Certificates in Healthcare Administration Online: See Top Programs
An online healthcare administration certificate can be a great entry point into this fast-growing field. These programs offer a quick path to key skills without the commitment of a full degree. Let EduMed walk you through these programs, including answers to student questions, examples of top schools, and a look at common careers for HCA certificate holders.
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A Healthcare Administrator’s Guide to Certificate Programs
Many healthcare administration certificates take place 100% online with no in-person requirements. Courses may occur in an asynchronous format (learn anytime) or a synchronous (attend online lectures on a specific time and day) format.
Expert Insight
A healthcare administration certificate is a great way to test the waters before committing to a full degree.
To help you find the best fit, we’ve spotlighted three popular healthcare administration certificate online programs. These excel due to their high-quality curriculum, affordability, flexibility, and potential to transfer credits to a fully-fledged degree program.
Healthcare Administration Certificate – Texas Tech University
The Healthcare Administration Certificate programs at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are ideal for busy working professionals who want to build a knowledge base to further their careers without pursuing a full graduate degree in healthcare administration.
Students can choose between five distinct certificate programs in healthcare administration, all of which are offered entirely online in accelerated, eight-week formats for maximum flexibility.
Expert Insight
If you’re already working full time, programs with short eight-week courses are intense, but I’ve also found it easier to maintain momentum. It also helps to take breaks between classes to come back refreshed for your next course.
The Health Informatics and Data Analytics, Health Systems and Policy and Management, Healthcare Finance and Economics, and Health Systems Engineering and Management Certificates each consist of 12 credit hours; six of which are transferable to the Master of Science in Healthcare Administration. The Long-Term Care Administration Certificate consists of 15 credit hours, nine of which may be transferred to the MSHA program.
Duration: 12-15 credit hours
Mode: Online
Cost: $579/credit
Admissions Requirements: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and submit official transcripts. GREs are not necessary.
Curriculum:
- Healthcare Research Methods & Statistics
- Healthcare Decision Sciences & Business Analysis
- Health Informatics & Data Analytics
- Healthcare Finance
- Healthcare Delivery System
- Healthcare Operations & Supply Chain Management
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Healthcare Administration Certificate – St. Joseph’s College of Maine
At Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, students can find health administration certificates online at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The program is entirely online with weekly deadlines that help students maintain steady progress. Each certificate offered provides undergraduates with solid foundations in the health administration field.
Graduate students have the option to specialize with the Catholic Health Care Leadership Certificate, the Long-Term Care Administration program, or the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study. Students may also transfer credits to a bachelor’s or master’s degree program at Saint Joseph’s if they choose to pursue a degree.
Duration: 15-18 credit hours
Mode: Online
Cost: $390 (undergraduate certificate) to $609 (graduate certificate)/credit
Admissions Requirements: Prospective students should complete an online application and submit transcripts from previously attended high school or college.
Curriculum:
- American Healthcare Systems
- Human Resource Management
- Healthcare Administration: Management Foundations
- Healthcare Financial Management
- Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administrations
- Ethics in Health Administration
Healthcare Administration Certification – University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota students can expand their career opportunities with the Health Administration Certificate.
This graduate-level program requires just nine credit hours. It is designed to build managerial skills for professionals already working in the healthcare field or those who want to transfer their business acumen to the healthcare industry.
This program is highly flexible with options to attend classes on-campus, in a hybrid format, or entirely online. After obtaining a certificate, students may apply these credits toward the on-campus or online Master of Public Administration program at UND. This highly adaptable program would make an excellent choice for ambitious healthcare professionals who want to advance their education while continuing their ongoing career commitments.
Duration: 9 credit hours
Mode: Online
Cost: $506/credit
Admissions Requirements: A completed application and post-secondary transcripts – no prior experience necessary.
Curriculum:
- Health Administration and Organization
- Health Policy
- Planning and Management to Promote Health
- Problems in Political Science and Public Administration
- Program Evaluation
What to Know: Healthcare Administration Certificate FAQs
What are the admissions requirements for an online certificate in healthcare administration?
Admission requirements for a health administration certificate online programs can vary by institution and whether you plan to pursue a graduate or undergraduate certificate. For undergraduate certificates, applicants generally need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, while graduate programs typically require a bachelor’s degree and a minimum average GPA of 3.0. Professional graduate certificate programs often have additional requirements, including:
- Professional references
- A resume proving your previous experience, often with an emphasis on healthcare, like at the University of Cincinnati
- At least one letter of recommendation, though some schools ask for as many as three
- A letter of intent or statement of purpose outlining your career goals
Can I transfer my credits from a healthcare administration certificate to a degree program later?
It’s quite common for credits earned as part of a health administration certificate online to be transferable to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the same field, as is the case at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and Oklahoma State University. Credits earned are typically considered standard college credits and thus eligible for transfer to another school, though this may differ depending on the school. It is important to consult with academic advisors before relying on transfer credits.
Can I get financial aid to help pay for my online healthcare administration certificate program?
Federal, private, and school-based financial aid is often available for health administration certificate online programs. However, eligibility can depend on your school, the exact program, and your unique financial situation. You can learn more about navigating the financial aid application process in our financial aid guide and more about specific scholarship opportunities in our healthcare admin student scholarships guide.
How long are healthcare administration certificate programs and can I earn one part-time?
That can depend on how much time you have to dedicate to coursework. Whether you’re earning an undergraduate or graduate healthcare administration certificate online, many programs are designed with accelerated course formats. They can be completed within six months to one year of full-time study. Part-time students can expect up to two years to complete their certificate.
Expert Insight
Do not underestimate the amount of time needed to commit to coursework. I recommend planning to set aside 10-12 hours per week of study to stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.
What’s the difference between a healthcare administration certificate and a healthcare management certificate?
Though these terms are often used interchangeably, healthcare administration and healthcare management are distinct from one another. Healthcare administration focuses on managing healthcare organizations’ day-to-day organizational needs, financial concerns, and operations. In contrast, healthcare management is geared toward overseeing the big-picture, strategic decision-making of a healthcare facility or system. Our complete guide provides more details about online healthcare management certificate programs.
Healthcare Administration Certificates: Potential Career Paths
Studying to become a health care administrator online can open up career paths and opportunities in settings including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and outpatient care centers.
As reported by Michigan State University, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to more than double by 2060. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for Medical and Health Services Managers to grow by 23% from 2024 – 2034. The median pay for these professionals was $117,960 in 2024.
Expert Insight
Obtaining a certificate is a relatively quick way to strengthen your resume. It shows employers you’re motivated to put the time and effort into building your knowledge base and stepping into bigger roles.
Hospital Administrator
A hospital administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of a facility including staffing, patient care, compliance, and budgeting. This job may be mid-level or in the case of the CEO, CFO, or COO, it can be executive level. Administrator jobs may require an advanced degree such as a masters or a doctorate. Certain certificate programs have transferrable credits should you decide to pursue an advanced degree such as a masters in healthcare administration.
Nurse Manager
A nurse manager serves as a bridge between the clinical and administrative sides of a healthcare facility. Nurse managers are usually RNs with an advanced degree in healthcare administration and they often oversee scheduling, staffing, budgeting, and quality of patient care.
Health Information Manager
A health information manager oversees electronic health records, navigates health information systems, and analyzes data to improve patient care. This is a mid-level position that isn’t patient-facing, so if you prefer to work behind the scenes in healthcare, this could be a good option.
Clinical Director
Compared to a hospital administrator or facilities manager, a clinical director focuses less on day-to-day operations and more on patient care and staffing. A clinical director will also ensure that a facility complies with government rules and regulations. This position typically requires several years of healthcare work experience and an advanced degree.
Facilities Manager
If you’re interested in the brick-and-mortar aspects of a healthcare facility, this type of role may be fulfilling. Facility managers ensure that a hospital or clinic is well-maintained and operating at optimal levels of health and safety. This role may work non-traditional hours as hospitals are open 24/7.
