Online Healthcare Administration Degree

Online Healthcare Administration Degree

A Healthcare Administration degree can mean a better position for people who are already in the health care industry and who wish to advance or move to other facilities. With a degree in Healthcare Administration a host of opportunities open up. There are several managerial positions to be found in healthcare.

Degree Choices

Certificate (graduate), Master's, Doctorate. Generally career opportunities offered in Administrative positions are at the Graduate level. That is, for mid and high-level managerial positions, one is expected to combine the undergraduate degree, experience in their health care profession and a Graduate Certificate/Master's/PhD to make them eligible for an administrator's position.

It's not unusual to see someone build their health career over time. For example, you may get in the door of a hospital or care facility with an Associate's as a nursing assistant or a clerk. From there you could finish your Bachelor's part time while on the job (now it's more frequently done online!). As you grow in the organization, you may decide to become a supervisor or an administrator- it is then that you will want to study at the graduate level.

Those who decide to obtain a PhD will be eligible to teach at the top colleges, and may also find themselves authoring books about high-level medical topics. For high-level management positions in the Healthcare industry, generally a Master's degree and/or Certificate suffice.

Career and Salary Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be no slow down in the need of well-trained healthcare administrators. The Bureau projects a steady growth of 16% over the next seven years.

While clinics and outpatient care facilities will see their share of the growth, hospitals will remain the largest employer. Another area of growth will be the medical suppliers.

Salaries for Healthcare Administers average between $77,000 and $133,000. Experience is the key factor for the higher end of the salary continuum.