• Health care managers direct and coordinate a specific unit or an entire health care facility.resuscitate form image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
  
  Health care manager, also referred to as health care executive or health care administrator, is a position that directs and coordinates a specific unit or an entire health care facility. Managers must expedite all aspects of the unit or facility including overall operations, finances, admissions, staffing and changing technologies and regulations.
  
  

Education

• Health care managers must hold a master's degree in health services administration, public administration, public health or some similar field. Some states or facilities may agree to accept a bachelor's degree when coupled with job experience.
  
  

Training

• Health care managers must be highly familiar or experienced with the type of care being provided in their facility. Many health care managers work their way through the ranks at the facility they wish to manage, applying to higher management positions as they become available.
  
  Experience in the field is not only an asset when applying for and performing the management position but may also give the applicant an edge when applying for entry into one of the highly competitive graduate programs.
  
  

Licensure

• All states require health care managers to pass a state-approved training program and a licensing exam and are expected to furthermore enroll in continuing education courses.
  
  

Other Requirements

• While education, training and certification make up the basic job requirements, it is just as important that applicants for this position are equipped with a number of personal, communicative and leadership skills.
  
  Due to the widely varying duties of the job a health care manager must be able to analyze changing regulations and technologies and be open to advice from staff before making effective decisions. They must be financially savvy in order to help allocate millions of dollars worth of equipment and wages. And finally, managers must also be able to engage and direct staff in a professional and tactful manner.