by our College Data Analytics TeamAlternative and complementary medical support services can include midwifery or doctor of alternative medicine - also referred to as a naturopath. While non-traditional, each career is growing in popularity.
You may wonder what the difference between a nurse midwife and direct-entry midwife is. Direct-entry midwives become midwives without first getting a nursing degree. At a minimum, direct entry midwives must attend school to get a midwifery certificate as well as apprentice with a full-time midwife to get on the job training. Depending on state law, midwives may be required to get a related degree in nursing or natural medicine.
Most direct-entry midwives practice directly with clients and perform birth services in the client's home or in their private practice. Nurse-midwives have a nursing degree with a specialization in midwifery and tend to practice in hospitals.
Naturopathic doctors look at non-traditional ways to treat their patients. They may rely on holistic medicine, herbs, traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy to treat their patients. For example, a patient exhibiting symptoms of thyroid issues may be treated by a naturopath with a combination of lifestyle changes and natural medicines.
Students looking to enter the alternative medicine field have several options from bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. If you wish to practice as a naturopathic doctor you will need much of the same education a medical doctor will need, but with special emphasis on alternative medicines.
Alternative Medical Support Services was the 335th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 140 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best Alternative Medical Support Services Schools ranking analyzes 2 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for alternative medical support services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of alternative medical support programs later in this article.
Both midwives and naturopaths require a similar set of skills. You must excel at working with people. You must also be able to make decisions under pressure and be able to problem solve. In both cases, people's lives are literally in your hands - you must be able to work well under stressful conditions and must have empathy for the people you work with.
alternative medical support services degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific alternative medical support careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of alternative medical support degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in alternative medical support services to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the alternative medical support services degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
Want a job when you graduate with your alternative medical support degree? Alternative Medical Support Services careers are expected to grow 13.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to alternative medical support services.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners | 63,900 | 13.3% |
Alternative Medical Support Services graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $50,237 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $40,712 to as high as $51,348. As you might expect, salaries for alternative medical support graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for alternative medical support services graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers alternative medical support grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners | $85,600 |
With over 14 different alternative medical support degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased alternative medical support school rankings to help you with this.
One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Alternative Medical Support Services has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Other Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services | 80 |
| Direct Entry Midwifery | 60 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing | 319,502 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 88,600 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
| Allied Health Professions | 83,905 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 83,587 |
