How to Become a Healthcare Administrator

How to Become a Healthcare Administrator

Are you considering a new career in healthcare leadership? Keep reading to discover how to become a healthcare administrator in this prosperous and fast-growing field.

Time Required:
– Typically 4-8 years

Degree Needed:
– Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) or Master’s in Nursing (MSN)

Job Outlook:
– Expected to grow by 32% from 2020 to 2030
– Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Accelerated Nursing Programs: How Do They Work?

With a median yearly salary exceeding $100,000 and a promising employment growth rate, healthcare administration offers numerous advantages and opportunities for individuals in nursing and health-related professions. This field includes roles such as healthcare executives and healthcare administrators, responsible for overseeing, managing, and coordinating medical services within clinics, departments, facilities, or practices.

In this guide, we will delve into the educational requirements for healthcare administrators, their typical work environments and responsibilities, and certification possibilities. This information will help you determine if healthcare administration is the right path for you. Read on for comprehensive details on how to become a healthcare administrator.

Healthcare Administrator Overview

Healthcare administrators secure positions in various medical settings, including hospitals, physicians’ offices, residential care facilities, outpatient care centers, and more. Their primary objective is to enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare services.

In particular, healthcare executives establish goals and objectives for their departments or facilities, ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and manage financial matters. Day-to-day tasks may encompass supervising staff, creating work schedules, formulating budgets, updating records, and maintaining communication with department heads.

Steps to Becoming a Healthcare Administrator

While specific employer requirements may vary, the typical minimum education necessary for healthcare administrator roles is a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field in healthcare, such as nursing. Pursuing optional healthcare management certification can lead to improved job prospects and higher salaries.

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in a Relevant Field

Besides a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), common undergraduate degrees held by healthcare executives include healthcare administration, public health, and business management. Students, including those in nursing programs, should seek curricula covering general management, finance, and healthcare topics such as long-term or ambulatory care. Typically, bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete.

2. Gain Experience in Healthcare Administration

A bachelor’s degree opens doors to entry-level healthcare management positions, as well as graduate degree programs. The kind of work experience required can depend on your career goals. For instance, managers of long-term care facilities often accumulate experience as registered nurses (RNs), while other employers may demand clinical experience in a hospital setting.

3. Obtain a Graduate Degree

While not a mandatory requirement for working as a healthcare administrator, a graduate degree offers substantial benefits in terms of career progression and earning potential. Master’s programs typically span two years, and options include healthcare administration, public health, and dual degrees in business administration and public health.

4. Consider Becoming a Certified Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administration certification options are available through organizations like the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management. Eligible applicants might need to become members of the certifying organization and often must have 2-4 years of healthcare experience (education can sometimes substitute for a portion of the experience requirements).

Healthcare Administrator Education

The educational paths for healthcare administrators can vary depending on your desired career direction. A BSN with coursework in finance and business provides a solid foundation for nursing home administrators and clinical managers. Healthcare information managers may consider degrees in health informatics or healthcare administration with a technology focus. Those interested in public health might major in public policy and social services.

Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor’s degrees serve as starting points for entry-level healthcare administrative positions, allowing you to complete your education in a maximum of four years and gain real-world experience.

Admission Requirements:
– High school diploma or GED certificate
– GPAs ranging from 2.0 to 2.5
– ACT or SAT scores

Program Curriculum:
– Financial management and budgeting
– Healthcare leadership
– Health law, ethics, and professionalism
– Health sciences
– Information systems

Time to Complete: 1-4 years

Skills Acquired: Analysis, communication, leadership, interpersonal, and technical skills

Master’s Degree

Master’s degree holders typically enter healthcare administration careers in leadership and management roles, often with higher starting salaries.

Admission Requirements:
– Bachelor’s degree
– 3.0 GPA
– GRE scores
– Work experience in the healthcare industry

Program Curriculum:
– Healthcare economics
– Healthcare policy
– Health informatics
– Human resources
– Strategic planning

Time to Complete: 1-2 years

Skills Acquired: Advanced leadership, data analysis and management, responding to healthcare challenges, and making organizational decisions.

Dual Master’s Degree Program

Master’s degrees in healthcare administration or nursing combined with business administration (MHA/MBA or MSN/MBA) are attractive to individuals interested in roles such as healthcare CEOs, executive directors, hospital administrators, and other fast-track leadership positions. A dual degree can open doors to careers in clinical or administrative settings.

Admission Requirements:
– Bachelor’s degree
– GPA between 2.75 and 3.0
– GRE or GMAT scores
– Current RN license
– Prerequisite coursework
– Professional experience

Program Curriculum:
– Advanced health assessment
– Evidence-based practice
– Healthcare financing
– Healthcare quality management
– Health informatics
– Health policy

Time to Complete: Two years

Skills Learned: Advanced practice nursing, finance, healthcare acquisitions and mergers, organizational leadership, and strategic planning

Working as a Healthcare Administrator

Job-seekers in the fast-growing field of healthcare administration can look forward to a projected 51,800 openings between 2020 and 2030. While more than a third of these positions will likely be available in hospitals, an aging population points to opportunities in long-term care facilities. Healthcare certifications can provide a competitive edge in the job market.

Healthcare administration professionals can also expect high-earning opportunities. Salaries range from $59,980 per year for the lowest 10% of earners to $195,630 for the highest 10%. The District of Columbia, New York, and Hawaii top the list of highest-paying states in this profession.

Common work settings for healthcare administrators include:

Hospitals

Healthcare administrators may oversee the entire hospital or manage a department. Their responsibilities include formulating and implementing policies and procedures, evaluating the quality of healthcare delivery, and preparing budgets and reports.

Nursing Homes

State-licensed nursing home administrators manage staff, facility admissions, finances, and building maintenance.

Health Information Management Departments

These managers maintain and secure patient records and ensure compliance with health information systems laws and regulations. They may also supervise medical records and health information staff.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Healthcare Administrator

What is the best degree for a career in healthcare administration?

Students interested in minimal years in school should consider a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or nursing with a leadership focus. But for those who want to start in high-level management, a dual MHA/MBA or MSN/MBA provides comprehensive training in both the business and clinical sides of the profession.

What opportunities for advancement are available for healthcare administrators?

For bachelor’s degree-holders starting out in entry-level healthcare administration, work experience leads to more responsibilities and higher salaries. Higher education and certification can pave the way to top-level positions in administration and leadership in hospitals, public health policy, and nursing education.

Can you become a healthcare administrator online?

Programs at all degree levels are offered online. Students should make sure that the nursing school, health administration, or other degree program holds accreditation, which signifies that the online curriculum meets the same standards as traditional programs and prepares graduates for healthcare management careers.

How can registered nurses (RNs) transition to a career in healthcare administration?

RNs who hold BSNs can transition in just a couple of years into healthcare administration roles by logging experience in entry-level leadership or earning a graduate degree in healthcare administration or a dual MHA/MBA or MSN/MBA degree. Clinical experience gained through nursing provides valuable knowledge and skills applicable to their new careers.