Post Degree Certificates in Health Administration Guide

Overview

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A certificate in healthcare administration is a great way to add academic credentials to your resume without returning for a full degree program. Certificates take less time to complete and can be less strenuous. However, that's not to say that they're easy. A certificate program in health services is not easy, but you won't have to take a lot of general courses that don't specifically relate to your focus: health administration.

If you have a degree like one of the following, successful completion of a health administration certificate program to your resume as a form of professional development might be the exact thing you need to land a promotion into one of many leadership positions or a whole new career:

Keep in mind that there are two levels of health administration certificate: post bachelor's and post-graduate. If your bachelor's degree was not specifically aimed towards healthcare, you will likely want to choose from graduate programs that delve into the nuts and bolts of the industry. A post-baccalaureate certificate will likely offer you the specific parts of an undergraduate healthcare administration program without all of the core curriculum. A post-graduate or graduate certificate program will be similar in that they take the graduate healthcare-specific courses you might complete in, say, an MBA program and focus on those. Post-grad certificates often focus on finance, economics, and concerns related to operations that will allow working professionals to complete their graduate studies with an excellent foundational knowledge base and step into pursuing management work in health administration, health services administration, financial management, health policy, hospital program director, or other leadership positions.

Career and Salary Outlook

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There are two good reasons to enroll in a certificate program for healthcare administration: salary and job outlook. The healthcare sector is growing by leaps and bounds, with many health systems needing more health administrators than they have, and it pays its employees quite well. You are bound to be very happy with both your day to day job duties, but also with how well it sustains you and your family over the long-term.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, health administrators and medical and health services managers mean wage earned was $118,800 in 2020. The typical entry-level education for these workers was a bachelor's degree and they had fewer than five years’ worth of experience, though those who complete graduate programs in health services or health administration can earn more in the long run. To clear up any confusion, the BLS stipulates that these workers are also known as healthcare administrators and healthcare executives.

The BLS also lists comparable professions alongside their 2020 mean salaries:

The average of these salaries comes to $103,591, which is approximately $15,000 less than the median salary for healthcare administrators or a registered health information administrator. Consider, too, that not only will you receive a healthy salary, but that you will likely have other benefits included in your compensation package. Since you will be in the healthcare industry, it's likely that you and your family will receive ample healthcare benefits, on top of bonuses and other perks.

There is also good reason to believe that the industry will continue growing and adding more and more jobs. The BLS projects that growth in the industry will be "much faster than average" and will add 139,600 more jobs in the years between 2020-30. That is 32 percent growth, which is phenomenal. Thus, if you are considering upgrading your career, the healthcare industry is the place to do so. If you're in another industry with a general degree, all you need to do is attain a certificate in healthcare administration and get to work. Your previous experience in business or management will likely be a real benefit when you focus on healthcare.

Find Online Healthcare Administration Certification Schools

Ideal Candidate

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Before you start a job search, it's important to position yourself for success. That means attaining the right kinds of experience and academic credentials. You also need certain personality characteristics and to generally be a good fit for the healthcare culture.

While you might not have a lot of experience right now, you can always highlight certain skills that will translate to healthcare administration. If you are just getting started and are going back to school for your certificate, this might be the right time to work in an entry-level position within the healthcare industry. You might find a position in administration such as clerical work or you might work on the clinical side as nurse's aide or an orderly.

Though these jobs might not be what you aspire to, they will put you in the environment you need to be in. Along the way you will meet people who will help you advance later down the line. For instance, your boss will probably be a healthcare administrator. The human resources professionals who handle your hiring and your benefits are also in positions similar to what you aim for. Make the most of your interactions with them and they will remember you later. If possible, arrange informational interviews with them at lunchtime. During these focused, yet informal, chats, you can let them know that you are seeking a healthcare administration certificate. This will plant seeds that you can harvest later.

Once you have completed your certificate program, you can work on capitalizing on your experience. Even if you are working a comparable job in another industry, you can show hiring professionals how your work experience adds to your fresh academic knowledge. This blending of worlds might be what they are looking for. That is, you will bring a fresh perspective into the organization, one that will benefit everyone.

As for your personality, hiring managers are likely looking for someone with leadership qualities. These are things that anyone can develop, and they come primarily from confidence. Attaining a fresh credential and adding that to your prior experience can bolster your confidence. When you know that you have a mastery of what the job entails, that will show. Your interview responses will reflect competence, and your physical posture will leave no doubt in anyone's mind.

School Curriculum

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Your health administration certificate program's curriculum is very important. Prior to enrolling, make sure that the certificate courses reflect your long-term goals. Some programs might focus on finance and economics, such as a financial management certificate, while you might be more of a marketing or management whiz.

Many certificate programs are comprised of a set group of courses with little, if any, room for choice. You'll likely only take five or six courses during the entire program, however, focusing your skills on health administration.

Those courses can cover topics such as:

Before you apply to a certificate program, take a thorough personal inventory to determine your strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Even if the application doesn't ask for it, write yourself a personal statement of purpose. Then, when you assess each program's curriculum, you can do so through a strong, focused filter.

Choosing the Right School and Program

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You want to choose the right school and program for you and your career. Keep in mind that not every program is created equal. Each one will have its own unique set of courses and focuses. For that reason, you want to make sure those things will support your aspirations in health administration.

Once you've found a few graduate programs that support your goals, make sure that they are accredited. Accreditation will ensure that the health administration certificate program is reputable and will fully support you. That is, a program might sound perfect but, if they aren't accredited, your hard work and successful completion of the program still might not get you very far.

This is because other schools will look for accreditation when you send them your official transcripts to apply for more education. Employers, too, will want to know that your credentials are accredited before they start paying you to support their organizations. For instance, if you have a certificate from a non-accredited institution, your knowledge base might not be up to par. If, for instance, you are running a hospital department with incomplete or faulty knowledge, patient care might fall below industry standards.

When you are investigating programs or certificate courses, research their accrediting agency. That agency should be listed with the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. If their program is approved by one of those institutions, you should be in good shape and in a great position to move forward with your professional development.