What You Should Know About This Degree
Job market opportunities for healthcare administration occupations are bright. An associate degree will position you to be a leader in the healthcare industry in private practice, nursing homes, and hospital settings.
An Associate of Arts and an Associate of Applied Science in Health Administration are similar and provide the fundamental skills you need for this career. An AA typically includes more liberal arts courses, while the AS concentrates more on science and math classes. Both degrees typically require 60 to 65 credit hours and take the same amount of time to complete.
Once you complete your associate degree, you will need to research whether you need to pass a certification exam to be eligible for a job. All states require licensure for nursing home administrators. A license is typically not required for healthcare administration; however, some people choose to become certified. The Professional Association of Health Care Office Management and the American Health Information Management Association offer certifications.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to consider while researching online associate in healthcare administration degree programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? Many healthcare administration degree programs are available online and in hybrid formats at community colleges and trade schools. Students are generally accepted from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds and just need a high school diploma or equivalency to be eligible.
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Most online classes are offered in both real-time and independent formats. It’s important to consider the time commitment of attending live-streaming classes versus independently logging in at your convenience and decide what fits your learning style best.
As you research online healthcare administration degree programs, look closely at each school’s admission requirements and deadlines. It’s also important to factor in how you will finance your associate degree education. Contact your financial aid department for information about scholarships, federal loans, and employer-based tuition reimbursement programs.