Becoming an allied health professional

We employ allied health professionals across many services, delivering care to over 1.2 million people across Hertfordshire and beyond. Allied health professionals are health care professionals who work independently and alongside other clinicians. HCT employs seven of the 14 allied health professions. This includes:

• Physiotherapists,
• Occupational Therapists,
• Podiatrists,
• Speech and Language Therapists,
• Dietetians,
• Orthoptists (Childrens), and
• Paramedics. 

You can find out more information about a career in allied health here .

How do I become an allied health professional?

There are several different routes to becoming an allied health professional including apprenticeships and full time university courses. Training through an apprenticeship scheme offers you the opportunity for:

•           hands on experience,
•           training and on the job learning, paid for by your employer, and
•           to earn a salary as you train.

HCT offers apprenticeship training and work placements at level three, level 5 and degree level. Training is normally between 18 months and four years. To become an apprentice, you must be employed by HCT and have achieved GCSE Grade 4 or above in Maths and English.

You can also train to be an allied health professional by studying a full time degree programme at university. University degrees are normally paid for by taking on a student loan. You can find out more about university courses on the UCAS website.  

Applying

You can improve your chance of employment on an apprenticeship scheme by getting experience working within healthcare and showcase your passion for making a difference to people’s lives. Volunteering in a caring role or undertaking paid employment, for example as a healthcare assistant, can also help to give you experience and support your application.

Work experience

Work experience is a great opportunity to explore whether a career in health is right for you. HCT can offer work experience in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, podiatry and speech and language therapy if you are in years 12 and 13 at school; this can be for between one and five days. HCT will always aim to support with work experience however, requests will be delt with on an individual basis and subject to the capacity of teams and services. To view work experience opportunities, including online placements, please see Herts and West Essex Health and Care Academy.

 

 

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E-Learning for Health - Infographic demonstrating routes into AHP Career