Get details about the program structure and the requirements for studying healthcare administration online. Find out about careers available in this field, and check the employment outlook for healthcare administrators.
What Can You Tell Me About an Online Program?
It can take 18-24 months to complete an associate's degree program, which typically consists of about 60 credits of coursework. Program options related to healthcare administration include an Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Arts in Healthcare Administration or Healthcare Management. Though some schools may offer you the opportunity to complete all your degree requirements online, others offer blended programs that combine online and on-campus courses.
Instruction typically includes some basic office management courses, such as keyboarding, customer relations and business communication. Courses related to healthcare administration might include medical billing and coding, healthcare accounting and finance, medical law and ethics, healthcare information systems, medical office management and medical terminology.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Options</b></td><td> AA, AS, or AAS in healthcare administration or healthcare management</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Healthcare information systems, medical law and ethics, medical billing and coding, healthcare accounting and finance, medical office management</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Career Benefits</b></td><td> Preparation to transition to another career, potential for career advancement, working while taking classes online</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Career Options</b></td><td> Private physician's office, hospital or clinic, insurance company, state agency, public health department</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Annual Wage (2020)</b></td><td> $44,090 (<i>for medical records and health information technicians</i>)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhyShouldIPursueAnOnlineAssociateSDegreeInHealthcareAdministration">Why Should I Pursue an Online Associate's Degree in Healthcare Administration?</h3><p>If you're already employed in the healthcare industry and looking to advance your career, an online program will let you keep your job and apply class theories to your real-life work experience. If you're employed in another field, an online program can help you make the transition to the healthcare field.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAmIQualifiedToDoAfterIGraduate">What Am I Qualified to Do After I Graduate?</h3><p>An associate's degree may help you secure a position at a hospital or clinic, private physician's office, state agency, public health department or even an insurance company. You might also qualify to work as a technician or specialist, such as a health information technician. Because an associate's degree may not qualify you for an administrative position outside of office administration, you could transfer your credits to a bachelor's degree program in healthcare administration. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that you must hold at least a bachelor's degree to qualify for a position as a healthcare manager or administrator; although, a master's degree is preferred by many employers. A bachelor's degree program may also be offered online and could help you qualify for a position as a healthcare manager or administrator at a small facility. Healthcare administrators generally manage hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and outpatient care centers.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeWageAndEmploymentProjections">What Are Some Wage and Employment Projections?</h3><p>The BLS projected that employment opportunities for those working in healthcare were expected to increase 15% from 2019-2029, with an estimated 2.4 million jobs expected to be added in that decade. In 2020, medical secretaries earned a median salary of $37,350, according to the BLS. In the same year, the BLS reported that medical records and health information technicians earned a median salary of $44,090.</p>
