Practice Management is an excellent career choice with an ever-increasing demand for qualified candidates. You’ll find this is a job choice that is rewarding, challenging and enjoyable – where no two days are the same.
What is practice management?
Practice Management involves managing the overall and day to day running of a clinic, usually in the health or wellness industries. Workplaces that practice managers may work include general practice medical clinics, specialist clinics such as physiotherapy or dentistry and complementary health clinics. Veterinary practices, event facilities and aged care homes also require practice management skillsets.
The role of Practice Manager largely involves dealing with people, whether that be managing a team of staff or speaking with patients. Overall management is also required and with this comes responsibility for budgeting, marketing and human resources of the practice, to name a few. Most Practice Managers wear many hats within their business.
Value of the practice management diploma
In 2019, there was a record number of roles in the Practice Management industry (over 20,000+) with this number likely to increase in the coming years.
Of these roles, over 70% of them were full-time positions, meaning a career in Practice Management can offer you both job and income security. A median income of $73,000 p.a was reported in 2019, with some managers earning up to $100,000 or above in their particular practices.
For those looking to enter into the Practice Management industry, the value of the Practice Management Diploma cannot be overlooked. In 2014, over 64% of Practice Managers employed in Australia were Diploma level educated or above.
The qualification will guide you through important new skills by delivering units such as:
- Workplace Health and Safety
- Risk Management
- Developing Financial Plans
- Sustainability and Policy
- Managing Employee Relations and Performance
- Working with Diverse People
- Interpreting Medical Terminology
- Preventing Infections
- Managing Legal and Ethical Compliance
The value of the Diploma in Practice Management goes deeper than just helping you to secure a new career. The skills learnt during the Diploma are applicable in many areas of life too. For example, the unit in managing budgets may assist you in reaching your family’s savings goals. Or, learning more about communication styles may allow you to better understand and relate with others around you overall.
Practice management diploma outcomes
While the most obvious Practice Management Diploma outcome is to step directly into a role as a Practice Manager, the skills learnt during the Diploma apply to other careers in the health and wellness industries. Other diploma role outcomes include medical administration, medical reception and centre management.
The skills gained during your studies will also set you up for future career progression, whether that be by moving up within your organisation or moving sideways into management roles in different areas or industries.
It’s worth remembering that while a lot of Practice Managers work within the general medical industry, there is also plenty of opportunity within other practices such as veterinary or alternative medicines such as acupuncture, Chinese medicine or even wellness centres.
The value of the Practice Management Diploma is that the skills covered are broad enough to allow you to tailor your final career choice to your interests, yet specific enough to make sure you’re highly qualified and ready to take on a Practice Management role immediately from graduation. There may even be opportunities to begin your career while still studying, thanks to the online and self-paced study options available.
If you’re already working as a practice manager then upskilling via a professional qualification can increase your earning potential and open up further career paths for the future.
Who is suited to a career in practice management?
Are you wondering whether or not you’re suited to a career as a Practice Manager? If you like working with people, have a general interest in the medical or health industry and enjoy a dynamic work environment, chances are you’ll thrive in a Practice Management role.
If you have previous experience in Human Resources, Accounting, Planning, Customer Service, Management or the medical industry in general, the good news is that you already have a solid foundation of skills for some of the units you’ll complete in the Diploma. Depending on your experience, you may be eligible for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning), which can reduce the length of your studies.
Even if you don’t have prior experience, the comprehensive Diploma of Practice Management will ensure you learn all of the relevant skills to graduate job-ready.
Make the most of opportunities
For anyone looking to enter into a rewarding industry within Practice Management, the value of the Diploma of Practice Management (HLT57715) is substantial. You’ll learn valuable, practical skills with supportive tutors there to help guide you the whole way through. Flexible study and payment options mean that a new career may be closer than you think.
With the number of opportunities within this industry on the rise, (as well as increased earning potential), now is the perfect time to commence diploma study and take the next step in a Practice Management career that offers many realistic job outcomes.