How to become a health care practice manager
Official title: Health care practice managers
Also called: Manager, Clinic manager, Business manager, Practice manager, Operations manager, Fundholding manager, Gp practice manager, Fund holding manager, Dental practice manager, Optical practice manager, Patient services manager, Opticians practice manager
Healthcare practice managers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the work and resources of medical, dental and other types of healthcare practice, including veterinary practices.
Main tasks
- Plans work schedules, assigns tasks and delegates responsibilities of practice staff
- Oversees staff training and monitors training needs
- Takes responsibility for health and safety matters within the practice
- Negotiates contracts for services with other health care providers and purchasers
- Maintains patient files on medical history, consultations and treatment undertaken and/or drugs prescribed
- Organises duty rosters for professional and support staff in practice
- Takes responsibility for stock control of practice equipment, drugs, etc
- Liaises with relevant outside organisations (e.g. NHS trust, PCT, social services, drug companies, professional bodies)
How to become one
There are no pre-set entry requirements. Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications or with relevant experience. Professional qualifications are available and are required for certain posts.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £42,559 a year The middle half earn £36,270 to null.
- About 39,700 people work in this job now, and about 45,900 are projected by 2035. (+15.6%)
Related jobs
- Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
- Early education and childcare services proprietors
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Questions people ask
How do I become a health care practice manager?
There are no pre-set entry requirements. Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications or with relevant experience. Professional qualifications are available and are required for certain posts.
How much does a health care practice manager earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £42,559 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a health care practice manager a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2035, from about 39,700 to about 45,900 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a health care practice manager?
Not always. 50% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03