How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Texas

A patient access representative plays a crucial role in healthcare organizations.

They are in charge of patient communication and data management and are responsible for communicating with insurance.

If you want to learn how to become a patient access representative in Texas, keep reading.

As a patient access representative, you can work with many healthcare organizations, including private clinics.

This means you’ll have plenty of employment opportunities.

Below, we’ve crafted a guide that can help explain how you can become a patient access representative in Texas.

Steps to Become a Patient Access Representative in Texas

To become a patient access representative, you must meet the minimum qualifications.

Each state has different requirements, along with healthcare organizations.

Below, we’ll walk you through each step so that you can set yourself up for success.

Step 1: Meet the Minimum Requirements

You must meet the minimum education and age requirements regardless of your state.

As a patient access representative, you must have a high school diploma or relevant schooling, such as a GED.

You must also be over the age of 18.

Step 2: Have Relevant Experience

Before becoming a patient access representative, recruiters want to know that you have skills matching the job’s requirements.

This includes working in fast-paced environments while being accurate with your work.

Aside from that, administrative, data management, and customer service jobs are also good experiences for becoming a patient access representative.

Step 3: Meet the Qualifications Of the Job

In Texas, you will mainly need to meet the requirements of lifting up to 20 to 50 lbs at once occasionally.

Applicants will also need prior job experience, depending on if they are applying to senior-level positions.

Senior positions require at least four years of previous experience working in a hospital or medical setting.

Step 4: Get Certified

While getting certified is not required, having a certificate can help boost your application above others applying for the job.

It can also compensate for a lack of experience, showing you have been properly trained and have the required skills.

The Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) certification is one potential type you can get.

However, you must ensure your certification is accepted and accredited by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM).

Step 5: Gain Connections & Network

Networking and gaining connections is also an excellent way to get a job as a patient access representative.

Since most positions are in hospitals and small clinics, knowing others who work there can give you a competitive edge.

Not only can you learn the ins and outs of the job, but you can better understand the work environment.

Take as many opportunities as possible, volunteering at clinics and attending job fairs.

Step 6: Create a Strong Resume & Cover Letter

If you lack experience, another way to become a patient access representative is to tailor your resume and cover letter to the job.

Recruiters will be looking for job-specific experience and skills.

By changing your resume, you can demonstrate the correct job experience and skills necessary for becoming a patient access representative.

Step 7: Go to Interviews

Applying and attending interviews for patient access representative positions can help prepare you for the job.

Practice interviews with friends, family, or others in the healthcare system.

That way, you can practice sounding confident and organized.

Recruiters often look for applicants that can demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and communication.

Step 8: Interview

All you’ll need to do is apply and go to the interview.

You will want to dress appropriately for the position during the interview process.

Think business casual or something nice.

Also, take the time to mention relevant job experience and skills you have that would make you a good fit for the position.

Schools in Texas

Texas requires that you have relevant job experience but not schooling.

However, adding a certificate to your application never hurts, proving you have been trained to do the job correctly.

Below, we will walk you through the training programs available in Texas to become a patient access representative.

Texas A&M International University

Texas A&M International University partnered with the Patient Access Representative training course from Ed2go.

Students who enter the course will learn all the necessary skills to function as entry-level patient access representatives.

In the course, students will prepare themselves to take the CMAA and CEHRS certification exams.

Length of Program

The program includes a total of 250 hours of coursework.

The class is open enrollment and also self-paced.

Students must complete all training and modules in under 12 months.

However, this allows students to take as little or as much time as they need to study.

Course Cost

The entire course and vouchers cost a total of $2,695.

If you can’t afford that, Ed2go partners with Affirm, which can help break up the total payment into smaller manageable ones.

The lowest monthly payment can be $131 if you qualify.

This allows students to still attend the training without needing the money upfront.

Course Overview

The course includes an overview of all tasks a patient access representative must do on the job.

This includes learning how to navigate healthcare systems and using the associated technology.

Word, Excel, and other Microsoft Office programs will be learned.

The program will also emphasize HIPAA compliance and ethics.

Students will also be responsible for learning to communicate with patients using EHR simulators.

This allows students to learn real-world expectations.

Aside from that, students will also learn knowledge to take the CMAA and CEHRS certificate exams.

Patient Access Representative Schools in Texas – Summary Table

Salary

Senior patient access representatives in Texas will make an annual salary of $49,534.

This average will fall between $45,074 to $55,368.

The higher end of the range is for those with more job experience, while the lower end represents less experience.

Regional Salary in Texas