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According to the 2017 report from the Alabama Department of Labor, healthcare careers in Alabama are seeing wonderful growth! Medical field professions as a group are among the state’s best career clusters. Alabama’s growth falls perfectly in line with the national trend for healthcare and with the overall demand being so high, anyone interested in entering the industry should know that there are currently more than a million unfilled job openings (nearly 50% of the total) for healthcare workers in the country, according to the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.
 



Details about healthcare careers in Alabama


As is the case across the United States (the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% growth in healthcare occupations by 2026), the healthcare industry in Alabama is also undergoing record growth. This growth is driven by the need to meet the demands of an aging population and an increased number of insured patients. This situation has created a wealth of opportunities for aspiring professionals of all backgrounds.

The Top Choices for Healthcare Training in Alabama

School Name / WebsiteAddressSchool Type# of Students# of UndergradsGrad RateTransfer-Out RateNet Price
Alabama A & M University4900 Meridian Street, Normal, Alabama 357624-year, Public6001503824%40%$15,812
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine445 Health Sciences Boulevard, Dothan, Alabama 36303-22514-year, Private not-for-profit608NANANA
Alabama State University915 S Jackson Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-02714-year, Public4760420828%NA$12,327
Amridge University1200 Taylor Rd, Montgomery, Alabama 36117-35534-year, Private not-for-profit67532218%82%$6,849
Athens State University300 N Beaty St, Athens, Alabama 356114-year, Public31142967NANANA
Auburn UniversityAuburn, Alabama 368494-year, Public297762396477%16%$22,613
Auburn University at Montgomery7440 East Drive, Montgomery, Alabama 36117-35964-year, Public4894431328%40%$15,047
Bevill State Community College1411 Indiana Avenue, Jasper, Alabama 355012-year, Public3872387219%17%$8,430
Bishop State Community College351 North Broad Street, Mobile, Alabama 36603-58982-year, Public3233323315%20%$5,239
Blue Cliff Career College2970 Cottage Hill Rd., Suite 175, Mobile, Alabama 36606< 2-year, Private for-profit696927%4%$11,506
Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound2936 North McVay Drive, Mobile, Alabama 366062-year, Private for-profit3232NANANA
Central Alabama Community College1675 Cherokee Rd, Alexander City, Alabama 350102-year, Public1835183528%27%$4,613
Chattahoochee Valley Community College2602 College Drive, Phenix City, Alabama 368692-year, Public1424142420%30%$1,234
Coastal Alabama Community College1900 U S Highway 31 South, Bay Minette, Alabama 36507-26982-year, Public4968496814%44%$7,458
Columbia Southern University21982 University Lane, Orange Beach, Alabama 36561-90004-year, Private for-profit208181505031%NA$11,061
Enterprise State Community College600 Plaza Drive, Enterprise, Alabama 36330-13002-year, Public1778177819%26%$4,639
Faulkner University5345 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, Alabama 36109-33904-year, Private not-for-profit3350267228%45%$19,337
Fortis College7033 Airport Blvd., Mobile, Alabama 36608< 2-year, Private for-profit37537547%NA$22,786
Fortis College-Dothan200 Vulcan Way, Dothan, Alabama 36303< 2-year, Private for-profit18918945%NA$15,870
Fortis College-Foley200 East Laurel Avenue, Foley, Alabama 36535< 2-year, Private for-profit14914948%NA$16,043
Fortis College-Montgomery3470 Eastdale Cir, Montgomery, Alabama 361172-year, Private for-profit20720729%NA$23,976
Fortis College-Montgomery3736 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, Alabama 36109< 2-year, Private for-profit31131152%NA$18,380
Fortis Institute-Birmingham100 London Pkwy Ste 150, Birmingham, Alabama 352112-year, Private for-profit45145153%NA$26,390
Gadsden State Community College1001 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, Alabama 359032-year, Public4979497920%20%$4,200
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan1141 Wallace Drive, Dothan, Alabama 36303-92342-year, Public4645464524%17%$3,056
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville801 Main St NW, Hanceville, Alabama 35077-20002-year, Public5301530140%12%$6,080
George C Wallace State Community College-Selma3000 Earl Goodwin Parkway, Selma, Alabama 36703-28082-year, Public1471147122%9%$8,450
H Councill Trenholm State Community College1225 Air Base Blvd, Montgomery, Alabama 36108-31992-year, Public1845184529%14%$7,442
Huntingdon College1500 East Fairview Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36106-21484-year, Private not-for-profit1102110237%NA$19,913
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College3421 Meridian St N, Huntsville, Alabama 358112-year, Public75275214%10%$5,834
Jacksonville State University700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, Alabama 362654-year, Public8567749137%NA$11,939
Jefferson State Community College2601 Carson Rd, Birmingham, Alabama 35215-30982-year, Public884088409%26%$8,353
John C Calhoun State Community College6250 U S Highway 31 N, Tanner, Alabama 356712-year, Public9861986125%15%$5,159
Judson College302 Bibb St, Marion, Alabama 367564-year, Private not-for-profit31531532%NA$17,034
Lawson State Community College3060 Wilson Rd SW, Birmingham, Alabama 35221-17172-year, Public3248324814%30%$7,980
Lurleen B Wallace Community College1000 Dannelly Blvd., Andalusia, Alabama 36420-14182-year, Public1838183835%19%$7,805
Northeast Alabama Community College138 Highway 35, Rainsville, Alabama 359862-year, Public2736273632%14%$3,144
Northwest-Shoals Community College800 George Wallace Blvd, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 356612-year, Public3440344016%19%$6,881
Oakwood University7000 Adventist Blvd NW, Huntsville, Alabama 358964-year, Private not-for-profit1711165047%NA$25,567
Reid State Technical College100 and Hwy 83, Evergreen, Alabama 364012-year, Public39239227%NA$3,598
Remington College-Mobile Campus828 Downtowner Loop W, Mobile, Alabama 366094-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit37337357%NA$20,076
Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville930 Old Monrovia Road, NW, Huntsville, Alabama 35806-2509< 2-year, Private for-profit159159NANA$20,337
Samford University800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229-22404-year, Private not-for-profit5509337376%NA$30,017
Selma University1501 Lapsley St, Dinkins Hall, Selma, Alabama 367014-year, Private not-for-profit3243112%NA$12,553
Shelton State Community College9500 Old Greensboro Rd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405-85222-year, Public4607460716%37%$6,718
Snead State Community College102 Elder Street, Boaz, Alabama 35957-07342-year, Public2220222043%20%$4,958
South University-Montgomery5355 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery, Alabama 361164-year, Private for-profit45336919%NA$20,433
Southern Union State Community College750 Roberts St, Wadley, Alabama 362762-year, Public4828482821%19%$9,650
Spring Hill College4000 Dauphin St, Mobile, Alabama 36608-17914-year, Private not-for-profit1485137753%NA$21,065
Strayer University-Alabama3570 Grandview Pkwy Ste 200, Birmingham, Alabama 352434-year, Private for-profit9576660%NA$24,836
The University of Alabama739 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-01664-year, Public385633330568%22%$19,993
Troy UniversityUniversity Avenue, Troy, Alabama 36082-00014-year, Public175211400039%36%$12,146
Tuskegee UniversityKresge Center, 3rd Floor, Tuskegee, Alabama 36088-19204-year, Private not-for-profit3289283352%14%$30,847
University of Alabama at BirminghamAdministration Bldg Suite 1070, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-01104-year, Public209021313453%28%$17,016
University of Alabama in Huntsville301 Sparkman Dr, Huntsville, Alabama 358994-year, Public9101709049%29%$14,766
University of Mobile5735 College Parkway Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36613-28424-year, Private not-for-profit1604144345%6%$22,190
University of MontevalloStation 6001, Montevallo, Alabama 35115-60004-year, Public2717234650%29%$16,075
University of North AlabamaOne Harrison Plaza, Florence, Alabama 35632-00014-year, Public7204606445%33%$12,103
University of South Alabama307 N University Blvd, Mobile, Alabama 36688-00024-year, Public155691098840%35%$12,968
University of West AlabamaStation One, Livingston, Alabama 354704-year, Public4646211133%27%$13,326

Healthcare support roles in the state of Alabama

While many people think of physicians and other professional-level positions as typical healthcare workers, the truth is that the majority of those employed in the industry work in either nursing or Healthcare Support Occupations (53,300 people in Alabama). These support positions usually require an associate’s degree or less, and still offer an annual median salary ($26,500 for all Healthcare Support Occupations in Alabama) that is competitive for jobs that don’t require college degrees.

Salaries for Healthcare Careers in Alabama

The following table reflects 10 of the most-popular support positions in Alabama, job numbers in the state, and median annual salaries.

Alabama Healthcare CareersEmploymentHourly mean wageAnnual mean wage
Occupational Therapy Assistants48027.2256610
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers113026.8055750
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics392014.2929720
Pharmacy Technicians734014.0229170
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1286017.7136830
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians270017.0435450
Home Health Aides48209.9720730
Nursing Assistants2328011.0823050
Physical Therapist Assistants189026.4555020
Dental Assistants327016.1033490
Medical Assistants857013.3327730
Phlebotomists209014.1729470

How to Start an Alabama Medical Field Career

Although it is possible to start working in a number of positions without first completing a formal training program, the majority of employers in the state prefer to hire individuals with prior training. For this reason, it is highly recommended that anyone who is seriously considering a career in healthcare consider completing an accredited, formal training program.

Most of these programs can be completed in two years or less, and many of them can be completed in less than a year.
 



Find healthcare career programs in Alabama

To review available training programs for some of Alabama’s most popular healthcare care careers, click on any of the links below. You can also click on the name of any of the listed professions to learn more about how to get started on that career path.