How To Become A Clinic Administrator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a clinic administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Bill McGinley

Health practitioners are not responsible for the smooth running of a clinic; clinical administrators are the ones that facilitates that. Clinical administrators are highly respectable executives in the healthcare terrain because they shoulder the herculean task of ensuring that key healthcare operations happen seamlessly.

This responsibility is perhaps why a person has to spend up to six years in the healthcare field before they can qualify as a healthcare administrator. They must also obtain at least a master's degree.

Clinical administrators do not work alone. To be efficient in their duties, they work closely with other medical staff members to plan and coordinate quality health service delivery. A clinic is not the only place a clinical administrator can work. They may work in health institutions like hospitals, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes.

What general advice would you give to a clinic administrator?

Bill McGinley

President & CEO, American College of Health Care Administrators

LTC administrators should have at least a bachelor's degree in business or a healthcare-related field. A well-rounded internship that exposes the future administrator to all aspects of the operation is essential. Needed skills include business, marketing, finance, operations, management and leadership.
Post pandemic opportunities will be nationwide in this field with a greater need in rural areas.
Technology will continue to play a big role in the field. Computerized medical records, census management, and all clinical areas will continue to dominate. Online meetings are liable to continue as well, as employers realize that there is a savings to be gained by not having people travel to meetings and conferences.

ScoreClinic AdministratorUS Average

Salary

5.6

Avg. Salary $71,242

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 8.69%

Black or African American 9.19%

Hispanic or Latino 12.87%

Unknown 5.11%

White 63.83%

Gender

female 77.07%

male 22.93%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a clinic administrator

Explore clinic administrator education requirements

Most common clinic administrator degrees

Bachelor's

51.9 %

Associate

18.2 %

Master's

13.4 %

Start to develop specific clinic administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	24.49%
Healthcare	13.90%
Patient Care	7.85%
Oversight	4.88%
Payroll	4.42%

Complete relevant clinic administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinic administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a clinic administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinic administrator resumes.

Research clinic administrator duties and responsibilities

Manage compliance with CMS, JACO and IDPH regulatory requirements, standards of practice, policies and procedures.
Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable activities using QuickBooks and online banking applications.
Assist with employee and community CPR training documentation.
Maintain employee health files, annual PPD immunizations tracking and CPR recertification.

Prepare your clinic administrator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clinic administrator resume.

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