How to Become a Medical Administrator & Requirements Needed

By Victoria Robles

Medical administrators are like the CEOs of large corporations, only they use their knowledge of business and accounting to successfully run health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Depending on the size and type of health care facility, medical administrators are trained to manage health care staff, patient records and financial records. Obtaining a master's degree in health care management or business administration is one of the best ways to begin a career in medical administration, but there are also other requirements for a career in this field.

Check licensing requirements in your state. Some medical administrators, like those working in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, are required to obtain a state license by passing a training course and state exam. Some of the requirements that must be met in applying for this type of license include having a bachelor's degree in business administration or public health administration or a combination of an associate degree and several years of experience managing a nursing home. If you plan to work in these types of health care facilities, you should check with the medical board in your state. Use the link to the Federation of State Medical Boards that is in the Resource section of this article to locate the contact information for the medical board in your state.

Obtain a degree in business or health services administration. Think about the type of health care facility you want to work in and what skills you will be required to learn to manage that type of facility. The skills you need to manage a small clinic or physician's office are very different from the skills needed to manage a hospital or nursing home. Some entry-level positions in this field only require an associate degree, and you can use your work experience to get a higher position. Make sure that subjects like health information systems, management, medical transcription, human resources, accounting, and medical records and medical billing are included in your list of required courses. You may also benefit from attending a school that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Recognized by the Department of Education, CAHME reviews health care management education programs to ensure that they meet the commission's high-quality standards (see Resources for link).

Gain experience by working in a medical setting. It is important to understand the medical terminology used to communicate with other medical professionals and the day-to-day operations of a medical office or facility. And without some experience, you may not have the same job opportunities upon graduation. Check with your school counselor about internship opportunities. You can also consider getting an entry-level job working in a hospital or a clinic. The Medical Group Management Association has an internship directory available on its website that includes contact information and a detailed description of internship opportunities (see Resources for link).

Receive training on health care and medical records regulations. As a medical administrator, part of your job will involve managing medical records and ensuring that your staff members are in compliance with privacy laws and health care regulations. The HIPAA Privacy Rule and the PSQIA Patient Safety Rule are just two of the important regulations that you must understand in order to successfully manage a health care facility. The best way to get training on these regulations is to register for a training course, several of which are available online.

Apply for medical administrator positions. Your job search should include a search of entry-level jobs available at hospitals, clinics and doctor's offices, even if you have a master's degree. When you are first starting out, you will have more opportunities to get an entry-level position that will allow you to gain work experience. Search online job boards, the newspaper, and state or federal government jobs at usajobs.gov. Contact the supervisors that you worked for as an intern for help with your job search.

Join an association for medical administrators, such as the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), which will help you to improve your skills throughout your career. With your membership, you will have access to networking opportunities and continuing education courses that will help you develop your skills as a medical administrator. Also, ask other medical administrators for information about associations they have joined. Contact MGMA online to find out more about their membership fees.

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