The Amarillo College Division of Allied Health was created in 1968 as the School of Biomedical Arts and Sciences with five programs and about two-hundred declared majors. Today, it supports thirteen programs with over fifteen-hundred declared majors. The division chairman is Bill Crawford.

All division programs continue to be totally committed to the quality preparation of those who seek a career in allied health and who are dedicated to the service of anyone whose health status demands professional medical care.

Each program has faculty who are veteran experts in their respective disciplines and who are genuinely supportive of the students who come into their classes. These instructors hold and maintain scholastic degrees, certificates and other professional medical credentials that testify to their level of expertise.

Likewise, all allied health faculty diligently pursue a standard of expectation and instruction that ensures quality teaching and learning, not only for the present, but also for those future years in the professional careers of their graduates. Life-long learning is a major emphasis in all thirteen disciplines. Also, in those programs where accreditation is required, each program director closely follows the accreditation standards as determined by the respective state and/or national professional medical association.

Each program includes those major courses needed to prepare the graduate to enter the medical workplace with discipline-specific entry-level skills necessary to ensure quality healthcare. And, the programs include a core of liberal arts and science courses which are fundamental to the long-term success of any individual in any walk of life. All required courses are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Amarillo College provides each program with modern lecture and dedicated laboratory space to conduct the business of education. Likewise, the college continues its long-term commitment to provide equipment in each program laboratory to assure quality hands-on instruction.

Education in any career discipline that requires a "hands-on" approach to learning, also requires a "live" or "real-time" environment for that education to occur effectively. The medical communities in Amarillo, Borger, Dumas, Hereford, Pampa and Plainview very generously provide their medical facilities and personnel – at no expense to the college or its students – to permit the placement of students for real-time instruction. Without the continued and strong support of these facilities and their leaders, the college allied health programs would be unable to function at their present levels, if at all.

Following program completion, the graduate will earn an Associate in Applied Science degree or a Certificate of Completion, depending on the program. Each program has developed its own web site that contains specific information to describe the respective health career and the program application procedure.

At the present time, careers in Allied Health are especially popular throughout the country. Because of this popularity, and because enrollment is limited in all allied health programs due to accreditation requirements, an early application is strongly encouraged.

If you have questions concerning any of the allied health programs offered by AC, please visit each respective program web site or contact Kim Lacey, the division's administrative assistant, at 806-354-6055.