Do you need a degree to be a practice manager?

Yes, you need a degree to be a practice manager. A person needs at least a bachelor's degree to become a medical practice manager. Popular degree programs for prospective medical practice managers include business, health policy, or economics.

How do I become a good practice manager?

To become a good practice manager, you must set a good example by demonstrating proper ethics, empathy, and continuing education. This means that good practice managers are always developing their hard and soft skills to exemplify what everyone working at the practice should be doing.

How much money do practice managers make?

Practice managers make $100,000 per year, on average. The lowest 10% earned less than $60,000, and the highest 10% earned more than $195,000. Salary for practice managers can vary significantly depending on several factors. These factors include the level of experience, educational achievements, size of the practice, and industry.

How To Become A Practice Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a practice manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

A practice manager is a person who oversees the daily operations of a medical or dental practice. They are responsible for managing staff, finances, and patient care to ensure the smooth running of the practice. They may also handle marketing, billing, and compliance with regulations. A practice manager must have strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills to effectively manage the team, work closely with other professionals, and maintain a high level of patient satisfaction.

ScorePractice ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.8

Avg. Salary $107,374

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.1

Growth Rate 28%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.90%

Black or African American 11.88%

Hispanic or Latino 14.20%

Unknown 4.26%

White 61.04%

Gender

female 74.73%

male 25.27%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress Level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.9

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Practice Manager?

Pros

Responsibility and autonomy
Competitive salary and benefits
Opportunity for career advancement
Satisfaction from helping patients receive quality care
Learning and developing new skills

Cons

High level of stress and pressure
Long hours and time commitment
Dealing with difficult patients or staff members
Navigating complex healthcare regulations and policies
Financial responsibility for practice profitability

Key steps to become a practice manager

Explore practice manager education requirements

Most common practice manager degrees

Bachelor's

55.0 %

Associate

19.9 %

Master's

13.8 %

Start to develop specific practice manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	16.74%
Patient Care	8.30%
Customer Service	6.24%
PET	4.53%
Practice Management	3.88%

Complete relevant practice manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New practice managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a practice manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real practice manager resumes.

Gain additional practice manager certifications

Practice manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific practice manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for practice managers include Medical Assistant and Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM).

More About Certifications

Research practice manager duties and responsibilities

Secure new engagements worldwide, and lead numerous ERP and CRM initiatives.
Manage a great team of 7 consultants that deliver outstanding ERP solutions.
Supervise and manage a staff of 12.5 FTE personnel and 4 FTE physicians.
Accomplish at applying knowledge of veterinary science and compassion for animals to ensure optimal care.

Prepare your practice manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your practice manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a practice manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Practice Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Practice Manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Practice Manager resume.

Apply for practice manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a practice manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do practice managers rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Practice Manager reviews

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020

Pros

Creating a positive environment and helping the growth of the practice. The challenge of it all is the most exciting!

Cons

Unnecessary complications that could have been avoided by staff and/or physicians.