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“Correctional healthcare managers face a number of challenges that do not exist outside of corrections. Our patients frequently have had little to no, or highly inconsistent, access to healthcare prior to incarceration and may or may not be aware of their current healthcare needs.”

The United States has the largest population of incarcerated citizens in the world and the 6th highest per‑capita incarceration rate. More than two million people live behind bars in local, state, and federal prisons. Each year over $80 billion is spent on corrections services, with a large portion of that total being spent on prisoner healthcare. The budgets of prison healthcare centers, as well as the center and patients, are overseen by the specialized role of correctional health administrators.

Correctional health administrators perform many of the same duties as healthcare administrators but have the added challenge of doing so within the confines of a prison. Typical duties include setting clinic policies, managing budgets, supervising staff, ensuring patients receive adequate care, maintaining patient records, and developing preventative care programs. In addition to these duties, correctional health administrators must supervise inmates to ensure staff stays safe and prisoners remain incarcerated.

The path to a career as a correctional health administrator varies. Education in corrections and healthcare management is essential. Professionals typically earn an undergraduate degree in either health sciences or corrections and then pursue a master’s in health administration or a master’s in business administration with an emphasis in healthcare. Those with healthcare management degrees lacking in corrections education may earn a certificate in corrections from numerous programs across the country.

Here is an overview of what it takes to enter the profession of a correctional health administrator, including the education required, top courses of study, typical responsibilities, and licensure and certification requirements.

HealthcareDegree.com: What do you wish the public understood about correctional health managers?

Lawson: Correctional healthcare managers face a number of challenges that do not exist outside of corrections. Our patients frequently have had little to no, or highly inconsistent, access to healthcare prior to incarceration and may or may not be aware of their current healthcare needs. This is why they get a head‑to‑toe assessment when entering a jail and another one if they end up going to prison.

We have to respond to patient requests for services within very tight deadlines. If a patient in the private sector contacts their doctor’s office for a non‑urgent/emergent health concern, they may be seen anytime from one week to six weeks later or more. In correctional healthcare, we have 24 hours to have the patient assessed by licensed healthcare staff. We also have to balance conflicting expectations from our patients, our security team, and our healthcare team.

Combine every possible health, dental, mental health, or infectious disease possibility that you will run into inside of corrections. The number of comorbidities that our patients have is greater than normally seen outside of corrections. Our patients may be incarcerated, but they are our patients first and inmates second.

Tort cases, especially those that hit the Supreme Court, have a profound effect on the provision of healthcare. Few people know that as a result of Gamble v. Estelle and Ruiz v. Estelle, incarcerated persons have a constitutional right to healthcare. They are the only citizens in the United States with this right.

Thanks to our security teams and the correctional officers, working in a jail or prison is frequently safer than working in an ER.

HealthcareDegree.com: What advice would you give to aspiring correctional health management students?

Lawson: First, it is important to understand the standards put forth by the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC) and the American Correctional Association (ACA).

Just like the Joint Commission does for hospitals, these organizations set the national standards for correctional healthcare for both adult and juvenile facilities for all disciplines—medical, nursing, mental health, dental, and infirmary care. Even facilities that are not accredited by one of these two organizations use their standards when crafting their policies for the provision of healthcare in their facility.

Aspiring correctional health management students need to have well‑developed people skills and be able to connect and interact with people at all levels. The ACA and the Academy of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) both have student memberships that provide opportunities to connect with healthcare professionals within and outside corrections. They are great ways to build connections and develop people skills. The NCCHC offers certifications for correctional healthcare professionals, and no membership is required.

There are numerous educational paths to take toward becoming a correctional health administrator. Many professionals in this career complete an undergraduate degree in criminal justice or corrections and then complete a master’s in health administration (MHA). Others simply complete the MHA and then complete a graduate certificate in correctional management or gain the necessary experience through on‑the‑job training.

Master’s degree programs that put students on the path toward becoming a correctional health administrator typically require applicants to have already completed a bachelor’s degree. Previous work in healthcare can be a requirement in MHA programs. Applicants are also usually required to submit GRE scores, recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, and all college transcripts.

There are no accrediting bodies for correctional health administrator programs. Master of health administration programs, however, are accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Students pursuing graduate certificates or new degree programs should ensure the university or college they are attending is, at a minimum, regionally accredited, as this ensures a high quality of education.

Professionals who already have a background in healthcare or have an MHA will find the certificate in correctional management at Indiana University Northwest to be a great stepping stone toward a career as a correctional health administrator. As part of this program, students learn how to work with inmates and gain the leadership skills necessary to be in corrections management.

As part of this 15‑credit program, students must take courses on the criminal justice system, corrections administration, and corrections counseling. Students may also pursue an associate or bachelor’s in criminal justice at IUN. While these degrees alone won’t be enough for a career as a correctional health administrator, they can be critical components when combined with healthcare work experience or an MHA.

• Location: Gary, IN
• Duration: Six months to a year
• Accreditation: Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)

The bachelor’s in science (BS) in criminology and criminal justice offered at Arizona State University is a great first step in the educational career of a future correctional health administrator. This full four‑year degree requires students to take courses in corrections, criminal justice policies, statistical analysis, and the influence of gender, race, and ethnicity on the criminal justice system.

As part of this program, students may complete internships at over 200 organizations, including the Arizona Department of Corrections. This program is offered as a daytime on‑campus option, evening on‑campus, or fully online, offering students the flexibility to choose how they will complete their degree. Graduates of this program must pursue further education to work in correctional health management, such as an MHA or an MBA with a concentration in healthcare.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

The corrections certificate program at Drury University offers an in‑depth exploration of the corrections branch within the criminal justice system. It covers historical and contemporary issues, constitutional and ethical considerations, and aims to prepare future leaders to address institutional and operational challenges. The program requires 18 credits and is open to both students and professionals, such as police officers and first responders, seeking to enhance their credentials. Key courses include ethics in criminal justice, understanding gangs, and correctional law. The certificate is designed to develop leadership skills and promote collaboration across diverse backgrounds.

• Location: Springfield, MO
• Duration: Six courses
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Saint Martin’s University offers a healthcare management certificate program for healthcare professionals aiming to advance into managerial roles. The program comprises 15 credit hours, completed through four eight‑week classes and a summer practicum. It emphasizes skills in operations management, healthcare policy, and ethical decision‑making.

Students apply classroom knowledge in a supervised practicum with a local healthcare organization. The program prepares students for leadership roles in various healthcare settings, including provider organizations, consulting, government agencies, and more. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree and a minimum GPA of 2.75.

• Location: Lacey, WA
• Duration: Three semesters
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Students who need to complete an undergraduate degree can earn their bachelor’s of science in healthcare management at Oregon Tech. This program prepares students for diverse roles in the healthcare industry. The program offers three options: administration, clinical, and radiologic science management. Each option is designed to equip students with skills in managing health services, focusing on planning, directing, and coordinating medical services.

The curriculum includes a capstone project or internship in the senior year. The program is available in Klamath Falls and Portland, and it prepares graduates for roles such as healthcare administrators, clinical analysts, and medical office managers.

• Location: Klamath Falls or Portland, OR
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

The graduate certificate in corrections management at the University of Oklahoma supplements an education in healthcare to provide professionals with the necessary skills to become correctional health administrators. Graduates have the tools to tackle management problems, ethical decision‑making, and staffing issues with ease. Coupled with a degree in healthcare management, students will be ready to manage penal healthcare settings with the utmost confidence.

Students in this program complete two required courses in penology and ethical decision‑making along with electives in gang studies, restorative justice, mental illness, or community justice. The required coursework is typically completed over three semesters. However, students have the flexibility to adjust their course load as they see fit.

• Location: Norman, OK
• Duration: One year
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

The master’s of administration in justice‑involved care (MAJIC) program at Morehouse School of Medicine is a 33‑credit hour curriculum designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the intersection of public health and criminal justice. The program focuses on designing population‑based services, addressing policy issues, and developing communication strategies to support justice‑impacted individuals. It includes courses on correctional healthcare, health and social justice, and leadership in the criminal justice system, along with practical experiences through a practicum and an integrated learning experience. The program aims to equip students with the skills to reduce recidivism and promote social justice.

• Location: Atlanta, GA
• Duration: Three semesters
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Arizona State University offers an online graduate certificate in corrections leadership and management designed to prepare students for leadership roles in corrections, including prisons, parole agencies, and probation departments. The program consists of 15 credit hours across five courses, focusing on corrections management, community supervision, and public administration. It aims to equip students with the skills needed to manage correctional populations effectively. The certificate can be paired with ASU’s master’s of arts in criminal justice without additional cost or time. Admission requires a minimum 3.00 GPA and includes submitting transcripts, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Duration: Five classes
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

The corrections administration graduate certificate, offered by Lindenwood University’s College of Science, Technology, and Health, enhances any academic degree by providing the expertise, insights, and abilities needed for professionals aiming to broaden their experience in criminal justice. The certificate requires students to complete 18 credit hours of coursework.

Classes students must complete include ethics in criminal justice administration, criminal justice leadership: strategies and practice, criminal justice leadership theory, public policy and criminal justice, corrections administration, fundamentals of financial management.

• Location: Saint Charles, MO
• Duration: 18 credits
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