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Begin planning as early as possible for a
career in healthcare management. A good scholastic record is important—especially
since you'll want to attend a graduate program for a master’s
degree or doctorate.
Bachelor’s
degree: A bachelor’s degree is enough for some entry-level
positions in health administration, a few senior-level positions
in smaller operations, and for some middle management jobs in larger
organizations. Many schools and colleges offer undergraduate degrees
with a concentration in health services management. The purpose
of a baccalaureate education in this area is to provide the initial
education for professional careers in health services management.
The Association of University Programs in Health Administration
provides a list of undergraduate programs that are certified to
provide undergraduate health administration education. However,
an undergraduate degree in health services management is not required
to become a health services manager or to enter into a health administration
graduate program. Degrees in other areas, such as business, nursing,
or liberal arts, may also qualify you.
Master’s
degree: A master’s degree is required for almost every
position in the healthcare management field. The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education provides a list of accredited graduate
health administration programs. In the past, most students chose
the traditional route of a master’s degree in health administration
or public health. Today, however, students are investigating other
options, including graduate degrees in business and public administration,
with course concentration in health services management. Some schools
offer a joint degree—a master’s degree in both business
administration and public health, or in both healthcare management
and law, for example.Graduate
programs generally last two years and lead to a master’s degree.
They include course work in healthcare policy and law, marketing,
organizational behavior, healthcare financing, human resources,
and other healthcare management topics. This program may also include
a supervised internship, residency, or fellowship.
Professional
Association
As with any professional career, joining a professional
association can help give you a head start in the field and provide
you with resources to help you throughout your career. If you decide
on a career in healthcare management, you may want to consider joining
the American College of Healthcare Executives as a Student Associate.
ACHE
is an international professional society of 30,000 healthcare executives.
By joining ACHE as a Student Associate, you will experience the
excitement of discovering, exploring, and understanding the real
world of healthcare management. ACHE offers:
- Resume
review services
- An
online job bank and resume-posting service
- Continuing
education programs
- Subscriptions
to ACHE’s top-notch publications, Healthcare Executive
magazine and Journal of Healthcare Management, which cover
current issues affecting healthcare management
- Cutting-edge
research studies
…and more!
As
a Student Associate, you are also eligible to apply for the Stuart
A. Wesbury, Jr., Postgraduate Fellowship and ACHE’s Minority
Internship, two programs created for graduate students to complement
their studies in healthcare management.To
be eligible for Student Associate status, you must:
- Be
enrolled full-time or part-time in a four-year program in health
services management or a related field that leads to a baccalaureate
degree, or be enrolled as a graduate student in such a program
- Not
be employed in a full-time healthcare management position
Career
Planning Checklist
Make sure healthcare management is the right career choice for you.
-
Learn more about healthcare management careers. Talk to
professionals in the field, visit career planning Web sites, tour
a nearby hospital or other healthcare facility, or participate
in a healthcare-focused volunteer program.
- Read
about healthcare.
You can find interesting articles in local newspapers, national
magazines such as Newsweek and Time, and trade publications
such as Healthcare Executive, Frontiers of Health Service Management,
Journal of Healthcare Management, or Modern Healthcare.
Visit university libraries.
- Investigate
many educational programs. Discuss your interest in a healthcare
administration career with a guidance counselor and ask for help
in identifying appropriate colleges. Check out both undergraduate
and graduate
programs as well as financing opportunities
such as scholarships and financial aid. For information about
financial aid call the Federal Student Financial Aid Information
Center at (800) 433-3243.
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