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.
Studying Alternative Medical Support Services explores Alternative And Complementary Medical Support Services. Read on to learn the important information every alternative medical support services student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering alternative medical support services programs.
Nationwide, alternative medical support services is a popular field of study, with 126 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Alternative Medical Support Services Schools ranking analyzes these 5 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 services programs later in this article.
Studies in Alternative Medical Support Services build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations alternative medical support services graduates commonly enter.
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.
Skills built by a alternative medical support services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a alternative medical support services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several alternative medical support services degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 11 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 40 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 57 |
People currently working in careers related to alternative medical support services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 45.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 41.6% |
| First professional degree | 3.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| Master’s degree | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in alternative medical support services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying alternative medical support services opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to alternative medical support services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to alternative medical support services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 3,105,142 | 1.0% |
| Orthoptists | 2,932,094 | 4.8% |
| Naturopathic Physicians | 2,656,215 | 6.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of alternative medical support services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,470 |
| 4 years | $29,990 |
| 5 years | $38,727 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for alternative medical support services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers alternative medical support services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $138,809 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | $138,086 |
| Orthoptists | $135,811 |
With 5 different alternative medical support services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased alternative medical support services school rankings to help you.
Students interested in alternative medical support services, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Direct Entry Midwifery | 74 |
| Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services, Other | 52 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
