How To Become a Healthcare Administrator

If you’re interested in a leadership role in the healthcare field, becoming a healthcare administrator may allow you to oversee medical facilities, coordinate patient services, and manage operational and financial aspects of healthcare organizations within the broader healthcare system.¹

Rasmussen University offers an online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree designed to help students develop advanced skills and knowledge of the healthcare administration field. The graduate degree program may help support your long-term career goals, and can be completed in as few as 18 months, depending on factors such as course load and scheduling.¹

Skills Healthcare Administrators Typically Need

Through the program, students may develop skills that are important for healthcare administrators, including:¹

• Healthcare Leadership and Critical Thinking: Develop change management, teamwork, negotiation, and motivational skills to navigate challenges in fast-paced healthcare environments.
• Leveraging Healthcare Technologies: Keep pace with trends impacting patient experience, quality management, and process improvement.
• Strategic Planning and Decision-Making: Use data, technology, and organizational behavior to implement strategic plans and drive quality patient care.
• Population Health Management: Analyze healthcare data to determine patterns and actionable insights for public health and high-demand services.

Courses You Might Take as a Healthcare Administration Student

Rasmussen’s online MHA program offers 12 courses (48 credit hours), designed and taught by faculty with experience in the healthcare industry. Sample courses may include:¹

• Healthcare Policy, Ethics, and Laws
• Healthcare Information Systems and Technology
• Healthcare Quality Management

Each course includes live interactive sessions, real-world projects, and virtual labs, providing students opportunities to apply concepts through interactive coursework and virtual learning activities.¹

Healthcare Administration Program Overview

• Degree: Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)¹
• Length: May be completed in as few as 18 months for full-time students, depending on factors such as course load and scheduling¹
• Courses: 12 total (48 credit hours)¹
• Career Preparation: The program is designed to help students build knowledge and skills relevant to leadership roles in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations.¹

What Do Healthcare Administrators Typically Do?

Healthcare administrators, more specifically called hospital administrators, clinical directors, health services managers, or practice managers, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services across hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities and organizations. They may oversee an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. Administrators must adapt to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology to ensure efficient, high-quality care.³

Health Services Managers typically:³

• Develop goals and objectives related to efficiency and quality of healthcare services
• Ensure that the facility complies with state and federal laws and regulations
• Prepare and monitor budgets, manage finances, and oversee patient fees and billing
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate staff members, including creating work schedules
• Represent the facility or department at investor meetings, governing boards, or other organizational functions
• Maintain and organize records of facility services, such as patient census and bed usage

Medical and health services managers set and carry out policies, goals, and procedures for their departments or facilities. Their responsibilities can vary by employer and facility size. For example, managers of large hospitals may focus on broad organizational oversight and strategic planning, while those in smaller departments may also handle tasks like ordering medical supplies and coordinating daily operations. By coordinating people, policies, and technology, healthcare administrators play a critical role in maintaining patient safety, regulatory compliance, and quality of care.³

Typical Career Paths for Healthcare Administrators

Students may choose to pursue work as healthcare administrators in hospitals, physician practices, long-term care facilities, or public health organizations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare administrator roles like medical and health services managers are projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034.²

Explore Rasmussen’s Online MHA Program

With multiple start dates, flexible online courses, and support from faculty and advisors, the MHA program is designed to fit your schedule. Students complete interactive coursework and practical projects that may be applicable to leadership roles in healthcare administration.¹

Request more information or apply to learn how the program may support your educational and career goals as a healthcare administrator.¹

¹Rasmussen University, Master of Healthcare Administration Program, https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/healthcare-administration/ (accessed April 8, 2026).
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-6 (accessed April 8, 2026). Employment conditions in your area may vary.
³Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-2 (accessed April 8, 2026). Employment conditions in your area may vary.