Healthcare

It is often said that if you have your health, you have everything. Maybe you would like to be involved in ensuring that this can apply to as many people as possible? Then healthcare could well be the sector for you. Like the Medical profession, healthcare offers you rewarding and varied work that will take a fair amount of training, but will be worthwhile in terms of job satisfaction, salary and the ability to relocate almost anywhere.

Healthcare can be split into the following sectors:

Allied health professionals (AHPs) – this is the name for the group of professionals working in this sector that provide care for patients different to that doctors, nurses or dentists provide. An AHP might be the person that diagnoses a problem (e.g. a radiologist), the person that aids recovery (e.g. a physiotherapist) or someone that specialises in a particular area of the body (like a chiropodist).

Here’s a breakdown of the main roles within the AHP group:

  • Arts therapies
  • Chiropody or Podiatry
  • Dietetics
  • Operating department practice
  • Orthoptics
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Prosthetics and orthotics
  • Psychology
  • Psychotherapy
  • Radiology 
  • Speech and language therapy


Ambulance services – a whole team of people are behind those sirens, saving peoples’ lives. There are also non-emergency ambulances, providing a service to those that need to attend hospital regularly and can’t get there alone. 

Complementary and alternative therapies – there are a huge range of complementary and alternative therapist roles you can train in; you can browse the various areas here. Some of the better known ones are counselling, reflexology and hypnotherapy. 

Dental care – as well as the dentists that lead this team, there are opportunities in dental nursing, dental hygiene, dental therapy and dental technology.

Healthcare science – scientists in this sector might be researching genetics, pathology (cause and progression of illnesses) or abnormalities in the human body. Pharmacists also come under this area.

Nursing and midwifery – nurses work closely with patients, be they on the ward, in surgery or in a respite home, to ensure their needs are met and to support the work of doctors. Midwives work hard to make sure the health of both mother and child are the best they can be.

Other healthcare roles

  • Clinical support staff
  • Environmental health
  • Healthcare management
  • Regulatory affairs


See the roles described in our Medical sector; also check out the Social Care and Guidance Work sector for related career opportunities. 

Check out the professional bodies’ own entries in the Profession Finder; there are a number of professional bodies covering these sectors. 

Here’s some things you really want to know:



Jobs and Salaries

The NHS careers website gives details on all roles in this sector, apart from alternative and complementary therapy, including information on salaries for each role.


Allied health professionals (AHPs) 

We won't look at all the AHPs here, but will give you an outline of some of the main roles. For more information check out the NHS' pages on AHPs.

Chiropodists and podiatrists

Chiropodists and podiatrists focus on the feet, ankles and lower limbs, working on the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves. Treatment does not involve drugs or surgery; instead hands are used to manipulate the area needing attention. You can also train as a podiatry assistant or orthotic technician. Read about the salary and conditions you can expect as a podiatrist or chiropodist.

Occupational therapy is concerned with working with people with issues or problems, physical and mental, helping them to be able to live and work as they wish to. Read more about what the important areas of this profession are. Find out what an occupational therapist’s work could involve, and what they are paid. You could also become an occupational health support worker.

A physiotherapist is who you go to if you have been injured, ill or affected by a disability or change and want to return to your fully functioning self. Read more about what physiotherapy is, what physiotherapists do and how much you could earn in this profession.

Psychiatrists work with people with a range of mental illnesses and troubles. These may be conditions they have been living with for a while, or something more temporary such as family problems. Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors that go on to train in looking after people with mental health problems, who are more common than you may think, at 1 in 4 of the UK population (The Royal College of Psychiatrists). Find out about the specialities in the field, and how much you will earn (scroll up from work experience section).

Psychologists often work as coaches to other people in areas including business, sport and education. They also work in hospitals and health centres, (in clinical settings) helping to support people with a range of psychological problems. The BPS outline nine areas of psychology you can work in. Some are employed by advertisers! Sometimes people change from other careers to work as psychologists. Salaries of psychologists vary depending on which grade you are working at and how much experience you have.

Psychotherapy is a very similar profession to counselling, indeed sometimes there is very little difference between the two roles and it depends more upon the setting in which a practitioner works and upon their interests and training (BACP). However there is a strand of psychotherapy that focuses on psychoanalysis and Jungian analysis. Find out more about these types of psychotherapy, and what your pay may be in this field.

Radiologists and oncologists use imaging technologies like CT scans and x-rays to diagnose diseases such as cancer, and treat these diseases by administering radiation (radiotherapy) and chemotherapy. Read more about radiology and oncology and more about what radiologists do. Read more about what radiographers do at the SoR’s (Society of Radiographers) website, and find out how much you can expect to earn in this field.

Sports therapists work with people both to prevent and treat injuries and problems resulting from sport. You could be helping famous sportspeople get back into action through first aid, massage, physiotherapy or giving advice. Find out how much sports therapists earn.


Ambulance services 

These are the professionals that work with people in need before they reach hospital. As well as the paramedics there are the call handlers, technicians and assistants. See the NHS page for more about these roles and what pay each receives. As well as those working for the NHS, there are private ambulances. Have a look through these independent ambulance companies to get an idea.


Complementary and alternative therapies  

Alternative therapies are not generally covered by the NHS, with some exceptions, for example homeopathy in some areas. These are more preventative versions of healthcare than the curative practices that we tend to use in the western world. Although you will not need to follow the same route as many other medical professionals in this area and you may not need a degree, by becoming registered with a professional body, you will ensure you have had a good standard of training, and continue to develop and be able to prove you are a worthy practitioner. Here’s some information about just a handful of the career opportunities in this area:

A counsellor talks with and listens to their clients to explore problems they are having in their life, be they related to work, personal issues, trauma, relationships, or a lack of direction. Read more about what counselling is, what the difference between counselling and psychotherapy is, and what a typical salary is for a counsellor.

Hypnosis is about the interaction between the hypnotherapist and their subject (the person that wants to be treated). A hypnotherapist works with their patient to bring about a therapeutic change in feelings, behaviour and ways of thinking. Read some more definitions of hypnotherapy and more about how it works. Sometimes people use hypnotherapy in place of anaesthetics when they are undergoing an operation, usually for minor surgery such as dental procedures.  

Reflexology is an ancient method of treatment that works by applying pressure to what are known as the reflex points on the hands and feet. Find out more about reflexology, take a look at the different specialists in the field, and check out 'Careers in Reflexology'. 

There are many other alternative therapies you can train in; take a look at this directory of complementary and alternative practitioners to get an idea. Many professionals in this area practice more than one form of therapy, for example they may combine massage with reflexology and reiki.


Dental care 

Dental care professionals (DCPs) are responsible for the care of their patients’ dental hygiene. This covers the teeth, gums and mouth. Take a look at the various opportunities for working in dentistry. All of these professionals must register with the General Dental Council, who ensure they work to the best standards, while dental technologists receive guidance and education from the British Institute of Dental and Surgical Technologists. See the average salary of a dentist. 


Healthcare science 

Pharmacists are experts in medicines. A pharmacist can be involved in any aspect of the preparation and use of medicines, from the discovery of their active ingredients to their use by patients. Check out the different roles open to you in Pharmacy. Pharmacists also monitor the effects of medicines, both for patient care and for research purposes. See here for more information on careers in pharmacy.

Research into healthcare

Research into healthcare is vital and comes from various different areas. Be it for the development of drugs and devices, to decide if a particular method is working or how behaviour and society affects health, research in this sector is some of the most important, and often the most funded. Food research is another part of this field, finding out what the healthiest foods are, how to avoid obesity and how to age healthily for example. See our Science and Education sector summaries for more about careers in research.


Nursing and midwifery 

Nurses are a vital part of the medical profession, and work closely with patients and their doctors to ensure their needs are met. As a nurse you could be working in one of a huge range of settings, with people with just as big a range of needs and backgrounds. Check out nursing career options.

Midwives work with mothers before, during and after their pregnancy and labour to ensure they and their babies remain safe and healthy.


Other healthcare roles

Environmental health 

Qualified Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) are responsible for the upkeep of environmental health for all through Food Safety, Health & Safety at Work, Environmental Protection, Housing and Public Health. Find out more about working in these different areas, and what your salary might be if you choose this profession. Also see our Health and Safety section for information on similar roles.

Healthcare management

As a manager within the healthcare profession, you may be working for the NHS, private sector, consultants or the Armed Forces. Read more about the different areas you might work in, and also have a look at our sector summary on Management. As a manager you will be ensuring that healthcare professional in whichever field you are working are being looked after, communicating and receiving the training they need to do their jobs. Find out about typical salaries in this field.  

Regulatory affairs

Regulatory affairs are all about making sure that products in the healthcare industry are safe and do the job they aim to do. Examples of products are pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, alternative medicines and cosmetics as well as pesticides and agrochemicals. A regulatory affairs officer helps to ensure that public health is the best it can be by keeping track of the legislation, evaluating scientific data collected by others, and advising companies that make healthcare products. Find out why you should consider a career in regulatory affairs, and how much you will get paid.


Take a look at the HPC (Health Professions Council)’s site to see which healthcare professionals they regulate.


Routes and Qualifications

Most professions within healthcare require formal training. Requirements vary between institution and course, but some have alternative routes, particularly if you’ve already started out in healthcare.

Allied health professionals (AHPs) 


Ambulance services 


Complementary and alternative therapies  

Counselling is often taken up as a second career (BACP), and there are plenty of training opportunities. There are no legal minimum qualifications, but to be on the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) register you will need certain qualifications. Have a look at the directory of training providers.

Take a look at some courses in reflexology. You do not need to be registered or have official qualifications to be a reflexologist, but as ever membership with a professional body will prove that you are reputable. 

Read about training courses offered by the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH). Many other organisations offer courses in hypnotherapy, it may also help you to have some experience in counselling.


Dental care 

Read ‘Careers in Dentistry’ from the BDA to begin understanding how you train in this field, as well as looking at the different sections in the ‘Working in dentistry’ section of their website. Take a look at the dental schools you can study at in the UK, and find out about the Vocational Dental Practitioners’ (VDPs’) year, and check which qualifications are recognised by the General Dental Council.

Dental nurses tend to train on the job, once started as trainees. Apprenticeships are also available in this role.


Healthcare science 

Find out what qualifications you need to work in pharmacy, and check out some careers FAQs.

A career in research does not follow a straightforward route. Although it is possible to find contracted work that will focus on one project for a set time, in this profession you will often be juggling various research projects and perhaps setting them up for yourself. Maybe you'll take the route of a biochemist? A research scientist? Or a role in food science?


Nursing and midwifery 

Read about how to become a nurse or midwife, more about training as a nurse or midwife and what the entry requirements are for nursing and midwifery and more about becoming a student nurse or midwife.


Other healthcare roles

  • Find out about the qualifications you need to become a Qualified Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP), combining work based learning and professional exams.
  • Healthcare management - you will have worked either in Management or healthcare, or both, to reach this profession. MHSC programmes are designed to help healthcare managers have an improved impact on the service they are working for. It is also possible to receive mentoring from another healthcare manager.
  • Find out how to get into the profession of regulatory affairs, and what the entry requirements are.

  • Check out this fantastic Q&A session on routes in medical research from the Guardian's Careers Forums.



Funding and support

You may be eligible for an NHS bursary if you are training in some fields of healthcare; this bursary calculator will tell you how much you may get. You may also be able to get a reduced interest rate loan along with the bursary.


Allied health professionals (AHPs) 

  • See how you can fund your study in physiotherapy.
  • Read about finding funding for research in psychotherapy and counselling.
  • Funding opportunities for aspiring psychologists can be found on the BPS website and on the Directgov website, where you can find more information about the funding arrangements for all the other jobs discussed in this section.
  • Psychiatry requires you to train as a doctor, check our Medical page for information on funding this course.
  • Universities have a number of NHS-funded places for radiology degrees. The BIR (British Institute of Radiology) offers awards and prizes for research in the field.


Ambulance services 

In many ambulance service trusts, trainees receive a salary whilst training on the job. For further information on the funding available, please contact the individual ambulance service trust within your region.


Complementary and alternative therapies  

Find out how much it costs to become a counsellor and check out the BACP bursaries.

Many people study to become alternative therapists on a part time basis, making the course fees easier to handle if you are working already.


Dental care 

Read about the financial support available for students on dentistry courses. 


Healthcare science 

Find out about funding available for research in pharmacy. The Pharmacy Practice Research Trust’s research training bursary scheme is intended to support community pharmacists who have an interest in developing their skills in conducting research relating to everyday practice.


Nursing and midwifery 

By training as a nurse or midwife on a NHS funded degree, you may receive a bursary, getting your tuition fees paid for and a small amount of subsistence. Read more about financial support for students on pre-registration nursing courses. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) administers scholarships to their member nurses to assist with the costs of courses, projects, research. If you are interested in studying to become a nurse or midwife in Scotland, check out the bursaries and support available from the Scottish Government.


Other healthcare roles

The Society for Medicines Research offers student bursaries to those interested in pharmaceutical research as does the Medical Research Council. There are also opportunities to gain studentships for food research.


What's it really like working in Healthcare?

Hours of work vary and some jobs involve evening, weekend or shift work. Part-time work is possible in many jobs. There are many different working environments, including hospitals, clinics, day care centres and residential homes, GP surgeries, laboratories, pharmacies, opticians and dental practices. Some work may involve visiting patients in their homes. 

Allied health professionals (AHPs) 

  • Find out about student placements in counselling, and see this video of a psychotherapist.
  • People often choose to become a psychologist because they are interested in working with people and enjoy using scientific methodology about human behaviour to deal with practical problems - including helping people to overcome depression. They work in many areas of society and are concerned with a wide variety of practical problems.
  • Take some quizzes to try out being a psychiatrist yourself, and find out what the day-to-day work is like.
  • Find out what a career in dental care is all about. Depending on what type of dentistry you choose, you could be working in hospitals, practices or in the community. Read a case study of a trainee dental technician, a role that could lead you to dental laboratory management. 'Find a Clinical Dental Technician' in your area, then contact them to find out about their career.
  • Find out where occupational therapists work (chapter 5); many occupational therapists work part-time. Get inspired by this short video of a physiotherapist talking about her career, and of a sports therapist. You can also read an interview of a graduate who has set up her own sports therapy clinic.
  • See some profiles of radiographers, and read more about what the career is like. Find out if radiologists are happy with their career choice.


Ambulance services 

Have a read of this paramedic’s blog to get an idea of the job from day to day.


Complementary and alternative therapies  

Watch a video of a hypnotherapist who combines her work with being a consultant, trainer, and mentor.

Find a reflexologist in your area and find out more about their work.


Dental care 

Check out the typical activities of a dentist to see if it would suit you.


Healthcare science 

Watch a film of a trainee pharmacist.


Nursing and midwifery 

Read some real life stories from nurses and take a look at the Midwifery 2020 project.


Other healthcare roles



How many jobs in Healthcare are out there?   

Explore the NHS Careers pages to get an idea of the number of job roles in each area. See NHS Jobs for numbers of vacancies in each area. Of course the NHS is not the only employer but it's a good place to start for most roles, and their sites have plenty of useful information.


Allied health professionals (AHPs) 

  • Check the UK Council for Psychotherapy for a number of their practitioners. See how many psychologists are on the BPS' books, and find out what they do. 
  • Find out about the career opportunities in occupational therapy. There is a huge range of ways for physiotherapists to incorporate their profession into a range of different sectors.Sports therapists will be needed as long as sport continues to be popular, both on the small and large scales.
  • Have a look at the fields of radiology, the jobs and where you might work in this profession by searching the NHS’ Careers A-Z. Read about the career prospects for a trained clinical radiologist. Find out who employs radiographers.


Complementary and alternative therapies  

Alternative therapies have become more popular in recent years. Again there are many ways that professionals in this area can bring their work to various settings.


Dental care 

Find out how many dentists were registered in the UK in 2010.


Nursing and midwifery 

Take a look at the RCN's site (Royal College of Nursing) – the largest professional union for nurses in the UK, to get an idea of numbers and jobs available. The NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) will tell you how many qualified midwives they have on their register.


Other healthcare roles

  • Environmental roles are taking centre-stage in tackling climate change.
  • Research into healthcare is vital and will always be needed as we will always need to test, develop and evaluate our healthcare systems.



Location, location, location

Nurses and midwives work in a huge range of settings. Medical academics work in universities and colleges, be they researchers, teachers or a combination of the two. Administrative staff and assistants work in offices or alongside other professionals in the huge range of locations only brushed on above. 

Healthcare opportunities exist through the UK, however more opportunities are often available in those areas containing hospitals. Many professions in the healthcare sector are easily transferable and needed everywhere, allowing you to take your skills to a new country or to another part of the UK.


Will a career in Healthcare suit me?

Before applying for many jobs and professional training courses within the healthcare sector, a period of relevant work experience is extremely useful and in some cases essential. Many work experience options within the sector go unadvertised. Often, organisations are happy to take on volunteers, allow individuals to work shadow or even just speak to members of staff working within the profession. Most who work in the private sector have first undertaken training in the public sector. 

Depending on your speciality, employers look for people who can communicate well with others as well as having the right educational qualifications. To do well and to enjoy your work in this sector, you will need to be enthusiastic, caring and have an interest in working closely with people from all backgrounds. 


Allied health professionals (AHPs) 


Ambulance services 

You’ll need to be able to drive, work well under pressure, have good teamwork skills, a caring personality, and good physical fitness.


Complementary and alternative therapies  

Find out what skills and personal qualities a good reflexologist should have, and more generally the qualities needed in complementary medicine.


Dental care 

See what key skills you’ll need for a career in dental care.


Healthcare science 

  • If you are inquisitive, motivated and have an interest in improving healthcare and working with a range of people to get results, then a career in healthcare research could be for you.
  • A career in pharmacy gives you an opportunity to pursue an interest in science in a practical way.


Nursing and midwifery 

A career in nursing or midwifery requires compassion, enthusiasm and an interest in others’ health and wellbeing. You will be working closely with people and will need to feel confident about dealing with the personal side of life, emotional and physical. Read about the skills needed for nurses and midwives.


Other healthcare roles




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