Allied Health Science Courses, Universities & Careers

This year has taught us the importance of healthcare professionals, they have acted as saviours for us. Medicine is one of the noblest professions and a booming career because the demand for doctors or medical practitioners is never going to decrease. There are a number of medical courses which you can take up to enter the medical industry, one such course is the Allied Health Science course. This blog covers everything about this course, so keep reading.

What is an Allied Health Science Course?

Allied Health Practitioners are a separate group of health practitioners who apply their skills to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate people of all ages and all specialities from transmitting diseases. They will provide direct medical care, recovery, medication, diagnostics and health development measures along with a range of technical and support personnel to recover and sustain optimum physical, sensory, psychological, cognitive and social functions. Allied health sciences deal with all sorts of medical diagnostic techniques (e.g. blood analysis, histopathology, pathological analysis, radiography) that are used in the medical field and are very relevant to patient care. The role of allied health workers in providing effective care has become critical with diagnosis based on technology.

Allied Health Science Courses

Here is a list of popular courses in this field: 

• B. Sc Microbiology
• Bachelor of Optometry
• B. Sc Nutrition & Dietetics
• B. Sc Radio-Imaging Technology
• B. Sc Neuro-physiology Technology
• B. Sc Operation Theater Technology
• B. Sc Medical Laboratory Technology
• B. Sc Cardiac Care Technology
• B. Sc Renal Dialysis
• Master of Optometry
• M. Sc Nutrition & Dietetics
• M. Sc Radio-Imaging Technology
• M. Sc Operation Theater Technology
• M. Sc Medical Laboratory Technology
• M. Sc Microbiology
• PhD Nutrition & Dietetics
• PhD Microbiology
• PhD Radio Imaging & Technology

Also Read: Everything About BSc in Allied Health Science

Eligibility Criteria

• Students planning to pursue Allied Health Science courses must belong to the science stream. 
• Biology is an obligatory subject for certain related medical disciplines.
• Applicants are shortlisted for admission to good institutions based on their results at the +2 level. Therefore, a high aggregate percentage is significant. So, in all subjects, the student should strive to score high. Biology may be given special importance as some courses separately require a good score in biology.
• To be able to evaluate and interpret data and take decisions, Allied medical science students should learn strong critical thinking capacity and research skills. To take up this career area, the ability to persevere in difficult conditions and strong physical endurance are both necessary requirements.
• Most institutions demand a minimum of 50 per cent or above in aggregate for admission to undergraduate courses. In Biology, some courses may also require a separate minimum 50 per cent requirement.
• Indian universities also conduct entrance examinations as a part of the admission process. 
• Universities abroad might ask for proficiency tests like IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, SAT, ACT, etc. depending on the course you are applying for.

Top Colleges for Allied Health Science in India 

Here is the list of popular Indian institutes offering Allied Health Science courses: 

Name of Exam	Universities/Colleges	Application period	Exam Dates
AIIMS Entrance Exams	AIIMS (New Delhi and others)	November to January	In the month of June
Indian Army BSc Nursing Entrance Exam	College of Nursing, AFMC Pune College of Nursing, CH (EC) Kolkata College of Nursing, INHS Asvini College of Nursing, AH (R&R), New Delhi College of Nursing, CH (CC), Lucknow School of Nursing, CH (AF), Bangalore	November	January
LBS Kerala Post Basic BSc Nursing Admission Test	Govt. College of Nursing, Thiruvananthapuram Govt. College of Nursing, Ernakulam Nursing Self-Financing Colleges under SMIET (Kochi, Kannur & Palghat) Nursing Private Self-Financing Colleges	2nd week to 4th week of June	July
Kerala BPharm lateral entry Admission test (For DPharm holders)	College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical College (Trivandrum, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Alappuzha) Self-financing Pharmacy institutions	2nd week to the last week of August	2nd week of September
KEAM (Engineering/Pharmacy entrance exam)	College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical College (Trivandrum, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Alappuzha) Self-financing Pharmacy institutions	1st week to last week of February	4th week of April
BITSAT (BPharm entrance)	Birla Institute of Technology	December to March	May

Must Read: Best Health and Allied Sciences Colleges in India

Top Universities for Allied Health Science Abroad

Here are the best universities for Allied Health Science courses abroad:

1. University of Hawaii – Manoa
2. University of Mississippi – Shorelight
3. Cambrian College
4. Georgian College
5. Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

Subjects and Syllabus

The programme, branch, or area of specialisation that students choose for their UG or PG degree will determine the course content and syllabus for various allied medical courses. However, the following provides a general overview of the subjects and syllabus for allied science courses taught in higher education institutions:

UG Level

Students choosing to enrol in B.Sc. allied medical courses are taught the following core concepts and subjects:

• Principles of Nursing
• Anatomy
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Pathology
• Microbiology
• Healthcare
• Environment Science and Health

PG Level

The M.Sc. allied health science course syllabus changes depending on the student’s chosen specialisation. However, concepts like Health Management, Clinical Specialty, Advanced Nursing Practice, Basic Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Basic Microbiology, Public Health Surveillance, etc.

Relevant Read: BSc Cardiac Technology: Courses, Careers & More

Allied Health Science Career Scope and Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that, relative to most other professions, healthcare-related careers are out for a higher growth rate. Over the last decade, advancements in technology have produced a dramatic change in the general viewpoint of the healthcare industry. The positions of paramedical practitioners and technologists are no longer considered to be the prerogative of physicians and nurses with greater significance. In addition, a greater range of opportunities is now available in higher-level studies and study areas related to Allied health services.

Job Opportunities

Job prospects for clinical laboratory technologists are likely to surpass the trained professionals available, as doctors rely more and more on diagnostic laboratory tests. The growing demand for surgical assistants and OT technologists is being increased by the use of surgical procedures for the treatment of diseases in an ageing population.

Areas of Work

In order to associate the symptoms with the diagnosis and to treat the patient correctly, these individuals are actively interested in proper examination and diagnosis of the diseases. They consist of both technicians and supervisors. Some of the areas where they work are –

1. Nursing
2. Optometry
3. Physiotherapy
4. Audiology
5. Perfusion Technology
6. Pharmacy
7. Cardiovascular Technology

Average Salary

The average salary of an Allied Health Science course graduate in India is INR 3- 3,60 Lakh per annum. The salary may be higher for different specializations.

Relevant Read: X-Ray Technician Course

Key Takeaways

• A broad range of academic disciplines that produce healthcare professionals other than doctors are referred to as allied medical sciences.
• Clinical laboratory technicians are likely to have more employment opportunities than skilled specialists as doctors increasingly rely on laboratory testing to determine a diagnosis.
• As surgical procedures are used more frequently to treat ailments in an ageing population, there is a growing need for surgical assistants and OT technologists.

FAQs

We hope this blog has cleared all the doubts related to the Allied Health Science course. Do you want to pursue this course? Secure your admission with the help of experts at Leverage Edu. Register for a free counselling session today!