Experience in management or administration in healthcare or social care has high importance. Employers look for experience as much as professional qualifications. Your experience and qualifications in accounting, bookkeeping, business management, staff management, etc also can be helpful. You can get the job, even if you don't have direct exposure to healthcare industry. Your experience in other sectors and management capabilities count.

The qualifications you can look for include certificate or diploma courses in medical secretary or qualifications as administrators. Most of the qualifications can be sought once you join a practice in the management post. In fact, your being working for a practice is a qualification to join diploma/certificate courses organised by organisations like the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists (AMSPMAR). You can also look for on the job career enhancement like Diploma in Primary Care Management.