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Roles in the allied health professions

Allied health professionals make up the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS. There are 15 different roles working across a range of sectors from emergency response and diagnosis to mental and physical rehabilitation.

Their work focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of their patients so that they can live full and active lives within their family circles, social networks and workplace. Whether you want to be hospital-based, work within the community or from patients’ homes, there’s bound to be a role that suits you. 

Discover our featured roles
Select the role(s) you’re interested in below:
  • Diagnostic radiographer

    [1]
  • Paramedic

    [2]
  • Occupational therapist

    [3]
  • Podiatrist

    [4]
  • Therapeutic radiographer

    [5]
  • Orthoptist

    [6]
  • Prosthetist/orthotist

    [7]
  • Physiotherapist

    [8]
More allied health professional roles
  • Art therapist

    You’ll help patients of all ages express their feelings and emotions through creative activities, when communicating verbally about an issue may be too hard.

    [9]
  • Dietitian

    You’ll work directly with individuals and communities to help promote healthy eating habits and to support patients with dietary related health issues.

    [10]
  • Dramatherapist

    You’ll use role play, voice work, movement and storytelling to help patients overcome personal or social problems and build self-awareness and self-confidence.

    [11]
  • Music therapist

    You’ll use different forms of music to help clients of all ages create positive changes in their emotional wellbeing when verbal communication is too difficult.

    [12]
  • Operating department practitioner

    You’ll provide support and care through all stages of a patient’s surgical procedure including anaesthetics, surgery and recovery.

    [13]
  • Osteopath

    You’ll be an expert in the musculoskeletal system. You'll use physical therapy and health advice to treat and support a range of health issues.

    [14]
  • Speech and language therapist

    You’ll provide treatment, support and care for children and adults who have difficulty communicating, eating, drinking or swallowing.

    [15]

Register for your guide to becoming an allied health professional

We’ll email you a step-by-step guide to help you on your way to joining us.

Let's go [16]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/diagnostic-radiographer
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/paramedic
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/occupational-therapist
[4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/podiatrist
[5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/therapeutic-radiographer
[6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/orthoptist
[7] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/prosthetistorthotist
[8] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/physiotherapist
[9] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/art-therapist
[10] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/dietitian
[11] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/dramatherapist
[12] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/music-therapist
[13] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/operating-department-practitioner
[14] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/osteopath
[15] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/speech-and-language-therapist
[16] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/allied-health-professionals-registration