Graduate Degree

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the ACPE Graduate Degree program?
• When and where are program courses held?
• How long does the program take to complete?
• What are the program's requirements?
• How much does the program cost?
• How do I begin participating in the Graduate Program?
• Can I get credit for other management courses I've taken?
• MBA vs. MMM-what's the difference?
• If I took courses years ago but never took the test for credit, am I still eligible to take the test or do I need to retake the course?
• What about the next step - board certification?
• What other degree programs are there?
• What kind of management position can I expect to receive once I complete my graduate degree in management?
• I know without actual management experience, I won’t get a shot at a management job. So how do I acquire opportunities to get this experience while advancing my education and credentials?

   

What is the ACPE Graduate Degree program?

ACPE graduate degrees are the flexible answer for working physicians who want a medical management degree designed for health care leadership. Earn your degree at your own pace and in the format (live and/or distance learning) you prefer. ACPE graduate programs offer the Master of Medical Management and the online MBA in Medical Management.

ACPE offers the only graduate program that enables you to choose from among four of America's top universities. Since 1993, nearly 2000 physicians have chosen ACPE graduate programs to build the valuable leadership skills they needed to advance their health care leadership careers.
Back to top

When and where are program courses held?

The curriculum for ACPE's graduate degrees is divided into two sections, with Section I presented by ACPE and Section II by the College's partner universities. The flexibility of ACPE's graduate programs comes, in part, from the different formats in which educational courses are available. For more than 30 years, ACPE Section I live programs held across the country have set the standard in medical management education. And since 1997, ACPE has delivered that same level of excellence in its distance education courses. All Section I courses also carry category 1 CME credit. Visit the course calendar for a complete Section I schedule.
Back to top

How long does the program take to complete?

The Section I ACPE curriculum can be completed in as few as 6 months; however, you have a maximum of seven years (from the year of your first qualifying test). Each student's schedule is customized to suit individual needs - you go at your own pace. About one additional year is needed to complete the Master of Medical Management degree coursework and an average of 2 1/2 years to complete the online MBA in Medical Management. If necessary, the total time of completion may be extended up to 10 years (for Section I and Section II curriculum).
Back to top

What are the program's requirements?

You can begin taking graduate courses now. Formal program enrollment is not required. ACPE membership is not required of graduate degree participants. However, physicians who join ACPE receive substantial discounts on tuition for Section I courses, along with the full range of benefits available to members of the College.

The program requires successful completion of both Section I and Section II curriculum.
Back to top

How much does the program cost?

There is no charge to enroll in the program or take tests. The only fees are the regular tuition charges for individual courses and the travel expenses incurred for live courses. You can pay in advance or pay as you go. The estimated total cost for the coursework required for the Section I portion is approximately $6,850. Tuition for the Section II one-year Master of Medical Management degree program ranges from $23,400-$25,460. Or, current tuition for the Section II two-year online MBA option is $20,400.
Back to top

How do I begin participating in the Graduate Program?

Begin by registering for your first ACPE Section I course - call ACPE at 800-562-8088 or select a program from this list and register online. Most physicians start with the Physician in Management Seminar but you may start with any course you choose.
Back to top

Can I get credit for other management courses I've taken?

Candidates with graduate level academic coursework credit that has been graded and awarded within the past ten years are eligible to transfer up to 60 hours as a substitute for Section I courses. Acceptance of transfer credit is pending review of the course syllabus and candidate's transcript. Content must be duplicative of ACPE course content. Transfer credit for Section II courses is not generally available.

There are two types of transfer credit:

• Course and test waived. This type of credit is only given if you received a grade from the educational provider.
• Course waived, test must be challenged. If no grade was received, you must challenge the exam to receive course credit. You have one chance to pass the exam (see testing section for information on taking tests). If you do not pass, you will be required to take the ACPE course.

E-mail us if you are interested in transferring credit.
Back to top

MBA vs. MMM-what's the difference?

The Master of Medical Management (MMM) takes aspects of general MBA educational programming, then adds content unique to the issues and concerns of medical management. The MMM is the Degree of Choice and was designed by senior executives and nationally recognized faculty. The program focuses on the specific skills that CEOs, governing boards, and top managers look for in physician executives responsible for meeting health care organizations' unique demands. If you plan to specialize in health care leadership, you want the best preparation for your future.

The UMass Amherst Online Professional MBA in Medical Management features course work that concentrates on basic concepts, models, and research underlying disciplines of behavioral science, economics, and quantitative analytical methods. Practical courses demonstrate applications of those basic models across the spectrum of business disciplines: accounting, information management, finance, marketing, and human resources management. Combined with the ACPE Section I curriculum the online MBA integrates the capabilities of business management with the distinctive world of health care to prepare tomorrow's physician leaders for the unique challenges that await them.

There are four main differences between the MMM & UMASS Online MBA:
1. Content - The Master of Medical Management (MMM) was designed by senior physician executives and nationally recognized faculty. The MMM takes some aspects of general MBA educational programming, then adds content unique to the issues and concerns of medical management. It integrates health care research with business, policy and systems research in order to teach relevant management and leadership competencies in a doctors-only classroom. By contrast, the UMass Amherst Online Professional MBA in Medical Management teaches management & leadership competencies from a broad, comprehensive business school approach using examples from all industries (with other non-physician professionals in the classroom).
2. Format - The MMM is a blended format - several short on-campus sessions blended with independent study and distance learning coursework. The MBA is 100% distance learning (independent study & online learning). The distance learning assignments for both programs are asynchronous so that you can fit your studies into the time of day/week that works best for you.
3. Duration - After ACPE's Section I is completed, then the MMM takes one year to 18 months to complete with tuition ranging from $25,000 - $28,000. The MBA can be completed in two to four years with tuition averaging $20,400.
4. Credential - The MMM credential is quickly gaining recognition in health care circles with over 500 graduates working in leadership positions across the country. While the degree is relatively new (first graduates were in 1997), physician executive recruiters are seeing it included in the list of expected credentials more and more. The MBA is a widely recognized credential and can be especially effective if you need to gain quick respect with business leaders who have little health care background.

For additional direction, talk to alumni from each program. For information on how to connect with ACPE Alumni or for other questions about the degree program, please call Charisse Jimenez at 800-562-8088 or email cjimenez@acpe.org
Back to top

If I took courses years ago but never took the test for credit, am I still eligible to take the test or do I need to retake the course?

Tests can be completed in any order and at any time - the only restriction is that no more than 7 years elapses between the date of the first test and the date of the last test. We encourage testing soon after each course even if you are unsure that you will complete the program, simply to keep your options open and to avoid having to catch up on material from years past. Remember there is no charge for testing.
Back to top

What about the next step - board certification?

For the physician executive, board certification in medical management can be the key to success in today's competitive health care environment. CPE (Certified Physician Executive) certification can be a valuable credential that can help you advance your career, enhance your credibility, and attain the satisfaction of reaching a major achievement. The Section I ACPE Graduate Degree curriculum meets the educational requirements for application for the CPE.

The Certified Physician Executive (CPE) differs both in how you become one and in what it signifies. To become a CPE you must apply to be accepted into the Certifying Commission in Medical Management's Certified Physician Executive Tutorial. The Tutorial is a week-long skill development and assessment period culminating on the last day with an oral presentation before a panel of health care leaders.

After a final assessment by the Credentials Committee of the Certifying Commission, you will receive the CPE certification. The CPE attests not only to your knowledge and experience in the field, but also in your ability to share that with others, be it a hiring committee for a future position or with your current staff or peer group. You are also able to put the CPE initials after your name. You are then eligible to become a Diplomate in ACPE, which is the path to fellowship in the College. Over 450 members have become board certified in medical management since the Certifying Commission was started in 1997.

To apply for the CPE Tutorial call 813-287-8944 or visit their website www.ccmm.org
Back to top

What other degree programs are there?

Recently the number of master's business degrees "for physicians" has greatly increased. We have a sample listing but we encourage you to do further research if ACPE's program does not fit your needs.
Back to top

What kind of management position can I expect to receive once I complete my graduate degree in management?

First of all, if you do get a master's degree, keep in mind that it will definitely help you do a management job, but it will not be an automatic guarantee that you will get a management job. When you finished your MD, you could go somewhere and immediately be a doctor. The same is not true for the master's degree programs in management. You will still need experience and contacts.

With that said, perhaps the best way to answer this question is to refer to the specific jobs our current MMM and MBA graduates are working in today. Here are the top five categories of positions held by our 500 ACPE graduates:
Medical Director
Department Chief or Department Chair
Department or Program Director
President
Vice President, Medical Affairs

If you have further questions on this topic, contact Barbara Linney at ACPE, 800-562-8088.
Back to top

I know without actual management experience, I won’t get a shot at a management job. So how do I acquire opportunities to get this experience while advancing my education and credentials?

We hear from hundreds of physicians each year who are working their way up the management ladder. And here are just a few of their tips about how to pave your way into medical management:

• See chaos as an opportunity to step up to the plate. Be available to assume more responsibility, especially during difficult times for the organization, i.e. mergers, changes in leadership, implementation of organization-wide technology solutions.
• Be willing to slowly advance from voluntary, unpaid leadership positions to larger, reimbursed management roles.
• Volunteer to serve on Task Forces, Committees, Ad Hoc Initiatives. Participate enthusiastically and be vocal about your willingness to serve and even lead these efforts.
• Consistently attend and actively participate in meetings, especially meetings that others view negatively.
• Be open and vocal about your interest in positions such as Department Chair, Chief of Service, etc.
• Volunteer to handle often-avoided tasks like conflict resolution, coding, compliance, scheduling, and finances.
• During times of transition when leadership unexpectedly departs, you could make an offer and say, “I’m willing to assume whatever responsibilities you need me to.”
• Be tuned into opportunities to re-engineer processes or innovate systems like patient flow or turn around times. Start a team and collaboratively establish new methods. Then widely report on the improved outcomes, focusing first on the financial improvements and then on items like increased patient satisfaction.
• Look for building projects and expansions of new service lines in your health care community and find ways to get involved in these new initiatives.
  Back to top