Allied health programs in California
186 allied health programs in 16 fields of allied health, with costs, results and funding that can make them free
110 schools offer these programs, and California has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 16 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.
Allied health covers health jobs beyond doctors and nurses. Here that means dental assistants and hygienists, X-ray, MRI, cardiovascular, sleep, dialysis and surgical techs, opticians, physical and occupational therapy assistants, massage therapists and personal trainers, and for animals, vet techs and veterinary assistants. Some take a certificate of a few months; others take a two-year degree.
All job training programs in California, every line of work
Accredited allied health programs in California, each school with its accreditor
Allied health programs by state, to compare California with other states
Compare allied health programs in California: cost, pay and results
Dental assistant programs
69 programs at 57 schools
- Most cost
- $2,050 to $10,710
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $35,300
- Working 6 months later
- 73%
- Finished
- 86%
Massage therapy school
18 programs at 14 schools
- Most cost
- $8,925 to $14,403
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $52,000
- Working 6 months later
- 80%
- Finished
- 78%
Vet tech programs
17 programs at 16 schools
- Most cost
- $2,495 to $16,357
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $32,600
- Working 6 months later
- 65%
- Finished
- 69%
Surgical tech programs (operating room)
12 programs at 11 schools
- Most cost
- $8,602 to $28,975
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $60,100
- Working 6 months later
- 82%
- Finished
- 81%
Radiology tech programs (X-ray)
12 programs at 10 schools
- Most cost
- $4,908 to $16,969
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $66,500
- Working 6 months later
- 91%
- Finished
- 86%
PTA programs (physical therapist assistant)
12 programs at 11 schools
- Most cost
- $1,315 to $14,150
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $33,500
- Working 6 months later
- 65%
- Finished
- 70%
Sterile processing technician training (surgical instruments)
10 programs at 10 schools
- Most cost
- $3,506 to $4,744
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $35,700
- Working 6 months later
- 60%
- Finished
- 76%
Personal trainer certification
9 programs at 8 schools
- Most cost
- $894 to $1,538
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
Dental hygiene programs
6 programs at 6 schools
- Most cost
- $2,935 to $4,996
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
Sonography school (ultrasound)
6 programs at 6 schools
- Most cost
- $30,447 to $52,106
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
Optician training
6 programs at 5 schools
- Most cost
- $2,495 to $15,920
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
Dialysis technician training
4 programs at 4 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
Respiratory therapy programs
2 programs at 2 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
MRI tech school (magnetic resonance imaging)
1 program at one school
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not reported
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
Cardiovascular technology programs (heart lab)
1 program at one school
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not reported
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Finished
- Not reported
Sleep technician training
1 program at one school
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not reported
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Finished
- Not enough data
Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in California may offer more. How these figures are made
Other job training in California, by line of work
- Trade school programs644
- Medical certification programs517
- Business and office training498
- IT certification programs417
- Nursing and patient care programs231
- First responder training175
- Transportation and logistics training173
- Child care and social services training132
- Beauty school120
- Culinary and hospitality programs90
- All job training in California3,183
Programs approved in California in each line of work.
Where the California allied health numbers come from
Which California programs are counted?
Programs California approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).5 They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what California offers.
What the figures for each field mean
Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).
Sources for the funding facts about allied health programs in California
Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List