 years |
| RDMS with Breast Specialty | ARDMS | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $250 | 4 years |
| RDMS with Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialty | ARDMS | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $250 | N/A |
| RDMS with Pediatric Echocardiography Specialty | ARDMS | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers or Echocardiograph Technicians | $250 | 3 years |
| RDMS with Pediatric Sonography Specialty | ARDMS | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $250 | 1 year |
| RDMS with Musculoskeletal Sonography Specialty | ARDMS | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $250 | N/A |
| Registered Vascular Technologist | ARDMS | Vascular Technologists | $475 | 1 year |
| Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist | NBRC | Respiratory Therapists | $160 to $200 | 5 years |
| Registered Phlebology Sonographer | CCI | Vascular Interventional Technologists | Varies | Varies |
| Registered Polysomnographic Technologist | Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists | Polysomnography Technicians | $450 | 2 years |
| Registered Phlebotomy Technician | AMT | Phlebotomists | $125 to $155 | 3 years |
| Registered Radiologist Assistant RT | ARRT | Radiology Technologists | $225 | 1 year |
| Registered Respiratory Therapist | NBRC | Respiratory Therapists | $350 to $390 | 5 years |
| Registered Respiratory Therapist Adult Critical Care Specialty | NBRC | Respiratory Therapists | $300 | 5 years |
| Sonography RT | ARRT | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $225 | 1 year |
| Specialist in Blood Banking | ASCP | Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $290 | 3 years |
| Specialist in Chemistry | ASCP | Medical Laboratory Scientists | $290 | 3 years |
| Specialist in Cytotechnology | ASCP | Cytogenetics Technologists | $215 | 3 years |
| Specialist in Cytometry | ASCP | Medical Technologists | $290 | 3 years |
| Specialist in Hematology | ASCP | Medical Laboratory Technicians or Clinical Laboratory Assistants | $290 | 3 years |
| Specialist in Microbiology | ASCP | Medical Laboratory Scientist | $290 | 3 years |
| Specialist in Molecular Biology | ASCP | Medical Laboratory Scientist | $290 | 3 years |
| Radiation Therapy RT | ARRT | Radiation Therapists | $225 | 1 year |
| Vascular-Interventional Radiography RT | ARRT | Vascular Interventional Technologists | $225 | 1 year |
| Vascular Sonography RT | ARRT | Vascular Technologists | $225 | 1 year |
