What is the Timeline for Obtaining a Degree in Healthcare Management?

Healthcare Administration is a growing field where there is a growing demand for experienced professionals who possess a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree that is focused in Healthcare Management. With a positive job outlook for virtually all job opportunities in the healthcare sector, choosing to attain your degree in this field will prove advantageous when you become searching for a position where you can enjoy upward mobility.

If you do not currently posses a degree, or you are interested in switching majors to earn a Bachelor’s or a Master of Health Administration degree, you may be wondering just how much time you are going to need to commit. While it might sound like there is a concrete answer to this question, the timeline for obtaining your degree in Healthcare Management is dependent upon the type of program you want to attend and the type of degree you are trying to attain. Read this guide to get a general understanding on the amount of time it will take you to earn your degree in the field.

Completing Undergraduate Study in Health Administration

If you want to pursue a career in Healthcare Management, the first step of the process is earning your Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration so that you can meet the requirements of employers in healthcare for entry-level and mid-level positions. The traditional BHA program will take between 36 and 48 months to complete, but there are more accelerated programs offered online that can be completed in less time.

When you choose an undergraduate degree program that teaches you how to be an administrator or manager in the largest and fastest growing industry in the country, you must focus on more than just the duration of the program. You should choose a school that you can complete in a reasonable amount of time that will deliver you a quality educational experience and help you build a solid foundation of knowledge in the field. Failing to research a school’s ratings and their credit requirements is a mistake you do not want to make.

How Long Will it Take to Earn Your Master of Health Administration?

Once you have a BHA, you will have a basic foundation of knowledge that you can build upon. A Master of Healthcare Administration will lead you to mastery and higher level positions in the industry. Because there is a growing need for manager level HA’s and graduate degree holders, more and more MHA programs are being promoted by reputable business schools and online schools. These programs range in length between 1 year and 4 years.

One-year programs are accelerated full-time programs that cover the management aspects of healthcare administration at an intense pace. While most programs are online, you may find accelerated programs that are partially on-campus and online that last between 15 and 18 months. More common are Master’s programs that take 2 to 3 years to complete. These programs cover curriculum at a slower pace. For students who want to attend graduate school part-time, a 3 year program is ideal.

There is not a definitive amount of time that every Health Administration major spends earning their BHA or MHA. If you have a list of specialized schools with Healthcare Administration programs, you should compare the credit requirements and map out the route that is best for you.