How to Become a Healthcare Administrator

What Does a Healthcare Administrator Do?

“Healthcare administrators are a critical link between care providers, payers, and patients,” says Keith Olenik, MA, RHIA, CHP, chief member relations and service officer of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). “They have exciting careers, as they have a number of work options available.”

Healthcare administrators don’t usually interact with patients. Some of their most common job responsibilities include:

While healthcare administrators and healthcare managers can share similar responsibilities, they are two separate roles. Managers focus more on overseeing the staff of a specific department within a healthcare facility. Administrators focus more on the entire facility and its day-to-day operations.

How to Become a Healthcare Administrator

1. Decide on Your Career Goals

What job do you want in five years? This can affect which degree you choose and whether you focus on a specific area of administration, such as organizational development, population health, systems operations, and policy.

When setting career goals, think of potential day-to-day job duties, what role you would excel at, and how to get there.

For example, maybe you want to work with seniors in nursing homes, a job that could include advocacy and interpersonal communications with loved ones. Or maybe you want to work in public health policy, which may involve sharp research skills.

Another potential factor to consider is where you want to work. Olenik cites a slew of possible settings, including hospitals, multispecialty clinics, physician practices, long-term care and mental health facilities.

He also notes that healthcare administrators can work in a number of non-patient settings, such as:

2. Determine What Education You’ll Need

Healthcare administrators will need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the field. This is usually adequate for some entry-level positions.

Some healthcare organizations may require a master’s degree to fully demonstrate that a candidate is capable of handling large-scale management.

Depending on your career goals, your degree and coursework can vary. Here are some examples.

Bachelor’s Degrees

Healthcare Administration

Core coursework can include:

Internships are usually optional, but it’s highly recommended to gain real-world experience. You’re more likely to complete a capstone project. These projects usually are a final assignment that combines your studies with research or fieldwork to solve a real-world problem in your field.

This degree usually requires 120-180 credits and takes four years to complete. However, there are some fast-track programs that allow you to graduate in as little as 15 months. These are best for students who already have experience in the field and/or previous credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

Health Services Administration

Core coursework can include:

Internships are an elective credit for this degree. You’re more likely to complete a capstone project.

Most programs require 120 credits and take four years to complete.

Master’s Degrees

Master of Health Administration

Admission requirements include at least a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. If a school requires a GRE or GMAT score, it’s best to score above the 50th percentile. Work experience is not required, but at least two years is ideal.

Core coursework can include:

A master’s degree usually takes two to three years to complete.

Master of Public Health

This degree is highly competitive and requires a strong academic background. Applicants must either have at least two years of work experience with a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree. You’ll also need letters of recommendation.

Core coursework can include:

A fellowship and possibly a capstone project are common.

Most students take two to three years to complete the coursework.

Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to get into this program. You may not need a GRE or GMAT score unless you’re applying to highly competitive schools. There are many online degree options, so this is a flexible choice for working professionals.

Core coursework can include:

Most graduates complete this degree in two to three years.

3. Gain Practical Experience

Not all healthcare administrator jobs require previous medical experience like nursing.  However, some employers do want to know that you understand healthcare.

Some require recent graduates to have completed a fellowship. Since many master’s programs include an internship or fellowship, this allows you to gain real-world experience and graduate with a competitive resume.

If a student already has relevant administrative work experience, they may choose a degree program that allows them to progress through the curriculum faster. Some programs have an accelerated track for students who have work experience and can demonstrate competency in the degree subject.

4. Get Licensed

Most healthcare administrators don’t need a license to hold a job. The one exception is nursing home administrators.

Requirements can vary by state, so you’ll want to check with your state health department for information on how to qualify for a nursing home administrator license.

5. Consider Earning Professional Certification

Certification isn’t required to be a healthcare administrator, but employers may look for them, depending on the role.

Professional certifications can help prove to employers that you have absorbed knowledge from your degree and can apply it to the profession. You can also pursue specialty certifications that showcase your competence in a specific field.

Here are some common certifications for healthcare administrators:

Where Do Health Administrators Work?

Here’s a closer look at five places where health administrators work and their roles.

What to Look for In a Health Administrator Program

There are many factors to consider when choosing a healthcare administrator program. These are a few key factors:

Median Annual Salary

The median annual wage for healthcare administrators is $110,680, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

However, salaries for healthcare administrators are wide-ranging. For example, the top 10% earn more than $216,750 while the bottom 10% earn less than $67,900. This is partly because the BLS classifies healthcare administrators as medical and health services managers, which includes a broad range of jobs.

Your experience, education, and certification can also play a role in your salary. Another factor is your location. Take a look at the median pay in each state:

Professional Resources

Professional associations are a great place for students to start building healthcare administration careers. Many associations offer certifications, networking, and conferences. These opportunities can help you build your resume and learn from people already working in the field. Here are some associations to consider joining: