re: Is a master's in healthcare administration (MHA) worth it?

I’m also a Nursing Home Administrator and completed an MHA just after finishing my AIT and starting my current career. I live in a rural area in WV and there is only one critical access hospital, so for me the opportunities have been limited.

It’s also not easy to get a C-Suite job at a hospital IMO, even with healthcare executive experience. An MHA is almost expected, but probably won’t outperform someone applying with hospital management experience.

If you live in an area with multiple tertiary hospitals, an MHA would be very helpful. It would depend on what position you are shooting for, but a lot of hospital presidents and high level executives started as project managers, quality managers, or financial analysts. They usually then work up to a COO or VP type of position.

I have seen some former NHAs jump straight into high level hospital executive jobs, but I don’t think it’s easy.