Learn healthcare administration

Healthcare administrators manage the non-clinical functions of healthcare organizations and centers. Their work contributes to the quality of patient care as well as the day-to-day logistics of a department, section, or an entire facility.

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Healthcare administrator talking with doctors in a hospital hallway.

Why learn healthcare administration?

Healthcare administration courses and programs focus on the management side of healthcare delivery. Their learning goals typically include:

Managing human and financial resources
Optimizing patient outcomes
Choosing and implementing health technologies
Building decision-making skills for healthcare settings

Healthcare administration programs can help medical employees upskill for higher-salaried leadership roles across healthcare settings. In a 2025 edX survey, 28% of upper management professionals reported that executive leadership skills are a top skill for career advancement. Healthcare administration programs offer executive leadership skills tailored for medical management roles.

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Choosing the right healthcare administration program for you

When choosing healthcare administration courses or programs, consider factors like program length, delivery format, academic content coverage areas, and relevant career paths.

By considering program features and your career goals, you can determine if a learning opportunity might be worth it to help you meet your objectives.

Non-degree courses and programs can help established healthcare professionals advance in their roles or transition from care delivery into administration. Degree programs explore the field in greater depth, preparing students to enter careers with growth potential.

Time requirements vary. Non-degree programs may last weeks or months. A bachelor's degree typically takes four years, while a master's degree in healthcare usually requires about two years.

edX offers flexible learning formats to help you meet your learning goals on your own terms. Program options include:

Standalone courses
Healthcare admin degrees
Executive Education

Healthcare administration courses

Standalone healthcare admin courses can help you learn about targeted topics, such as financial management, data science in healthcare settings, regulatory compliance, or patient relations. They may be ideal if you want to enhance your existing knowledge or acquire new skills.

Courses typically take 4-12 weeks to complete, and some may not have academic prerequisites, but general familiarity with the subject matter may benefit your learning.

Healthcare administration degrees

Degree programs might be a good match if you are looking to develop deep knowledge for your career. You can enroll in a healthcare administration degree program offered by reputable universities through edX.

Typical completion timelines depend on degree level:

Associate degree: About two years
Bachelor's degree: About four years
Master's degree: About two years

Undergraduate programs tend to require fewer prerequisites than graduate programs. Master's, professional, and doctoral degree programs are usually designed for learners with related degrees, firsthand career experience, or both.

Executive education in healthcare administration programs

If you're already working in healthcare administration and want to broaden your knowledge base, fill in skills gaps, or explore specific aspects of the healthcare industry, executive education might be right for you.

Executive education programs in healthcare administration typically do not award academic credits, but participants do earn a certificate of completion or another credential. These programs can usually be completed in about 6-8 weeks, making executive education an excellent way to enhance your résumé by obtaining a credential from a prestigious institution.

Jobs in healthcare administration

Jobs in healthcare administration are available for professionals of various education levels. Some entry-level roles require only a non-degree certificate. For positions with more responsibility and advancement potential, you'll usually need an undergraduate or master's degree in healthcare.

Consider the following career options in healthcare administration:

Medical records specialist

Medical records specialists create, maintain, update, and protect the information in patient files. They track patient treatment history, manage and retrieve records for insurance purposes, and ensure compliance with data and privacy protection regulations.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median annual salary (2024): $50,250
Educational requirements: Postsecondary certificate, diploma, or associate degree

Health information technologist

Operating at the intersection of information technology and healthcare administration, these professionals specialize in managing digital patient records. They recommend digital platforms and technologies, advise healthcare institutions on compliance, organize databases, and validate and analyze patient data for administrative purposes.

BLS median annual salary (2024): $67,310
Education requirements: Associate degree, plus information technology or computer science knowledge

Medical or health services manager

These senior healthcare professionals supervise care delivery standards and patient outcome data, prepare and manage operating budgets, and ensure their organization complies with all legal frameworks and requirements. They also hire and train administration staff and supervise junior team members.

BLS median annual salary (2024): $117,960
Education requirements: Bachelor's degree plus multiple years of relevant professional experience

Learn healthcare administration online with edX

Is healthcare administration right for you? Find out by exploring healthcare admin courses and programs from edX partner providers.

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Frequently asked questions about healthcare administration

Do you need a master's degree to work in healthcare administration?

It depends on the role you're seeking. If you want a purely administrative role involving records or information management, a postgraduate certificate or undergraduate degree may suffice. However, middle managers and senior leaders usually need a master's or professional degree.

What can you learn in an online healthcare administration course?

Courses can cover anything from medical coding, billing, and records administration skills to executive-level insights into compliance, organizational finance, and human resource management. Standalone courses offer a cost-effective and efficient way to learn about highly targeted healthcare administration topics.

How long does it take to learn healthcare administration?

It depends on what you're looking to learn about. You can acquire the skills needed for purely administrative roles in less than a year, but building the knowledge you need to succeed as a healthcare organization leader usually involves 4-6 years of formal education plus multiple years of professional experience.

What does a healthcare administrator do?

Healthcare administrators work behind the scenes, managing the operational aspects of hospitals, clinics, and inpatient or outpatient care facilities. Specific duties vary by role and may include anything from compiling and managing patient records to planning and overseeing organizational finances and care standards.