America's 16,000 nursing care facilities are home to more than 1.4 million residents. The nursing home administrators who lead these institutions play a pivotal role in their successful daily operation by handling critical responsibilities such as patient admissions, finances, facility maintenance, residential care and staffing. It is easy to get a nursing home administrator degree and get a long term care license to get your degree at home.

In today's shifting health care climate, working as a nursing home administrator can be a very challenging job. As the aging baby boom generation transitions to long-term care, these health care executives need to stay on top of the latest medical treatments and trends in the nursing and healthcare industries. They also must be knowledgeable about changes in legislative regulations, federal health care mandates, entitlement programs, and insurance protocols.

However, working as a licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA) offers many rewards as well as challenges, including a very optimistic occupational forecast for job-seekers. The number of medical and health service managers in the United States is expected to grow about 23 percent through 2022 – a rate that is substantially faster than the average increase projected for other jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you feel called to the responsibility of managing a nursing home, school is your first step.

Request information about nursing home school options to get started, and keep in mind this is an area of healthcare administration that often allows you to conveniently earn your online NHA degree at home.

Featured Online Programs:

Online programs may not be available in all states

Abilene Christian University - Online Programs Offered: Master of Science in Management - Healthcare Administration

Baker College Online Programs Offered: Healthcare Management - Masters

Benedictine University Online Programs Offered: DUAL MBA/MSMOB DUAL MPH/MSMOB MPH - Health Management and Policy Focus

Capella University - Online Programs Offered: BS - HIM: Accelerated Master Pathway BS - Health Care Management BS - Leadership: Accelerated Master Pathway DHA - Health Administration MBA - Health Care Management MHA - Health Administration MHA - Health Care Operations MS - Health Care Security

Colorado State University-Global Campus (Online) Programs Offered: BS - Healthcare Administration and Management Master - Healthcare Administration and Management

George Mason University - Online Programs Offered: Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management

Grand Canyon University - Online Programs Offered: M.P.A: Health Care Management M.S. in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems (Bridge)

Liberty University - Online Programs Offered: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Healthcare Management

Liberty University Online Programs Offered: MS: Healthcare Administration: Leadership MS: Healthcare Administration: Non-Profit Management MS: Healthcare Administration: Project Management MS: Healthcare Administration: Strategic Management MS: Healthcare Administration: Supply Chain Management & Logistics

Northern Illinois University Online Programs Offered: Master of Public Health - Health Services Management

Our Lady of the Lake University Online Programs Offered: Master of Business Administration: Healthcare Management

Saint Joseph's University - Online Programs Offered: MS in Health Administration - Organizational Development and Leadership

Saint Leo University - Online Undergrad Programs Offered: BS: Healthcare Administration

Seton Hall University - Online Programs Offered: Master of Science in Nursing - Health Systems Administration with Case Management

Southern New Hampshire University - Online Programs Offered: BS Healthcare Administration: Healthcare Information Management MBA: Healthcare Management MS Management: Healthcare

Utica College Online Programs Offered: MBA - Health Care Management

Walden University - Online Programs Offered: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration - Healthcare Management

Walden University - Online Programs Offered: Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) - Healthcare Management Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - International NonGovernmental Organizations Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Policy Analysis Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Public Management and Leadership PhD in Public Policy and Administration - Global Leadership Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) - Leadership & Organizational Development Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) - Systems & Policy

Walden University - Online Programs Offered: Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) - Healthcare Management Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - International NonGovernmental Organizations Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Policy Analysis Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Public Management and Leadership PhD in Public Policy and Administration - Global Leadership Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) - Leadership & Organizational Development Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) - Systems & Policy

Widener University - Online Programs Offered: Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Management

Traditional On Campus Programs:

Keiser University Programs Offered: MBA - Health Services Administration - Daytona Beach, FL

Rasmussen College Programs Offered: Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Rockford, Illinois) Health and Wellness Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Rockford, Illinois) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Rockford, Illinois) Human Services Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Rockford, Illinois) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Fargo, North Dakota) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Fargo, North Dakota) Health Information Management Bachelors Degree (Land O Lakes/East Pasco, Florida) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Land O Lakes/East Pasco, Florida) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Aurora, Illinois) Health and Wellness Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Aurora, Illinois) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Aurora, Illinois) Human Services Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Program (Aurora, Illinois) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Moorhead, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelors Degree (Fort Myers, Florida) Health Information Technician Associate Degree (New Port Richey/West Pasco, Florida) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (New Port Richey/West Pasco, Florida) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Eagan, Minnesota) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Eagan, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Blaine, Minnesota) Health and Wellness Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Blaine, Minnesota) Healthcare Management Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Program (Blaine, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Green Bay, Wisconsin) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Green Bay, Wisconsin) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove, Minnesota) Healthcare Management Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Program (Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (St. Cloud, Minnesota) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (St. Cloud, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Lake Elmo, Minnesota) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Lake Elmo, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Bloomington, Minnesota) Health and Wellness Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Bloomington, Minnesota) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Bloomington, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Mankato, Minnesota) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Mankato, Minnesota) Health Information Management Bachelors Degree (Topeka, Kansas) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Topeka, Kansas) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Mokena/Tinley Park, Illinois) Healthcare Management Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Mokena/Tinley Park, Illinois) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Ocala, Florida) Health and Wellness Bachelors Degree-Completion Program (Ocala, Florida) Healthcare Associates Degree (Ocala, Florida) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Ocala, Florida) Health Information Management Bachelor Degree (Wausau, Wisconsin) Health and Wellness Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Wausau, Wisconsin) Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree-Completion Program (Wausau, Wisconsin)

Western Governors University Online Programs Offered: Master of Health Leadership

In 2013, the nursing care facility industry was the third largest employer of medical and health service managers, with 19,460 of these managers on the payroll across the country, the BLS reported. If you'd like to become a licensed nursing home administrator, you can find several school options to help you learn what you need to know to succeed in this field. Browse through the programs below, and select those that might be meet your interests. You can request information about nursing home administration education directly from the schools, getting the materials you need to research programs.

Nursing Home Administration Programs and Curriculum

If you aspire to become a nursing home administrator, you will likely need specialized training in order to get your long term care license and be competitive as a LNHA in the job market. Every state requires nursing home administrators to be licensed, although specific rules differ from one state to the next. Most states require candidates to have at least a Bachelor's degree and to pass a licensing exam administered by the National Association of Long-term Care Administrator Boards (NAB). Administrators in some parts of the country also must successfully complete state training programs as well.

Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, and nursing home admin certificate programs are available at both traditional campuses and at online colleges across the country, so it is possible to earn your NHA degree at home. These institutions may offer majors in nursing care administration or long-term care administration, with accreditation for these programs offered through NAB. Some colleges don't offer these specific majors, but they may have general programs in health care administration or business administration that can prepare you as well.

Nursing care administration programs typically will require students to have a foundation in subjects such as human resources management, health care financial management, leadership training, health care management and ethics, business law, marketing and public relations, and medical terminology. In addition to these general subject areas, students may be asked to take specialized courses such as long-term care laws, nursing home administration, dietary management, aging and bereavement, gerontology, social services for the elderly, and adult development. In some states, internships also may be required or recommended as part of the licensing and educational process.

If you are a student who wants to pursue your studies beyond the undergraduate level, or if you are already working in a long term care facility, you may want to consider a Master's degree in health care administration. Forbes Magazine called health care administration "one of the best Master's degrees for job-seekers" in 2012. An advanced degree may help open the door to better pay or more job opportunities, and can teach you the advanced concepts about nursing home administration you will need to manage a care facility successfully.

Employment Options for Nursing Home Administration Degree Holders

As a licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA), you can expect to have a wide range of daily responsibilities. Some of the tasks you may be charged with under a nursing home administrator job description include developing the facility's budget, setting patient fees, supervising and scheduling employees, handling community and public relations, communicating with medical staff, meeting with governing boards and overseeing health care services. This is no small position, and the way in which you handle your responsibilities can have far reaching impacts on employees, residents and their families.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 11 percent of all medical and health service administrators work in nursing care facilities, and most of them work full-time. Since these nursing care facilities are open around the clock, some administrators may be scheduled to work on weekends or in the evening, and you may be required to be on call to handle emergency situations.

The average pay for medical and health service managers who work in nursing care facilities was $83,340 in 2013, or slightly more than $40 per hour, according to the BLS. The average salary for nursing care administrators in some states was substantially higher, with New York and California both reporting an average annual salary of more than $118,000 in 2013, according to the same report.

The industry's strong job forecast and competitive salary rates are positive signs if you are looking to become a long term care administrator. With the right education and training, nursing care executives can learn how to be successful in a field that makes a difference in the lives of thousands of senior citizens and other long-term care clients. Request more information from the nursing home administrator programs below if this is a career path you'd like to investigate further.

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In addition to the campus based programs, there are numerous online programs available for many of the common Health Administration degree types (Associate, Bachelors, Masters) and specialties. Please feel free to use the links on the left-hand side of this page to explore some of the online degree programs available. Thanks for visiting!