How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Virginia

Although most Patient Access Representatives learn on the job, there are some steps that you can take to prepare to transition into this role in Virginia.

If you have some experience in healthcare, customer service, or related fields, you might find it easier to land a job as a Patient Access Representative.

No matter what your background or level of experience look like, following the steps below will make it easy to enter this field and jumpstart your rewarding career as a Patient Access Rep in VA.

Steps to Become a Patient Access Representative in Virginia

1. Research Patient Access Representative opportunities nearby

While you might love the concept of becoming a Patient Access Representative, you’ll need actual opportunities for this kind of job nearby if you want to make a living as this kind of professional.

Whether you plan on going through a training program to acquire these skills or you intend to use previous experience to apply to an entry-level position, it pays to do your research first to see if this job would be available in your section of Virginia.

2. Watch videos about a day in the life of a Patient Access Representative

Watching videos such as this one on YouTube can give you a better idea of what a day in your life will look like as a Patient Access Representative than any job description’s list of duties could.

With this kind of video, you can see what type of customer service you will need to provide as a Patient Access Representative.

You will also get a feel for how busy, exciting, and rewarding this career can be.

If you watch this video and decide that this role isn’t for you, you can still apply and see what happens.

Still, you will go into your application process with a firmer concept of what this job entails if you can visualize it before your first day of work.

Every workplace is different, so your future employer might have different responsibilities assigned to their patient access representatives than these types of videos do.

Regardless, doing your research and learning from the experiences of others will enrich your job search.

3. Compete a Patient Access Representative training course

If you want to be extra prepared for your first day on the job as a Patient Access Representative, you might want to consider taking a training course in these skills before you apply to potential positions.

While there aren’t any schools in Virginia that have programs specifically dedicated to Patient Access Representative training, there are some local schools that offer medical assistance or medical administration training such as Tidewater Medical Training.

If you have some experience as a medical assistant, this will be especially valuable in the eyes of future employers if you decide to transition to a career in Patient Access Representative roles.

4. Get a customer service job or volunteer in customer service

While it can be tough to break into Patient Access Representative roles without any prior experience, the good news is that many employers in Virginia consider customer service experience when hiring Patient Access Representatives.

If you have worked at a retail store, restaurant, or other customer service setting, the experience you gained in these roles will matter to those who want to hire a Patient Access Representative.

Once you have at least six months of experience in paid or volunteer customer service roles, you can feel confident applying to be a Patient Access Representative.

5. Gain experience in a medical office

If retail or food service aren’t for you, working in medical administration can be the perfect launching pad for your career in patient access.

Since this combines healthcare and customer service, it is a great way to show future employers that you have the necessary skills and background to succeed as a Patient Access Representative.

Many of the skills you learn in this role will transfer effortlessly if you decide to take on another position as a Patient Access Representative.

It will also be a good place to decide whether working in healthcare administration or customer service in a medical setting is right for you.

6. Apply for Patient Access Representative openings in your area

After you have at least six months to a year of experience in customer service, medical assistance, medical administration, or related roles, you will be ready to apply for your first Patient Access Representative job.

Locating openings can be as simple as searching a popular job board like Indeed.com or scrolling through the careers page on hospitals in your area.

If you have a specific hospital or medical setting nearby, you can always call them directly to ask if they have any openings for Patient Access Representatives.

7. Interview for Patient Access Representative roles

To interview for Patient Access Representative roles, you should wear professional attire, bring a copy of your updated resume, and plan to arrive about fifteen minutes early.

8. Say “yes” to your Patient Access Representative offer letter!

After putting in all your hard work, it’s time to see it pay off with an offer letter for your dream job.

Salary

In Virginia, Patient Access Representatives make roughly $45,578 to $55,988.

Regional Salary in Virginia