Allied health is an aspect of healthcare that is distinct from dentistry, medicine and nursing. Allied health professionals account for more than fifty percent of the healthcare workforce worldwide, and they provide the diagnostic, direct patient care, support, technical and therapeutic services that are pivotal components in any modern healthcare system.
Allied Health Professions
Defining allied health professions is not a simple task because that definition varies, in some cases greatly, between contexts and countries. Generally, any health care provider in a profession that requires a post-secondary degree or higher and is in a field distinct from dentistry, medicine and nursing is an allied health professional. Some countries limit the definition to those professions that require registration by law.
Allied Health Schools and Degrees
The reason definition is an important consideration is because of the diverse educational opportunities. This is less of a consideration if, for instance, a person plans to attend an allied health school in the UK and then work in the UK. The consideration is crucial, however, if one plans to school in the UK but work in Australia or vice versa. Recently, this has become a greater topic of discussion due to the increasing prevalence of allied health schools online.
Allied Health Schools Online
As with most forms of secondary education, Internet-based schools of allied health are becoming an extremely popular alternative to land-based schools. Our modern lives are extremely busy, and online education allows us to further our career or change it with the least amount of disruption in the process.
The one major issue, as previously discussed, is compatibility. One solution is to focus on schools based in the location where you plan to work. So if you plan to work in New Zealand, then narrow your focus to NZ-based schools of allied health. Of course, this limits you in terms of price, services, resources and so forth. Fortunately, as the online education system evolves, many allied health schools have taken it upon themselves to fashion programs based on location.
The Benefit of Allied Health Schools Online
The greatest benefit is that the student attends classes from the comfort of their home, and in many cases, can complete the entire program in this manner. Another benefit is that the schedule is fluid, so the student can adjust it to his or her lifestyle. Thirdly, since an online school has much less overhead, an online allied health education is substantially cheaper than one achieved through traditional means. However, like traditional schools, online schools offer scholarships and grants, and help students achieve private loans.
Enrollment and Time Commitment
With traditional schools of allied health, enrollment occurs once or twice per year. Allied health schools online, however, can offer enrollment to any student at any time due the fluid nature of the system. Typically, courses are four weeks in length and students can complete the program in ten months, at the default pace. Most online students, however, will not attend as a full-time student, and will thus take longer to finish.
Admission Requirements
All allied health schools, online and traditional, require a high school diploma or equivalent. Some schools have programs in place that allow the student to achieve that equivalent first. All schools require the guardian to co-sign the enrollment agreement if the student is under 18 years of age. In addition, most schools require an application submitted online, a phone interview with an admission representative and an entrance examination and evaluation.
Examination and Evaluation
This process varies between schools, but typically, the two primary components are a basic computer competency evaluation and the Scholastic Level Exam-Quicktest (SLE-Q). The SLE-Q is an online test administered by the Wonderlic Educational Solution, which ensures high school-level proficiency. Some schools do waive this requirement for courses and programs that do not result in a diploma.
Job Placement
Many students begin their allied health education without securing post-education employment. Fortunately, most allied schools have programs that help the student find employment in their chosen field and location. For most students, job placement services should be a priority in choosing a school. Speak to a counselor prior to enrollment, and this way you can commit with some confidence that there will be jobs in your field in the location that you desire.