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The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

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Updated: 09/02/2025

Can You Get into Healthcare Administration with No Experience? Yes, and Here’s How

If you’re staring at job postings thinking, “I’d love to become a healthcare administrator, but I don’t have any experience,” I get it. Needing experience to get experience can feel like an impossible hurdle.

But getting into healthcare administration without prior experience is achievable. I know because I’ve done it myself. I began as a medical secretary without any healthcare background, eventually advancing to roles like revenue cycle supervisor and medical office manager. While it didn’t happen overnight, it was certainly possible.

Below, we’ll explain how to leverage your transferable skills, where to find entry-level opportunities, and what steps to take right now to position yourself as a strong candidate.

The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

Author: Maggie Aime, RN, MSN, CPC

HealthcareMedical CodingNursing

Editor: Sarah Mattie, MA

HealthcareOnline Learning

Updated: 09/02/2025

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The Basics
Entry Points
Education Paths
FAQs

Short Answer: Yes, But You’ll Need a Strategy

Getting into healthcare administration without experience is possible, but you need a plan to set yourself up for success. Even those these roles are projected to grow by 29% through 2033 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, competition remains high so you need a solid strategy to land one.

Step 1: Identify Your Transferable Skills

First, consider your transferable skills. Think about past roles involving customer service, project or team management, data entry, or general administrative tasks. Degrees unrelated to healthcare, such as business or communication, also indicate your ability to manage complex tasks effectively.

Step 2: Look for Entry-Level Roles

Next, begin looking for entry-level or transition positions that will let you learn the industry from the inside. Consider positions that require minimal or no prior experience, such as:

Patient services representative
Medical receptionist
Billing assistant
Unit clerk

These roles offer valuable industry insight and build foundational knowledge. While initial salaries might be modest, the long-term experience is invaluable.

Step 3: Consider Certifications or Courses

Additional credentials, like a certificate in healthcare administration or coursework in medical billing, can enhance your resume. You might be surprised to learn that hands-on experience, even in entry-level or support roles, often carries more weight than credentials. That’s precisely how I built my career: moving from one position to the next as I gained healthcare knowledge.

Call-Out Box: Fast Facts About Breaking into Healthcare Administration

Entry-Level Job Titles: Patient services representative, medical office coordinator, unit clerk, medical billing assistant
Average Entry-Level Salary: $38,000 – $52,000/year, depending on role and location
Projected Job Growth: 29%, from 2023-2033
Common Credentials: Certificate in healthcare administration, associate degree, or bachelor’s in health management
Who Hires Entry-Level Admins: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, insurance companies, long-term care facilities, public health agencies

Entry Points Without Direct Experience

Your ideal starting point depends on your current skillset and background. For example, whether you’re coming from a healthcare background or an unrelated field impacts what opportunities are immediately available to you.

That said, here are three practical strategies to help get you started:

1. Entry-Level Healthcare Admin Role

If you’re starting from scratch, entry-level administrative jobs are a great way to begin your journey to a healthcare admin career. Many of these positions, like patient services representative, unit clerk, or medical billing coordinator, don’t always require prior experience.

These jobs can help you familiarize yourself with the workings of healthcare systems as well as patient and staff communication. Don’t underestimate where these roles can lead! My time as a medical secretary is the foundation for every step that followed.

Highlight your strongest soft skills, like communication, attention to detail, organization, and multitasking, on your application and resume. Employers generally prefer candidates with healthcare knowledge, but many are willing to train someone who brings transferable skills and the right attitude.

2. Transition from an Allied Health or Clinical Role

If you’re already a medical assistant (MA), certified nursing assistant (CNA), or registered nurse (RN), you could have a smoother transition into healthcare administration. You’re likely familiar with the behind-the-scenes processes and impact of staffing issues on patient outcomes. Plus, your experience with patient care, healthcare workflows, and how different teams and departments collaborate can serve you well in your healthcare administration career.

Start by looking for jobs that blend your clinical knowledge with administrative duties. These include jobs like patient care coordinator, clinical scheduler, or front desk supervisor at medical practices. You might also consider talking to your supervisor about taking on additional administrative responsibilities in your current position.

Leverage Non-Healthcare Experience

Coming from roles in customer service, retail management, or HR provides a solid foundation. Skills like team management, scheduling, customer relations, data entry, and problem-solving translate effectively into healthcare administration.

Emphasize your relevant experience in your resume. For example, rather than stating you handled customer complaints, highlight how you effectively resolved complex issues while maintaining client relationships.

Education Paths to Break In

You don’t need a degree to start in healthcare administration, but the right education can help you move faster or go farther. And with options like online healthcare administration degrees, there are flexible programs for nearly every timeline, budget, or schedule.

If you want a quick career change, certificate programs can teach you the basics in under a year at a relatively low cost. Certificates show employers you’re serious about the field.

Alternatively, an associate degree in healthcare administration takes about two years and typically costs less than a four-year program. Having this degree may give you a stronger healthcare career foundation and open doors to better entry-level jobs right away.

A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration (BHA) takes about four years and is often required for leadership positions. If you’re aiming for upper-level careers, like a director or a policy-making job, a master’s degree in healthcare administration (MHA) can significantly boost your chances.

The table below shows how the different education paths stack up:

*Education Path*	Length	Avg. Cost Range	Best For…	Career Impact
Education Path *Certificate*	Length 6-12 months	Avg. Cost Range $1,500 – $5,000	Best For… Quick upskilling or career change	Career Impact Demonstrates basic skills and commitment
Education Path *Associate Degree*	Length ~2 years	Avg. Cost Range $5,000 – $15,000	Best For… Early-career or community college students	Career Impact Opens doors to entry-level roles
Education Path *Bachelor’s Degree (BHA)*	Length ~4 years	Avg. Cost Range $10,000 – $40,000+	Best For… Long-term career growth	Career Impact Essential for many leadership roles
Education Path *Master’s Degree (MHA)*	Length 1.5-3 years	Avg. Cost Range $15,000 – $60,000+	Best For… Bachelor’s holders aiming for leadership	Career Impact Required for senior and policy roles

FAQs About Getting into Healthcare Admin without Experience

What experience do you need to be a healthcare administrator?

You don’t always need prior healthcare experience to become a healthcare administrator, but relevant skills from previous jobs can help. Most employers look for candidates who understand customer service, scheduling, patient interaction, and workflow coordination. You can also build experience through an entry-level role at a medical facility, such as patient service representative or unit clerk.

How to get a job in healthcare administration with no experience?

Look for entry-level positions that don’t require healthcare experience, such as medical receptionist or medical secretary. Highlight your transferable skills, like managing schedules, working with teams, and multitasking. Internships or part-time roles in healthcare settings can be a good way to gain experience. You can also enroll in training programs to show initiative and commitment to the field, as well as gain relevant knowledge and skills.

Can healthcare administrators work from home?

Some healthcare administration careers can be done from home, but that’s far from universal. Many employers require healthcare administrators to be on-site to handle day-to-day responsibilities, like patient interaction and staff coordination.

Do you need a license to be a healthcare administrator?

Some healthcare administration careers require a license. For example, nursing home administrators need specific licensure in every state, and requirements can vary depending on the state. Some positions may also require healthcare administrators to be licensed as registered nurses or social workers, depending on the role and its responsibilities.

Do you have to be a nurse to be a healthcare administrator?

You generally don’t have to be a nurse or have any clinical background to be a healthcare administrator. However, certain healthcare administration careers require specialized knowledge or licensure.

Maggie Aime, RN, MSN, CPC AUTHOR

Maggie Aime is a freelance writer with over 25 years of healthcare experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Capella University. Her clinical expertise covers multiple specialties, including oncology, cardiology, kidney transplant, and pediatrics. In addition to her clinical background, Maggie has worked as a patient financial counselor and is a certified professional coder, providing her with insight into healthcare operations and finance. She applies this diverse experience to create content that supports students in both the clinical and business aspects of healthcare. Maggie’s writing has appeared in prominent healthcare and educational publications such as AARP, GoodRx, Next Avenue, Everyday Health, Fortune, and Well+Good.

Sarah Mattie, MA EDITOR

Sarah Mattie has over five years of experience writing and editing for postsecondary education websites. She specializes in creating clear, accessible content and overseeing writers and editors. While earning her master’s degree at Emerson College, Sarah contributed articles to communication publications and wrote a thesis on the use of theatre in TESOL. Her work focuses on delivering accurate and engaging information that meets readers’ needs and supports their academic and career goals.

Why Trust EduMed?

Can You Get into Healthcare Administration with No Experience? Yes, and Here’s How

FIND THE PROGRAM FOR YOU

Short Answer: Yes, But You’ll Need a Strategy

Step 1: Identify Your Transferable Skills

Step 2: Look for Entry-Level Roles

Step 3: Consider Certifications or Courses

Call-Out Box: Fast Facts About Breaking into Healthcare Administration

Entry Points Without Direct Experience

1. Entry-Level Healthcare Admin Role

2. Transition from an Allied Health or Clinical Role

Leverage Non-Healthcare Experience

Education Paths to Break In

FAQs About Getting into Healthcare Admin without Experience

What experience do you need to be a healthcare administrator?

How to get a job in healthcare administration with no experience?

Can healthcare administrators work from home?

Do you need a license to be a healthcare administrator?

Do you have to be a nurse to be a healthcare administrator?

Maggie Aime, RN, MSN, CPC AUTHOR

Sarah Mattie, MA EDITOR

Why Trust EduMed?

Keep Learning

Can You Get into Healthcare Administration with No Experience? Yes, and Here’s How

FIND THE PROGRAM FOR YOU

Short Answer: Yes, But You’ll Need a Strategy

Step 1: Identify Your Transferable Skills

Step 2: Look for Entry-Level Roles

Step 3: Consider Certifications or Courses

Call-Out Box: Fast Facts About Breaking into Healthcare Administration

Entry Points Without Direct Experience

1. Entry-Level Healthcare Admin Role

2. Transition from an Allied Health or Clinical Role

Leverage Non-Healthcare Experience

Education Paths to Break In

FAQs About Getting into Healthcare Admin without Experience

What experience do you need to be a healthcare administrator?

How to get a job in healthcare administration with no experience?

Can healthcare administrators work from home?

Do you need a license to be a healthcare administrator?

Do you have to be a nurse to be a healthcare administrator?

Maggie Aime, RN, MSN, CPC AUTHOR

Sarah Mattie, MA EDITOR