How To Become A Medical Practice Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a medical practice manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

While doctors and nurses focus on healing patients, the medical practice manager makes sure that a medical office runs smoothly. Sometimes, they are also known as office managers or practice administrators. Whatever their title, the medical practice manager oversees the administrative end of a medical office.

The day-to-day tasks of a medical practice manager depend on the needs of the office. Most days, they manage patient records and ensure that HIPAA regulations, which cover patient privacy, are followed. They also manage the payroll to ensure that everyone in the practice gets paid, hires and trains new administrative staff, and more.

The job of a medical practice manager is not easy. They often work long hours, sometimes as long as the practice is open. They work in an emotional, highly sensitive field where every administrative action needs to be precise to ensure that all patients receive the best care possible. For many, the satisfaction of providing patient care is worth the stress.

What general advice would you give to a medical practice manager?

Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/Coach

A few ways to maximize earning potential as a new graduate nurse is through skillful negotiations and previous experience in healthcare, such as degree level, nurse externships, phlebotomy skills, or certifications. Many, if not all, employers appreciate that new graduates are equipped with clinical skills that are strongly recommended for the practice area. While many nurse certifications require experience, some are for entry-level, such as advanced life support (ACLS and PALS) and IV insertion. There are also some specialty practice certifications that new grads can obtain without years of experience; although they may recommend the experience at times, this is optional. All of this demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the profession and interest. Other ways are to work overtime hours, learn about clinical career ladders, or continue formal education.

ScoreMedical Practice ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.8

Avg. Salary $108,938

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.78%

Black or African American 11.90%

Hispanic or Latino 14.22%

Unknown 4.26%

White 61.12%

Gender

female 80.28%

male 19.72%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a medical practice manager

Explore medical practice manager education requirements

Most common medical practice manager degrees

Bachelor's

52.4 %

Associate

20.0 %

Master's

14.3 %

Start to develop specific medical practice manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Healthcare	16.36%
Patients	15.13%
Patient Satisfaction	11.46%
Medical Practice	9.31%
Patient Care	7.81%

Complete relevant medical practice manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New medical practice managers 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 medical practice manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real medical practice manager resumes.

Gain additional medical practice manager certifications

Medical practice manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific medical practice manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for medical practice managers include Medical Assistant and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

More About Certifications

Research medical practice manager duties and responsibilities

Manage patients' oral chemotherapy medications and oral anti-coagulation medications under physician supervision including any prior authorizations and/patient assistance programs.
Bill, post and follow up on all medical claims with knowledge of ICD-9 and CPT coding.
Organize, update and maintain patient charts within HIPPA guidelines.
Insure compliance with HIPAA and permit passage of all regulatory inspections.

Prepare your medical practice manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your medical practice manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a medical practice manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable medical practice manager resume templates

Build a professional medical practice manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your medical practice manager resume.