We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Do I Become a Health Care Manager?

By Erik J.J. Goserud
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,678
Share

In order to become a health care manager, a person must acquire the appropriate education, experience, and skill sets specific to the type of management he or she would like to be employed in. This typically consists of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and graduate school. Sometimes, graduate work may be omitted if significant experience is obtained, but otherwise, a master's or doctorate is likely required in order to become a health care manager.

Health care managers may be employed in a variety of settings. These settings likely include nursing facilities, hospitals, and health care clinics, but they're also found in private doctor's offices, specialty clinics, and health care companies. Different training may be necessary to become a health care manager in different settings. For example, a manager in nursing facility will likely need clinical experience, whereas a manager for a health care insurance agency may not have experience dealing with patients.

Managerial backgrounds are typical for someone who wants to become a health care manager. This experience or education may of course be acquired through the necessary course work as well. There are a variety of degree programs designed to prepare a student for a career in health care management. These degrees most typically include MBA, MPH, and DPH programs.

An MBA is a master's in business administration. Many students acquire this degree for careers in business and management. A number of specialty programs associated with MBAs exist as well, including an emphasis in health care management. An MBA takes between one to three years to complete on average. MPH is the abbreviation for a master's in public health, and DPH stands for a doctorate of public health.

An MPH is typically a two- to three-year program that offers specialties in environmental health, maternal and child health, and general public health; others may choose to pursue a focus in public health and administration policy, bio statistics, health education, or even behavioral science. Most of these specialties cover all of subjects in the spectrum of public health but focus more on the specific specialty chosen by the student. The DPH is similar to the MPH in terms of subject areas covered but tends to have a more extensive curriculum and is often accompanied by a heavy emphasis in independent research.

Many times, a student may choose to accompany his or her managerial or public health degree with a clinical degree. This is why many dual-degree programs exist. In order to get into one of these programs, a student should strive to obtain a relevant bachelor's degree, take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and acquire as much relevant experience as possible. Public service and volunteer work are also very desirable for someone hoping to go to school to become a health care manager.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-become-a-health-care-manager.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.