Options for Professional Development for Hospital Administrators

  • Short Courses
  • Workshops
  • Online Programs
  • Third-Party Training Programs
  • Certifications

Are there are any continuing education options for a hospital administrator? In a world where private citizens aren't sure if physicians and healthcare administrators are friends or foes, the reputation of these integral team members is undergoing a change. This is starting with the fact that many of these administrators continue to their education in a variety of specialties long after they leave college; here are just a few of the ways that they accomplish this.

Short Courses

Short courses are one way that these professionals can continue their education while carrying on in their career. These courses, which are delivered by accredited institutions all over the world, tend to be just a few weeks in length and cover very specific and advanced topics that matter to the healthcare sector. These courses are traditionally held on the campus of the institution that is conferring the program and is held most often over the summer; international short courses for advanced professionals are also available from prestigious institutions. Short courses can sometimes earn a professional a qualification, but more often than not serve as the CE requirement to continue to hold a license in the field.


Workshops are very short programs, often lasting less than five days, and is one of the most common forms of CE available to professionals in this industry. These workshops can be held by hospitals, healthcare facilities, associations, or even the government; they cover a range of topics of interest to the field, including electronic health records, ethics in healthcare, and new technologies that make administration much easier. Sometimes these workshops can also include working on real-world problems, enabling the participants to use new technologies in order to create a solution. These workshops are a great way for administrators to network and also learn about new concepts that are informing their fields.

Online Programs

Online programs are becoming a popular form of CE for administrators; taken on an asynchronous schedule and culminating in a qualification from an accredited university, these programs can help a professional solidify their specialization or learn a new skill. Because these programs are conferred by educational institutions, professionals are in good hands when it comes to the education they acquire through the coursework. Additionally, many employers are looking for professionals with extra qualifications, which can, in turn, help professionals who are looking to further specialize in their field. These online programs can be as short as one course or require three or more courses for completion; each course can be listed under CE on a professional's resume.

Related Resource: 35 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Healthcare Administration 2017

Third-Party Training Programs

In addition to online programs, there may be times when a professional's employer requires them to go through third-party training programs. These programs, often offered by membership organizations and associations, tend to tackle professional development and current events. They are usually offered to a variety of professionals when regulations change, new policies are put into place, or a current event has caused a reform in the healthcare facility system. These programs are often paid for by the employer to either adhere to new federal requirements or as just a way to ensure that all of their employees are held to the same standard.


Certifications are often one of the best ways for administrators in the healthcare sector to continue their education. Certifications can be specialized for a particular field or generalized, such as a certification for licensure within a state. These certifications often carry their own CE requirement, meaning that professionals who successfully earn the certification must re-certify every few years with a minimum number of CE hours per year. In the healthcare industry, certifications are extremely important and can mean the difference between not finding a job and finding a well-paying job. Because certifications are required by most employers, most professionals in this industry continuously find new ways to earn CE hours.

Healthcare is a major issue in America, one that can only be fixed by hiring more qualified healthcare administrators. The only feasible way to do this is by requiring these administrators to continue their education while they carry on in their career. With these five continuing education options for a hospital administrator available now, all of these professionals can move forward with their commitment to healthcare excellence.