Careers in the Allied Health
Sciences
Julian Smith III
Fall 2015
So you don’t want to be an MD or a Dentist or a Veterinarian,
but you want to work in Healthcare…
Doctorate in Audiology
 Prevent, diagnose, evaluate, and treat hearing
disorders in settings ranging from private
practice through hospitals and schools
 Entry-level clinical doctorate
 Four-year program with a one-year externship
in the fourth year
 No schools in SC (73 nationwide)

ECU, UNC-CH, Auburn, USoAL
 Entry (O.U. @ Athens)



GRE 1000 min (verbal + quant)
GPA 3.0 min
Bachelor’s degree with specific courses in
science, math, and psychology
 Mean salary ~$76-87k (clinical doctorate)
 Job growth: faster than average
 www.asha.org
http://www.ohiou.edu/hearingspeech/aud.htm#application
Speech/Language Pathology
 Treatment of communication and
swallowing disorders
 Post-baccalaureate Masters’ program @
USC
 2 Schools in SC (SC State, USC)
 7 semesters (USC)
 Entry



Bachelor’s degree
GPA (3.5 overall and in science
prerequisites)
GRE 500/500
http://www.musc.edu/chp/csd/index.htm

Job growth: slightly above average

Median salary $66,900

www.asha.org
Cytotechnology/Cytopathology
 Tissue recovery (including Fine-needle
aspiration biopsies), microscopic or
molecular evaluation of cells and
diagnosis of potential malignancy
 36 Programs nationwide
 No program in South Carolina

One in Charlotte at CPCC
www1.cpcc.edu/health_sciences/cytotechnology

Entry


Bachelors degree
20 hours in Biology, 8 Chemistry, 3 Mathematics
 Average salaries $61k(staff) to $71k
(supervisory)
 www.asct.com
http://www.musc.edu/chp/cb/index.htm
Medical Technology
 aka “Medical Laboratory Scientist”
 Perform (largely automated) evaluations of
blood, urine, sputum and other body-fluid
samples for diagnostic purposes
 Post-baccalaureate program, either Bachelor’s
plus certification or Master’s
 228 programs nationwide


3 in SC (2 in Columbia, 1 in Florence)
1 in Charlotte, NC
 Entry (Palmetto Health Baptist, Columbia)



Bachelor’s degree
GPA 2.75 minimum
16hrs Chem, 10hrs Biol, 3hrs Math
 Median salary $56k
 www.naacls.org/
http://www.carolinascollege.edu/Academic/medical_tech.cfm
Orthotics/Prosthetics
 Build and fit medical support
devices
 Clinical Baccalaureate or Master’s
 Plus one-year residency
 2 Master’s programs nationwide
 Applicants (GA Tech)
 Bachelor’s degree with req’d
courses in Math and Science
 GPA (ave 3.4)
 GRE exam
 Job growth: average
 Median income: $65k
 www.opcareers.org
Men’s 100m finish, London Paralympics (10.9 sec)
Occupational Therapy
 Help patients regain skills for daily
living following injury, illness, or
disability
 Clinical Master’s


155 schools nationwide
1 in SC (MUSC)
 Clinical Doctorate

5 schools nationwide
 Admissions (MUSC)
 Bachelor’s degree
 GRE exam
 GPA minimum 3.0
 Job growth: much faster than
average
 Median income: $72k
 http://www.aota.org/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupationaltherapists.htm
Physical Therapy
•
•
Restore and improve both motion and
function following impairment (injury,
surgery, disease)
Approx. 202 programs nationwide
– 2 in SC (USC, MUSC)
•
•
Clinical Doctorate
Entry
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
Bachelor’s degree
60 hrs pre-requisite courses
GRE exam
MINIMUM 40 hours’ work experience
Job growth: much faster than average
Median salary $76k
www.apta.org
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm
Optometry

Diagnose and correct defects in vision; treat injuries
to the eye

Responsible for most primary care involving the eyes;
third largest health-care career nationwide

Clinical doctorate; generally prescribe corrective
lenses, some medications, and conduct limited
surgical procedures

4-year program

20 schools nationwide (plus one in Puerto Rico)

Entry (varies by school)
 90 hours up to Bachelor’s degree
 Prerequsite courses = PreMed
 Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

Job growth: much faster than average

Median income $94,900

www.opted.org/
http://www.opted.org/
Osteopathic Medicine
 Holistic approach to medical practice (but
still prescribe drugs, perform surgery,
etc)
 Includes training in Osteopathic
Manipulation, which is used to alleviate
pain
 About 7% of physicians (>20% of
medical students)
 31+ schools (44 locations)
 Applicants (2014)



Bachelor’s degree with req’d courses in
Math and Science
GPA (ave 3.51)
MCAT (ave 27.2)
 Job growth: faster than average
 Median income (1°care physician)
$202k
 www.aacom.org
http://www.aacom.org/om.html
Physician’s Assistant
•
•
•
Practice medicine under the supervision of an
MD or DO
Post-baccalaureate Master’s plus licensure
Approx. 164 entry-level programs nationwide
– 1 in SC (MUSC)
– Seven postgrad/residency programs nationwide
• Admissions (MUSC)
• Bachelor’s degree
• 90 hours in Biol, Chem & Math
• GRE exam
• Job growth: much faster than average
• Median salary $86k
• www.aapa.org/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm
Pharmacy
 Patient counseling, drug interaction
advice, OTC medication advice—and
filling prescriptions…
 Clinical doctorate
 Approx 126 schools nationwide
 Three in SC
 At SCCP
 4 year program
 Entry: PCAT, GPA 3.6 ave. accepted
 Median salary: $111k
 Job growth: faster than average
 ww.aacp.org
Perfusion Technology

Operates Heart/lung machine, also chemotherapy and
dialysis

Baccalaureate-level program

About 16 schools in US

2-year (21 months or five semesters)

Entry requirements (MUSC)




60 hours college work
Minimum 2.5 GPA
SAT/ACT scores
Shadowing

Salary range $65k-$98k and up

http://www.amsect.org/

http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/chp/cp/cvpmain.h
tm
http://www.musc.edu/perfusion/
Related info:
 Bench to Bedside (B2B)
 SC Combined College of Pharmacy
 Sept 29th, 2015: 11:00 AM in Sims 215
 “How I became a pharmacist” Ms. Jessica Higgins
 Oct 6th, 2015: 11:00 AM in Sims 215
 “Genetic Counseling”
 November 12, 2015: 11:00 AM in Sims 215
 MUSC Dental Day (at MUSC)
 October 23, 2015: Contact JSIII to register
 Club Med Website: www.birdnest.org/clubmed