Research the field before counseling others. The Association of University Programs in Healthcare (AUPHA) is an objective source of information and provides resources to both advisers and potential students on its website. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook of 2010-2011 is another objective source that offers guidance and useful statistics. Consult the handbook and determine if there are local educational institutions that offer qualified courses.
Talk to an adviser at a local college and prepare a checklist of skills, personal attributes and goals that someone entering the field should possess. Some positions require prior certification in a scientific field while others are purely business. Schools of health administration come under the jurisdiction of either the business, health sciences or social services departments. If you are counseling secondary school students you will want to include information on associate degrees in business, science, technology or nursing.
Interview the student and discuss her reasons for being interested in the field. Ask questions related to the skills and attributes list you developed. Find out if she is already qualified in any of the areas mentioned and at what level she should proceed. Your knowledge of the student will aid you in giving advice on a program that will be a good fit.
Work with the student on the research material you gathered and develop a spreadsheet of what programs fit with his skills and attributes, as well as his budget. Develop a plan of what he needs to prepare, short- and long-term, to be successful. The more the student is involved in the planning, the more involved and successful he will be in his career. This exercise also gives you an opportunity to assess the student's attention to detail and his decision-making ability, which are essential to this field.
Advise the student on what type of programs you think are suitable for her interests and skills. Hospital administration is not an easy job; like many of the helping professions, long hours and a high degree of stress should be anticipated. The courses themselves are not easy, but it is an exciting field that the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics projects to grow 12 percent by 2016. In a job market where many opportunities are decreasing, this is welcome news for students.