Allied health programs in Iowa
70 allied health programs in 13 fields of allied health, with costs, results and funding that can make them free
32 schools offer these programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 13 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 Iowa, every line of work
Accredited allied health programs in Iowa, each school with its accreditor
Allied health programs by state, to compare Iowa with other states
Compare allied health programs in Iowa: cost, pay and results
Massage therapy school
13 programs at 12 schools
- Most cost
- $8,520 to $11,088
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $18,400
- Working 6 months later
- 73%
- Finished
- 83%
Dental assistant programs
11 programs at 11 schools
- Most cost
- $7,882 to $12,076
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $27,700
- Working 6 months later
- 88%
- Finished
- 67%
Radiology tech programs (X-ray)
9 programs at 9 schools
- Most cost
- $15,780 to $24,662
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $41,800
- Working 6 months later
- 86%
- Finished
- 66%
Surgical tech programs (operating room)
7 programs at 7 schools
- Most cost
- $12,802 to $15,045
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $35,100
- Working 6 months later
- 89%
- Finished
- 31%
Vet tech programs
6 programs at 6 schools
- Most cost
- $13,234 to $17,314
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $29,800
- Working 6 months later
- 88%
- Finished
- 36%
Dental hygiene programs
5 programs at 5 schools
- Most cost
- $18,060 to $19,264
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $50,300
- Working 6 months later
- 84%
- Finished
- 56%
Respiratory therapy programs
5 programs at 5 schools
- Most cost
- $14,210 to $15,903
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $62,100
- Working 6 months later
- 91%
- Finished
- 63%
PTA programs (physical therapist assistant)
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
Sterile processing technician training (surgical instruments)
3 programs at 3 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not reported
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Finished
- Not reported
Sonography school (ultrasound)
3 programs at 3 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
OTA programs (occupational therapy assistant)
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
Personal trainer certification
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
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 reported
- Finished
- Not reported
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 Iowa may offer more. How these figures are made
Other job training in Iowa, by line of work
- Trade school programs200
- Business and office training127
- IT certification programs90
- Medical certification programs85
- Nursing and patient care programs69
- Child care and social services training45
- Transportation and logistics training44
- First responder training33
- Beauty school25
- Culinary and hospitality programs18
- All job training in Iowa806
Programs approved in Iowa in each line of work.
Where the Iowa allied health numbers come from
Which Iowa programs are counted?
Programs Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa
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