There are universal prerequisites for a master’s in healthcare administration. These usually include an accredited bachelor’s degree, official test scores and previous work experience.
Bachelor’s Degree
Most health care administration programs will accept any bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, but some programs may only accept health care related degrees. Official transcripts must be submitted that reflect a GPA of at least 2.5 to three on a 4.0 scale. For example, a Bachelor of Science in health care management is a good degree choice because it combines the business acumen and medical background needed to be an effective leader in health care environments. Students learn how to make care, quality and operation decisions to improve patient outcomes and management.
On the other hand, a Bachelor of Science in health care informatics or information technology will prepare graduates to analyze and improve quality of care through technology. More and more technology driven health care jobs are being created as organizations upgrade their systems to comply with electronic record keeping and patient-privacy regulations. Students take classes in programming, networking, database systems and project management. Risk assurance and quality management are important themes.
GRE and GMAT
Most health care administration programs require scores from either the graduate record exam (GRE) or the graduate management admissions test (GMAT) that less than five years old. Health care administration students will learn content in statistical reasoning, information systems and health policy and finances. In order to master this content, strong academic skills will be needed. The GRE demonstrates that the candidate is academically competent and equipped with the knowledge needed to pass their graduate-level courses.
The GRE is considered to be one of the more user friendly admissions tests because candidates can skip questions and come back to them as needed. The average GRE score is between 150 and 152 for the verbal and quantitative portions and 3.5 for the analytical writing portion. The GMAT is a rigorous testing tool that is used by programs with high admissions standards to select only the best candidates. The GMAT measures students four sections: verbal, quantitative, integrated reasoning and analytical writing.
Work Experience
Program candidates should have at least three to four years of health care administration experience. Some candidates will be RNs who want to move into administration. They may be advanced practice nurses with specialized training in areas like pediatrics, geriatrics and oncology. Some candidates will have direct administration experience, such as a clinical supervisor for a small unit. They will have experience with overseeing day to day operations, resolving issues and coordinating care with health care professionals.
A health care service supervisor may want to qualify for a program through higher education. They will have experience managing their units’ medical program activities. A position like this will provide leadership, compliance and managerial experience. They will apply established facility policies and procedures in making decisions, so they must have independent judgment skills. Other potential jobs that provide excellent experience include staff, RN, and education supervisor.
The prerequisites for a master’s in healthcare administration for international candidates will include English language proficiency tests, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
See also: Top 10 Best Online Master of Health Administration Degree Programs (MHA)
