Hospital Administrator Qualifications
A master's degree in health care administration or related field is usually the minimum educational level required to attain the position of hospital administrator. The first step right before or right after graduation should be to participate in a fellowship or internship with a health care company. Most fellows or interns work with a mentor who will help guide them through the first few years in the health care management field. The path to hospital administrator is not direct and an employee usually has over 10 years experience as a health care manager prior to becoming a hospital administrator. There are no entry level hospital administrator jobs and most managers mentor with a hospital administrator several years before they are able to attain the position of hospital administrator. Most hospital administrators are members of professional associations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) or the American Hospital Association (AHA). Some hospital administrators also obtain certifications from organizations to complement their education and experience. Most hospital administrators are very active in the communities they work in and may be board members of community groups, host fundraisers or volunteer time for charities.

CHE Certification
Although the CHE certification may not be required for all healthcare executives, those who aspire to hospital administration are well advised to pursue this credential. For those new to healthcare, it's a good way to establish credibility and learn more about healthcare. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) signifies your expertise, experience and commitment to continuing education and professional development.

Hospital Administration Career Paths
New graduates with master's degrees in health services administration may start as department managers or as supervisory staff. The level of the starting position varies with the experience of the applicant and the size of the organization. Hospitals and other health facilities offer postgraduate residencies and fellowships, which usually are staff positions. Graduates from master's degree programs also take jobs in large medical group practices, clinics, mental health facilities, nursing care corporations, and consulting firms.

Graduates with bachelor's degrees in health administration usually begin as administrative assistants or assistant department heads in larger hospitals. They also may begin as department heads or assistant administrators in small hospitals or nursing care facilities.

Hospital Administration Employment Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of medical and health services managers to grow (16%) faster than average for all occupations through 2014, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The enormous size of this industry ensures a large number (43,000) of new jobs for the next several years.

Hospital Administration Salary Potential
According to the BLS, median annual earnings of wage and salary medical and health services managers were $73,340 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $57,240 and $94,780. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,050, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $127,830.

Hospital Administrator Median Salaries by Degree (figures provided by Payscale.com)

Health Administration - Master of Health Administration
The Executive Program in Health Services Management is designed to help meet the growing demand for health professionals with high-quality management training, by offering a CAHME accredited Master of Health Administration degree. The program prepares practicing professionals for executive leadership positions across the full spectrum of health care settings. Candidates for the program include physicians, nurses, other clinical professionals, and finance, information, and human resource executives with at least three years of clinical or administrative experience.

Implemented in 1965, the program is a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and has been accredited since 1968 by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

University of Missouri also offers:

• Health Administration & Informatics - Dual Master's
• Health Informatics - MS

Administration of Health Care Institutions - Master of Public Health
Benedictine University's Master of Public Health - Administration of Health Care Institutions program is designed for persons who currently work or intend to work in organizations engaged in the administration of health and medical care. Comprising its base are the core disciplines of management, statistics and epidemiology. Graduates from this program can be found in a wide variety of leadership roles in many different professional settings including hospitals, independent cardiac rehabilitation programs, agencies, schools, corporations and health clubs. In addition to professional preparation, the program also provides an excellent educational background for those who wish to pursue further study at the doctoral level. The certificate in Health Care Administration may be earned prior to completion of the MPH degree. This MPH degree is completed in 24 credits.

• Disaster Management - Certificate
• Disaster Management - MPH
• Health Administration - MBA
• Health Education - MPH
• Health Policy - MPH
• Public Health - MPH

Health Care Administration - Master
This practice-oriented online degree program offered at Walden University features a relevant, current curriculum that addresses the core competencies and best practices of the profession. It emphasizes understanding clinical service delivery through the analysis of the day-to-day operations in clinical support service activities and includes a practicum to give you hands-on experience in the field. The cutting-edge curriculum will help you develop the skills, knowledge, and expertise in health care management needed for leadership positions across the spectrum of health care delivery organizations. Career opportunities are available in the following fields, Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Supplies, Health Insurance Organizations, and Healthcare Policy Organizations.

Walden University also offers:

• Health Services / Health Management and Policy - PhD

Health Administration - Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA) major is designed to integrate a foundation of general education and applied sciences with the expertise that prepares the graduate for management positions in health care. The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration curriculum addresses the basic body of knowledge, understanding, and skills identified to be relevant to health care administration. This degree program offers specializations in Health Information Systems and Long Term Care.

Health Administration - Master
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program prepares leaders who can effectively respond to the dynamic and ever-changing health care industry. These individuals have a capacity to critically examine and evaluate issues and trends and are empowered to influence the destiny of the global health care system. Curriculum is tailored to the needs of the health care leader/manager by providing content in finance, policy, research, technology, quality improvement, economics, marketing and strategic planning. This degree program offers specializations in Education, Gerontology, and Informatics.

• Health Care Administration (General, Medical Records, or Pharmacy Practice) - AA
• Health Administration (Education, General, Gerontology, or Informatics) - MHA
• Health Administration - Doctor
• Health Care - Individual Courses
• Nursing / Master of Health Administration - MSN
• Nursing / MBA / Health Care Management - MSN

Healthcare Management - Bachelor of Science
The BS in Healthcare Management program provides an understanding of the healthcare industry and a complete understanding of the management, business and patient-care issues relevant to today's public health arena.

• Health Care Administration - Master of Business Administration

Healthcare - Master of Business Administration
The Healthcare MBA program will prepare students to become effective leaders in a constantly evolving healthcare industry. In this program, students will attain effective analytical skills, human resource management tools, a sound understanding of finance and accounting principles, and an ability to recognize strategic opportunities.

Health Care Management - Master of Business Administration
This MBA Health Care Management specialization is designed to strengthen the management and business skills you need to function effectively within the health care industry.

Health Care Management - Doctor of Philosophy
This online Health Care Administration specialization includes advanced research and course work in analysis, strategic planning, organizational change, ethics, law, and quality improvement, focused on the health care field.

Healthcare Management - Associate of Arts in Business Administration
Students who complete the AABA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration will have acquired industry current knowledge that can help prepare them to pursue career opportunities such as: Admitting Clerk, Patient Services Representative, Healthcare Supply Coordinator, Front Office Medical Assistant, Medical Records Clerk and many other in-demand professions.

Healthcare Management - Bachelor of Business Administration
The BBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management degree completion program provides a solid foundation for those interested in a management position in healthcare, whether in a hospital, long-term care facility, insurance company, managed-care organization, pharmaceutical company, or one of the many other healthcare-related industries. This program combines a core education in business and focuses on critical topics in healthcare management.

Healthcare Management - Master of Business Administration
AIU Online's MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management degree program can be completed in as little as 10 months. The 48-credit program helps prepare students for senior managerial positions in hospitals, medical practice organizations, long-term care facilities, community health providers, health insurance companies, consulting firms, managed care organizations, and pharmaceutical companies.

Healthcare Management - Bachelor of Science
Students of the Healthcare Management degree program will study multiple facets of healthcare, including medical law and ethics, psychology, physiology, management, planning, and regulation and compliance in healthcare.

Healthcare Management - Bachelor of Science
The Health Care Management degree completion program is designed to provide working professionals with the necessary skills to become effective managers and leaders in the fast growing health care industry.

• Medical Staff Services Management - AAS
• Management / Health Care Administration - Master
• Health Care Administration - MBA

Health Services Administration - Master
The Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) program prepares graduates to manage and direct the business aspects of today's health services organizations. Many graduates of this program work as hospital administrators, healthcare managers, managed healthcare plan coordinators, short and long-term residential facilities managers, and medical records and health information technicians.

Health Services Administration - Associate of Arts
Keiser University's Associate of Arts degree in Health Service Administration provides instruction in basic health services administration skills. Students use laptop computers to learn computer skills and software applications necessary to prosper in a healthcare business environment. The program prepares students in both business and health service administration, providing courses on business law, management and marketing principles, medical anatomy, physiology and terminology and front office management.

Health Services Administration - Bachelor of Arts
Students of the Healthcare Management degree program will study multiple facets of healthcare, including medical law and ethics, psychology, physiology, management, planning, and regulation and compliance in healthcare.

Health Services Management - Master of Science
Students of the Healthcare Management degree program will study multiple facets of healthcare, including medical law and ethics, psychology, physiology, management, planning, and regulation and compliance in healthcare.