Hospice career hub · role

Becoming a hospice administrator — the complete role guide

The hospice administrator (or Executive Director) is the accountable leader for the entire hospice organization. Per 42 CFR §418.100, the administrator has full authority to manage day-to-day operations and is the primary point of accountability for CMS survey readiness, financial stewardship, and mission-aligned growth.

By Goodwin Hospice Academy Editorial Team·Published February 16, 2026

A day in the life

A typical week: leadership team meetings (clinical director, DCS, VP finance, admissions lead), community relationships (physician referrals, senior living, faith communities), regulatory review (audit responses, survey preparation), financial oversight (margin, cap position, wage-index modeling), and strategic planning (new programs, geographic expansion, partnerships).

Education & licensing

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree (MBA, MHA, MSN, or MPH) strongly preferred for larger organizations.
Minimum 5 years of healthcare leadership experience; hospice experience preferred.
Regulatory literacy: 42 CFR §418 (hospice CoPs), CMS payment rules, state licensure.

Certifications

CHPCA — Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator

HPCC-administered credential specifically for hospice administrators.

FACHE — Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives

General healthcare-executive credential valued in larger systems.

Salary reference

Confirm current hospice administrator compensation on MGMA and NHPCO leadership salary surveys. Compensation varies significantly with hospice size (typically stratified by average daily census).

We never publish specific compensation numbers here to avoid drift. Follow the BLS link in Sources below for current, verified data.

Entry pathway

01Build a healthcare leadership foundation (clinical, operational, or administrative track).
02Move into hospice at a director-level role (DCS, admissions director, VP operations).
03Complete a hospice-specific administrator training program (some hospices sponsor this).
04Pursue CHPCA credential.
05Advance to hospice administrator or executive director.

FAQ

Do I need a clinical background?

Not required, but strongly beneficial. Non-clinical administrators can excel with a strong clinical partner (DCS or medical director) at the leadership table. Clinical administrators tend to have deeper credibility with the frontline team.

How is a hospice administrator paid?

Typically a base salary + bonus tied to organizational metrics (average daily census, margin, quality scores, survey outcomes).

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Sources

Educational content only. Confirm current licensure, certification, and compensation data with the linked primary sources.