Essential Information
Healthcare administrator certificate programs are available at 4-year schools as graduate programs. Post-graduate certificate programs in health administration provide coursework for professionals already working in health services administration who want to further their careers.
Students of these programs better understand their roles in both their organizations and the greater community as health administrators, as well as gaining a working knowledge of health law as it relates to the health industry.
Nursing home administrators must be licensed in every state, and assisted living administrators need a license in some states. Earning a license requires meeting education requirements and passing a competency exam.
Students must have a bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of experience in the healthcare industry before enrolling in a health administrative certificate program.
Certificate Programs in Health Administration
Coursework in a health administrator certification program focuses on leading teams of healthcare workers and dealing with physicians and other employees. Courses make potential administrators thorough in both the United States healthcare industry and the business of healthcare. Specific course topics include:
- Health services administration
- Legal aspects of health services management
- U.S. health policy
- Health services organizational behavior
- Leadership
Employment Outlook and Salary Info
Employment of medical and health service administrators and managers is expected to grow 32% from 2019-2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). Data from BLS also shows the median annual earnings of medical and health services managers was $104,280 in May 2020, with the highest ten percent earning $195,630 that year. Health administrators most often work in hospitals. Administrators may be called on to deal with problems at all hours of the day, to deal with insurance companies and keep a healthcare facility operating properly.
Professional Certification and Continuing Education Information
Healthcare administrators who wish to go into the nursing care facility administration field must pass a licensing examination and complete a short, state-approved training program. Some states require certain licenses for administrators in assisted living facilities.
Health administrators must also be dedicated to continuing education. With the potential of more government regulations of the healthcare industry, administrators will be responsible for informing their staff of laws passed both within their state and at the national level. New certifications are often available and may be paid for by the administrator's employer. In addition to the skills learned in a healthcare administration certificate program, administrators must become fluent with finance, accounting and have the ability to make quick decisions.
A certificate in health administration gives aspiring hospital administrators the knowledge required to oversee a health facility. The certificate is likely, one of many ongoing educational efforts, as health administrative positions are complex and require being abreast of current regulations and data.
