Career Advice for a Practice Manager

When you become a Practice Manager, you will oversee hiring, training, budgets, and customer service at a medical practice.

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How to Become a Practice Manager

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Practice Manager

Should you wish to work as a Practice Manager you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Practice Manager

  • A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.
  • Certificate in Health Service Administration.
  • Level 3 Certificate in Medical Principles for the Administrator.
  • Level 3 Diploma in Medical Administration.
  • Level 5 Primary Care and Health Management.
  • Membership of the Institute of Healthcare Management or The Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators, and Receptionists.

Key Responsibilities for a Practice Manager

  • Managing the daily operations of the medical practice.
  • Overseeing budgets, finances, and payroll.
  • Hiring, training, and supervising the practice’s workforce.
  • Communicating with patients and handling concerns and complaints.
  • Ensuring the practice and its employees follow national regulations and the law.
  • Organising and preserving staff and patient records.

What to expect as a Practice Manager

Working as a Practice Manager, you will work in a healthcare centre or GP practice. You will need excellent managerial, leadership, administrative, and communication skills with proficiency using computer applications and Microsoft Office.

Recommended Practice Manager Jobs

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How to get Practice Manager Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Practice Manager job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Practice Manager application. If you have not held a Practice Manager position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Practice Manager role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Practice Manager CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Practice Manager application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Practice Manager in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Practice Manager 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Practice Manager and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Practice Manager experience.

How to get Practice Manager Experience

What does it take to be a Practice Manager? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Practice Manager jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Practice Manager through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Practice Manager Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Practice Manager part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Practice Manager or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Practice Manager freelance work

If you have impressive Practice Manager qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.