The Best Certifications for Healthcare Administrators in 2025

Similar job titles can often describe vastly different roles. You can call two different people healthcare administrators, yet the paths that put them there don’t always match. One healthcare administrator may have formal study behind them, another may have years of practice. Certification is an attempt to bring a little order to that mix, not by replacing degrees or experience, but by establishing criteria that mark a national standard. Healthcare administrator certification are credentials drawn up by professional boards such as the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) or the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)^1,2. And they are meant to say: this person can handle compliance or can transition into leadership.

Licensure is a whole other story; it is the law. A nursing home without a licensed healthcare administrator cannot operate. Every U.S. state requires applicants for licensure to pass the national licensing exam, and the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) tracks the specific rules for each state^3,4. Healthcare administrator certification, on the other hand, is voluntary. Nobody shuts down a hospital if its executives skip FACHE or CPH (more on them later). But employers look for those letters, seeing them as proof that the person in front of them has been tested against national standards.

This guide will show you how certification works and the different certifications that are available for healthcare administration. From there, you’ll be able to decide if you actually need one, which path fits your career, and how to begin.

Healthcare administration is a fast-growing profession. In 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tallied more than 615,000 health services managers in this role⁵. And the agency expects the field to swell by another 23% by 2034, compared to the 3% average growth rate for all occupations. With whopping growth comes stiffer competition, and standing out becomes part of the job.

Health administration experience differs, with some people coming from a background in finance and others from nursing. Everyone’s path is different, but job titles often look the same on paper. Health services administration certification tries to level the field by setting a common point of reference.

Not every healthcare administrator holds a certification. You can do the job without it. Many do. But as you take on larger roles, the expectations shift. Most employers don’t have time to dig through every detail of your background. Between two similar candidates, the one with a known credential is easier to trust. That’s because a certification shows right away that you’ve been trained in the systems and rules that healthcare management depends on.

This matters to employers because the system is complex, and if something breaks down, it rarely stays isolated. Let’s face it, mistakes cost money, and the risks are real. A mistake in billing or policy can lead to major penalties or loss of funding. Healthcare administrator certification gives employers more confidence that you know how to avoid those outcomes.

Note: A healthcare administration certificate sets you apart when roles are competitive. In some cases, it can even be required just to move forward in the hiring process.

Once you understand why certification matters, the next step is to look at the actual options. Some credentials are issued by professional associations, others come through state licensure boards, and universities add their own programs in the form of graduate certificates.

They’re often pursued by people testing the waters before a full degree or shifting into new roles. Most certificate programs are built for working adults and can be done online. These typically count toward a future MPH or MHA if you decide to keep going.

Before signing up for an exam, it helps to know what role you’re aiming for and what certification that job actually requires. Start with where you work or want to work. Hospitals, for example, lean toward quality and healthcare leadership and you may benefit from a path that explores specializations such as health informatics or hospital administration. Public health agencies lean toward policy and systems. Nursing homes follow state licensure laws, so you may want to explore health administration paths. And some roles won’t require a certificate.

Also think about your background. For instance, are you:

Note: If you’re not sure yet, a graduate certificate might be the low-risk way to start.

Most certifications require a degree to be eligible, and it’s usually a master’s if you’re planning for executive tracks like FACHE. If you’re still in the school-picking phase, it helps to choose a graduate program that’s CAHME accredited²⁶. CAHME accredits master’s degrees in healthcare management and administration, which are commonly accepted by boards such as ACHE when reviewing candidates for certifications.

Some credentials do not require significant time to prepare. You can prep for the CPHQ or CPH exams in under six months. Others, like the FACHE, take longer as you’ll need years of leadership experience and continuing education. Licensure for nursing home roles is a separate process governed by state law, with requirements and timelines that vary by state.

Additionally, costs vary. As you can see from the table above, some exams run a few hundred dollars and most have renewal fees every two to three years. But not everything comes out of pocket. Employers often help cover exam costs, continuing education, or graduate certificates through professional development funds. If not, it’s worth checking which fees or memberships can be paid in installments.