Careers in allied health are vital to the healthcare system. From diagnostics and treatment support to managing data and patient care, allied health professionals play a critical role in every corner of healthcare delivery.
Studying allied health at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) prepares you for a range of essential roles through hands-on learning, including direct clinical experience. NOVA offers certificate and associate degree programs designed to equip you with job-ready skills and industry credentials — and many programs can be completed in two years or less.
With 10 specialized programs offered at the Medical Education Campus, NOVA provides a strong foundation for students pursuing careers in allied health. Whether you plan to enter the workforce quickly or transfer to a four-year university, you’ll find flexible pathways into some of the most in-demand and rewarding types of jobs in healthcare.
Explore how NOVA helps you prepare for allied health careers, including medical imaging, respiratory care, physical therapy support, lab technology and more.
Why Pursue a Career in Allied Health?
As demand grows for professionals in allied health, these roles are among the most promising types of jobs in healthcare, offering stability and significant opportunity for advancement. NOVA’s programs prepare you to thrive in allied health careers, whether you join the workforce right away or pursue further study.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15.2% increase in healthcare support occupations by 2033 — a rate well above the national average. Within that group, demand for medical assistants is expected to grow 15%, adding nearly 120,000 jobs, while radiologic and MRI technologists are projected to grow 6%, creating about 16,000 new positions over the decade.
By choosing a career in allied health, you’re entering a growing field where you can apply practical skills, support patient care and build a stable, rewarding future in some of the best health careers.
Where Can a NOVA Education Take You?
With more than 20 health sciences certificate and degree programs, NOVA can prepare students for many allied health careers. Our programs provide the credentials you need to join the workforce or pursue additional training for advanced healthcare careers.
Here are a few NOVA programs that lead to some of the best health careers:
Phlebotomy: Train to collect and process blood specimens in hospitals, clinics or labs and sit for national phlebotomy-technician certification.
Clinical data coding: Master the industry coding systems insurers and providers rely on; eligible for AHIMA exams and a stepping-stone to NOVA’s A.A.S. in Health Information Management.
Dental assisting: Learn lab, chairside and front-office skills. Complete rotations in local practices and qualify for the DANB Certified Dental Assistant exam.
Medical laboratory assisting: Gain hands-on experience preparing and running basic lab tests. Graduates are eligible for national MLA certification.
Emergency medical services: Develop paramedic expertise and become eligible for the National Registry Paramedic certification.
Diagnostic medical sonography: Specialize in abdominal/OB-GYN, echocardiography or vascular imaging and test for RDMS, RDCS or RVT credentials.
Radiography: Prepare for the ARRT exam and work in hospitals, physician offices or imaging centers.
Respiratory therapy: Learn to assess and treat patients with cardiopulmonary conditions; qualifies you for CRT licensure and advancement to registered respiratory therapist.
Medical laboratory technology: Learn essential laboratory testing for disease detection and treatment and prepare for certification as a medical lab technician.
Dental hygiene: Gain clinical and classroom preparation for the National Board exam and licensure as a registered dental hygienist.
Health information management: Combine IT, business and healthcare coursework to prepare for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam — a credential that qualifies you for roles in medical coding, records management and health data analysis.
Transfer-ready options
NOVA’s A.A.S. programs in fields like radiography, respiratory therapy and health information management include articulation agreements with four-year universities, making it easier to apply your credits toward a bachelor’s degree. You can also start with NOVA’s A.S. in Health Sciences - Public Health and transfer directly into allied health or public health programs at partner institutions.
Whether your goal is to enter the workforce quickly or continue your education, NOVA offers flexible pathways to allied health careers and other types of jobs in healthcare — all designed to match your goals and timeline.
Hands-On Training & Seamless Transfer Paths
The most effective way to go into an allied health career is through a program that integrates classroom learning with real-world clinical experience. NOVA’s health sciences programs pair high-tech labs and simulation suites with rotations at major facilities. Whether you’re taking X-rays in the digital radiography lab, running cardiac simulations in the hospital-grade skills center or providing cleanings for real patients at NOVA’s on-site dental clinic, you’ll practice on the same equipment and software used in today’s healthcare settings, preparing you for some of the best health careers in the region.
If you choose a role that requires additional training, NOVA makes it easy to continue your education. We offer guaranteed admission and transfer agreements with Virginia institutions such as George Mason University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University and James Madison University. These partnerships allow you to easily move into bachelor’s degree programs in areas like health sciences, health administration or kinesiology.
Why Choose NOVA for Careers in Allied Health?
NOVA’s health programs give you the skills, clinical hours and industry connections you need to pursue patient care, lab work, imaging and other fast-growing healthcare roles. You’ll train in high-tech simulation labs and real clinical sites — and if you choose to earn a bachelor’s degree later, NOVA’s transfer agreements make it easy to keep going.
Here’s what you can expect from NOVA:
Work with state-of-the-art equipment in NOVA’s Medical Education Campus and complete supervised rotations at hospitals, outpatient centers and community clinics.
Nearly every instructor is a licensed clinician, so lectures come alive with case studies, treatment demos and current protocols.
Programs are aligned with national certification and state licensure exams, such as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for radiography, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for occupational therapy assistants and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for medical laboratory technicians.
NOVA’s transfer agreements with four-year institutions let you apply your credits toward a related bachelor’s degree in fields like health sciences, public health or health administration.
Access NOVA’s Career Services for help with job searches, resume writing, interview prep and connecting with employers who are hiring in your field.
Start Your Allied Health Career
NOVA offers the training, experience and transfer options to prepare you for a range of allied health careers. Get started now and move toward a career in healthcare.