Getting an advanced degree, no matter what your field, leads to higher-paying jobs with more responsibility. If you work in health care administration, there are actually a number of different master’s degree programs in which you can enroll. One of your options is a masters of health administration, or MHA program, which prepares you for a number of leadership roles. Here is just a sampling of some of the careers paths you could go down if you have an MHA degree:

CEO or COO

No matter where you work or what kind of healthcare company you run, the top positions are that of the CEO (and president, in some cases) and the COO. With an MHA, you’ll be qualified to work in these top positions, which require you to make vital choices about the company. These are by far the highest-paying jobs in the healthcare administration world, on average (though many government jobs can also be quite lucrative).

Hospital Administrator

All hospitals have CEOs and COOs, and there are also other administrators to make sure that the facility runs smoothly. As a hospital administrator, you’ll work closely with the staff to regulate patient care, implement and uphold policies, and make judgment calls. This is a very high-pressure job, but hospital administrators can easily make over six figures per year.

Nursing Home Administrator

In all 50 states, you need to meet special requirements to become a licensed nursing home administrator, in part because nursing home abuse and neglect have been such big problems in the United States. As a nursing home administrator, you’ll oversee all of the staff responsible for patient care.

Practice Administrator

If you want a more intimate setting, working as an administrator for a private practice might be for you. This kind of administrative position is similar to that of a hospital administrative position, but you’ll work with a much smaller staff and a small number of patients. Average annual salary in this position is around $80,000, according to Payscale.com.

Consultant

Once you have experience in your field of choice, becoming a consultant is always an option. This is true in the medical administration world as it is in any other industry. By getting an MHA, you’re better prepared for a consulting career, though most opt to work in a leadership administrative position first.

These are not, by far, the only career paths available to you once you have an MHA. You can work in office management, health information management, insurance, medical supply sale, and more. There are also many positions for MHA degree holders in the government, at both the local/state and federal levels, so if you have an interest in policy-making, public service, and law, one of these positions might be right for you.

Remember, the stronger candidates are offered the better jobs, so if you want your pick of career paths, work to not only get your MHA, but also gain valuable experience in your field by helping your employers meet goals.

A Master of Health Administration degree is a professional degree that will prepare students for careers in healthcare administration. Holders of this degree will be prepared to become involved in the management of health services organizations, hospitals, and more. Below is a carefully compiled list of some of the best schools offering MHA programs online.

Online MHA MHA - Gerontology MHA - Health Education MHA - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program offered by the University of Phoenix is an advanced accredited degree program suited for professionals looking to gain knowledge and credentials needed to advance in today's healthcare industry. The flexible online coursework includes finance, economics, makreting, quality improvement, and more.
MS in Health Communication	Boston University — The College of Communications at Boston University offers a unique MS in health communication degree program that positions its students to become leaders in the emerging fields of health care, crisis management, social marketing, and public relations. Students of this program can earn their degree within 18 months.
Online MHA Master of Public Health	Walden University — Walden offers an online MHA degree program that is sure to prepare students for a fruitful career as a health administrator. Jobs in a wide variety of healthcare settings will become available to graduates of this program, including insurance, offices, hospitals, supplies, policy, and more.
MBA - Healthcare Management	Northeastern University — The MBA program at Northeastern University offers a specialization in healthcare management that is ideal for anyone seeking to advance a career in health administration. This online program is flexible and details how business intersects with healthcare issues.
MBA in Healthcare	George Washington University — The online MBA Healthcare program at GWU comes from a top-notch university and cn be completed within two years. The program comprises 24 core and 12 elective courses. Anyone completing the program is well-suited to manage the business operations of a healthcare practice.
Online MHA	Ohio University — The online Master of Health Administration degree offered by Ohio University includes coursework in health system structures, managed care, health policy, marketing, strategic planning, finance, and more.
MS - Health Admin Master of Public Health MPH - Health Management MS in Gerontology	Capella University — Available for study entirely online, Capella's master's degree in healthcare administration program covers multiple graduate-level areas of study pertaining to healthcare, including quality improvement, law, finance, policy, and much more. Gradutate of this program will be well prepared to advance their healthcare careers.
MS in Health Admin	New England College — The master's degree in healthcare administration offered by New England College is a graduate-level program that is geared toward current healthcare professionals with bachelor's degrees looking to undertake more managerial responsibilities in the workplace.
MS - Healthcare Management MBA - Healthcare Management MPH - Development MPH - Health Education	Kaplan University — For anyone in the healthcare industry seeking an MS, Kaplan University offers an online Master of Science in healthcare management that is perfectly suited for individuals pursuing upper-level management positions in hospitals, outpatient centers, doctors' offices, and more.
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