Practice Director Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a practice director. Practice directors usually study business, computer science, or accounting. 68% of practice directors hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,529 real practice director resumes to see exactly what practice director education sections show.

The most common colleges for practice directors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online practice director courses to help get the education required to be a practice director.

There are certain practice director certifications that you should consider. These practice director certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL).

What education do you need to become a practice director?

What degree do you need to be a practice director?

The most common degree for practice directors is bachelor's degree, with 68% of practice directors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 68%
  • Master's, 22%
  • Associate, 5%
  • Doctorate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a practice director?

You should major in business to become a practice director. 27% of practice directors major in business. Other common majors for a practice director include computer science and accounting.

Most common colleges for practice directors

Practice directors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Maryland - College Park, and University of Houston. Here are the most common colleges for practice directors in the US based on their resumes.
Practice Director Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix11.93%
University of Maryland - College Park10.23%
University of Houston6.25%
New York University5.11%
California State University - San Bernardino5.11%

Best majors for practice directors

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business27.2%
2Computer Science12.1%
3Accounting7.1%
4Management5.4%
5Nursing5.4%

Best colleges for practice directors

The best colleges for practice directors are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

A practice director with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for practice directors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become practice directors.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

Website

www.cmu.edu/

Address

5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $84,000 per year

Net Price: $32,674 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 17.12%
SAT Average - 1507
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Electrical Engineering
Business
Computer Science
Computer Information Systems
Mathematics

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Nursing
Economics
Political Science

3. Boston University

Boston, MA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Economics
Computer Science
Psychology

4. University of Washington

Seattle, WA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

Website

www.washington.edu

Address

P.O. Box 351230, Seattle, WA 98195-4550

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,300 per year

Net Price: $12,001 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 48.69%
SAT Average - 1347
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Economics
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering

5. New York University

New York, NY ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Nursing
Economics
Psychology
Computer Information Systems

20 best online courses for practice directors

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Top 10 most affordable universities for practice directors

The most affordable schools for practice directors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for practice directors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for practice directors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Economics

2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Accounting
Information Systems
Finance

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Computer Science
Economics

4. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$6,749

Cost of Attendance

14,823

Website

www.calstatela.edu

Address

5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90032

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,200 per year

Net Price: $4,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 41.52%
SAT Average - 978
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Nursing
Communication
Computer Science

5. Minot State University

Minot, ND ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$7,064

Cost of Attendance

15,576

Website

www.minotstateu.edu

Address

500 University Ave W, Minot, ND 58707

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,300 per year

Net Price: $10,920 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 50.10%
SAT Average - 1059
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Business
Nursing
Management Information Systems
Marketing
Accounting

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for practice directors

The hardest universities for practice directors to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for practice directors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for practice directors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

17%

SAT Average

1,507

Website

www.cmu.edu/

Address

5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $84,000 per year

Net Price: $32,674 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 17.12%
SAT Average - 1507
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Electrical Engineering
Business
Computer Science
Computer Information Systems
Mathematics

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Nursing
Economics
Political Science

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Communication
Psychology
Computer Science

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,512

Website

www.columbia.edu

Address

535 West 116th Street, New York, NY 10027

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $77,900 per year

Net Price: $22,637 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 5.91%
SAT Average - 1512
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Economics
Nursing
Political Science

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Nursing
Communication
Political Science

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for practice directors

The easiest schools for practice directors to get into are Barry University, capitol technology university, and ottawa university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a practice director without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for practice directors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Nursing
Health Care Administration
Psychology
Accounting

2. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

69%

SAT Average

1,070

Website

www.captechu.edu

Address

11301 Springfield Rd, Laurel, MD 20708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $53,000 per year

Net Price: $22,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 68.90%
SAT Average - 1070
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Computer Information Systems
Electrical Engineering
Information Systems
Business

3. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

78%

SAT Average

1,024

Website

www.ottawa.edu

Address

1001 South Cedar, Ottawa, KS 66067-3399

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,600 per year

Net Price: $25,322 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 78.15%
SAT Average - 1024
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Psychology
Accounting
Communication

4. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

78%

SAT Average

1,020

Website

www.ubalt.edu

Address

1420 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $45,100 per year

Net Price: $21,373 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 78.40%
SAT Average - 1020
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Accounting
Political Science
Mathematics

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Psychology
Biology
Marketing
Accounting

Average practice director salary by education level

According to our data, practice directors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $155,942 annually. Practice directors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $152,519.
Practice Director education level
ascdesc
Practice Director salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$152,519
Bachelor's Degree$142,190
Doctorate Degree$155,942
Some College/ Associate Degree$116,953

Practice Director Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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