Health Administration Certification in California - CA

How to Become a Healthcare Administrator in California

1. Education Requirements for a California Healthcare Administrator
   
   

   As a California administrator for entry-level positions, you should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited, academic institution.  Although there are vocational/technical schools offering programs, the standard minimum credential for healthcare administrators is a bachelor's of science degree in healthcare administration.  Courses offered in the undergraduate program include financial management, accounting, ethics, and strategic planning, business communications, healthcare policies, and medical economics.
   
   Most opportunities particularly in large institutions and provider practices require a masters or a Ph D in healthcare administration or management.  You'll also have an advantage if you are specialist in an allied health profession or are already accomplished in an allied health profession.  According to the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, there are more than 70 schools in the country with programs offering a master's in health services administration.  
   
   Masters programs from an accredited institution are generally an additional two years of post undergraduate studies and will prepare you for upper level management positions.   Some programs are available online too.  Look for programs which offer courses in managed care, finance, research, communications, policy, bio-statistics, quality control, operations, economics, law, marketing, epidemics and planning with course topics differing on the type of degree offered.  These programs will offer master degrees depending on your interests including Master in Health Administration or Health Care Administration  (MHA) ;  Masters in Health Services Administration Programs (MHSA);  Masters in Public Health Programs (MPH); or Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Care.  Mastersinhealthcare.com is a great site to review programs and options if you are looking for information about advanced degree programs.
   
   The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)  can also give information on accredited graduate programs in medical and health services administration as well as available scholarships, fellowships and grants.
   Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
   
   2000 North 14th St
   Suite 780
   Arlington, VA 22201
   www.cahmeweb.org

   The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) gives information about both undergraduate and graduate academic programs.  It can also point you to scholarship, internship, and fellowship information.
   
   The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)
   2000 North 14th St.
   Suite 780
   Arlington, VA 22201
   www.aupha.org

2. Licenses or Certification Requirements for California Healthcare Administrators

California does not require licensing for administrators managing hospital or clinic healthcare facilities.  You can achieve board certification from national professional organizations such the one offered by the American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE).

ACHE
One N. Franklin St.
Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 424-2800
www.ache.org 

ACHE also has California affiliated chapters you can contact for more information as well as scholarship/fellowship and grant aid. 

Health Care Executives of Southern California
(Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura)
(760) 834-8595
Website:  www.hcesocal.ache.org

California Association of Healthcare Leaders
Phone:  (650) 736-8962
Website:  www.cahl.ache.org

If you plan to be an administrator of a nursing home in California, you will need to obtain a California license.  The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Licensing and Certification Program (L&C) oversees the licensing of nursing home administrators.  After obtaining your 4 year degree, you will need to enter into the California Administrator in Training Program (AIT).  In the program you'll be required to do up to 1000 hours in a nursing facility and be paired with a seasoned mentor who will teach and evaluate your knowledge and skill sets.  Once your training hours are completed you'll be eligible to take the state and national tests to become licensed as a nursing home administrator in California.

California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification
Nursing Home Administrator Program
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number (916) 552-8780
Website:  www.cdph.ca.gov/