What are the 14 Allied Health Professions?
The Allied Health Professions are the third largest workforce in the NHS. They are degree level professions and provide high-quality care to patients and clients across a wide range of care pathways and settings.
Progression to Higher Education with a Level 3 qualification, such as the Level 3 National in BTEC Health and Social Care, can be the foundation block for careers within the Allied Health Professions.
Learn more about each career pathway
Art Therapists
Do you have a passion for creating and making things? Are you interested in how we communicate or express ourselves? Do you enjoy helping people?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy which uses art as its main mode of self-expression and communication. Art therapists can work with a wide range of patients who are affected by a variety of issues, including mental health problems, behavioural difficulties, learning disabilities and life-limiting conditions.
You'll need to be:
- Creative
- Caring
- Resilient
- Mature
- A good communicator
- Patient
- Thoughtful
Dramatherapists
Do you enjoy storytelling and perfoming? Do you want to help people express themselves?
Dramatherapy uses role play, voice work, movement and storytelling to help people solve personal and social problems. With the use of theatre and drama-based activities, dramatherapists can observe and explore the behaviour, attitudes and emotions of individuals experiencing emotional or mental health problems.
You'll need to be:
- Creative
- Resilient
- Mature
- Able to improvise
- Full of ideas
- A good communicator
- Thoughtful
- Able to show acting skills
Music therapists
Do you have a passion for music? Do you want to help people improve their well-being?
Music therapy uses the power of music to help people deal with feelings they cannot put into words, and help them relieve stress and build confidence. Music therapists use a wide range of musical styles and genres with people of all ages.
You'll need to be:
- Musical
- Creative
- Intuitive
- Imaginative
- A good communicator
- Flexible
- Resourceful
- Non-judgemental
- Resilient
- Sensitive
Chiropodists/podiatrists
Do you enjoy working with your hands? Do you want improve peoples' quality of life?
Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot and ankle problems and provide care for a wide range of patients. Podiatrists can work at a GP practice, in the community, and in an NHS or private hospital.
You'll need to be:
- A good communicator
- Approachable
- Thoughtful
- Thorough
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- Resourceful
Dietitians
Are you passionate about health and nutrition? Do you want to guide people to a healthy lifestyle? Do you enjoy meeting new people?
Dietitians promote good health and prevent disease in individuals and communities. Combining scientific and medical research with food and health, dietitians provide practical guidance for the general public and could work in hospitals, the community, or privately.
You'll need to be:
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- A good listener
- Thorough
- A good communicator
- Patient
- Independent
Occupational therapists
Are you passionate about helping people? Do you want to make a difference to peoples' lives?
Occupational therapists help people who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, issues with social development, illness, trauma, or ageing.
You'll need to be:
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- Non-judgemental
- Resourceful
- Flexible
- Patient
- A good communicator
- Resilient
Operating Department Practitioners
Do you have an interest in surgery and the medical environment? Are you passionate about helping people?
Operating department practitioners play a major role in each phase of a person's operation and provide support with the anaesthetic, surgery and recovery phases.
You'll need to be:
- Patient
- Level-headed
- Calm under pressure
- Understanding
- Sensitive
- Flexible
- Thorough
- A good listener
Orthoptists
Are you fascinated by how things work? Do you want to help people? Are you interested in a career of diagnosis and treatment?
Orthoptists diagnose and treat eye movement disorders and visual impairments and spot serious neurological conditions, like MS and Parkinson's disease.
You'll need to be:
- Organised
- Detail-orientated
- A good decision maker
- A good communicator
- A team-player
- Calm
- Patient
- Sensitive
Osteopaths
Are you passionate about improving peoples' physical well-being? Do you want to understand how the body works?
Osteopaths move, stretch and massage their clients' muscles and joints with the aim of improving their health and wellbeing. Osteopaths spend a substantial amount of time with their patients and provide care that includes manual therapy, physical therapy and health advice.
You'll need to be:
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- Able to work well with your hands
- Friendly
- Patient
- Analytical
- Calm
- Coordinated
Paramedics
Are you excited by fast-paced and high-pressure situations? Are you passionate about helping people in life or death circumstances?
Paramedics are the senior ambulance service healthcare professionals at an accident or medical emergency. They react quickly and give people life-saving medical help.
You'll need to be:
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- Patient
- Reactive
- Flexible
- Level-headed
- Quick-thinking
- A good communicator
Physiotherapists
Do you want to work with people to improve their physical well-being? Are you driven by problem-solving and seeing results?
Physiotherapists promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being. They use manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and other physical approaches to help people with their specific physical needs.
You'll need to be:
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- A team-player
- Patient
- Calm
- Analytical
- Flexible
- Problem-solving
Prosthetists and Orthotists
Do you want to help people with their mobility? Are you interested in technology and building things?
Prosthetists and orthotists use the latest technology to create and fit artificial limbs or aids, transforming patients' lives by helping them to run or walk better, or simply stand without pain.
You'll need to be:
- A good communicator
- Practical
- Good with your hands
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- Thorough
- Patient
Radiographers
Are you passionate about helping people? Do you have an interest in life-saving technological equipment?
Radiographers use cutting-edge technology to diagnose or treat patients who are ill or injured. Diagnostic radiographers diagnose injury or disease while Therapeutic radiographers play a vital role in the treatment of cancer.
You'll need to be:
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- Thorough
- Accurate
- A good listener
- Focused
- Analytical
- Logical
- Level-headed
Speech and language therapists
Are you an excellent communicator? Do you have a passion for helping people? Do you want to make a difference to peoples' lives?
Speech and language therapists work with children and adults to help them overcome speech disorders or issues with language, communication and swallowing.
You'll need to be:
- Sensitive
- Understanding
- A good listener
- Patient
- Persuasive
- A good communicator
- Flexible
- Friendly
- Personable