How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Florida

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How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Florida

Providing essential support to patients throughout their treatment journey is a critical role fulfilled by patient access representatives.

These dedicated professionals work closely with both patients and healthcare providers, offering crucial information and invaluable emotional support.

Florida presents a flourishing demand for patient access representatives, making it an enticing field to pursue.

If you’re considering a career in this domain, we’ve compiled an all-inclusive article that delves deeper into the profession, providing valuable insights.

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Now, let’s embark on a journey through the necessary steps to become a patient access representative in the vibrant state of Florida!

1. Completion of Education

To begin this exciting career path, fulfilling the minimum educational requirement of obtaining a high school diploma or GED is essential.

However, for those seeking better income prospects, pursuing an Associate’s Degree is highly recommended.

Although not mandatory in Florida, having a college degree can significantly enhance your resume and set you apart from other candidates.

Popular degree options in this field include healthcare administration or medical assistance.

It’s worth noting that some individuals may even hold a Bachelor’s Degree, which can open up additional opportunities for advancement and specialization.

Each degree program varies in duration, cost, and specific career paths available, allowing you to tailor your educational journey to align with your unique goals and aspirations.

2. Becoming Certified

As of now, Florida does not require certification in order to become a patient access representative.

But, various national certifications are available if you want to get hired faster and be successful.

Any of the next certifications are useful for this occupation:

  • Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA)
  • Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)
  • Certified Healthcare Access Manager (CHAM)
  • Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
  • Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS)
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
  • Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
  • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
  • Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS)

Getting any of the above certifications will help you advance faster in your career.

The CHAA certification provided by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) is the most important for patient access representatives.

The subjects it covers include customer service, patient access services, and regulatory standards.

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) also provides two certifications: CMAA and CEHRS.

Keep in mind that finishing specialized training programs is needed to get any of the above certifications.

3. Work Experience

In order to establish a strong foundation in the medical field as a patient access representative, relevant job experience holds significant value.

It is advantageous to have prior experience in fields such as record keeping, data entry, medical software, and billing, as they are closely related to the responsibilities of a patient access representative.

To begin building this experience, it is recommended to actively seek employment opportunities or volunteer at local hospitals and healthcare facilities.

By doing so, you can gain practical knowledge and develop essential skills in patient access and related areas.

Additionally, if you are already employed, you can pursue training opportunities within your current job to enhance your expertise.

By actively pursuing relevant experience and combining it with the required education, certifications, and training, you will position yourself for success as a patient access representative in Florida.

Training Schools for Patient Access Representatives in Florida

Florida offers a diverse range of training programs tailored to aspiring patient access representatives.

Let’s have a look!

Florida State College at Jacksonville Fscj-logo-stacked-color.png

This college provides an extensive Patient Access Technician program.

Some of the subjects you’ll study are:

  • Medical terminology,
  • Health information management,
  • Patient rights and responsibilities
  • Healthcare billing and insurance.

Students gain practical experience through hands-on training in a healthcare environment.

Miami Dade College Miami Dade College logo.svg

At this college, the Health Care Services Specialist Certificate program is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge for success in this profession.

The curriculum encompasses courses in medical office procedures, healthcare law and ethics, customer service, and healthcare reimbursement.

Students benefit from simulated lab experiences and clinical rotations, allowing them to gain valuable real-world exposure.

Florida Technical College Florida Technical College Logo

At this college, you’ll be interested in the allied health management course for a future job as a PAR.

The program has a duration of 4 years, but the classes included can be attended separately and organized in a way to fit your schedule.

As such, the cost of the program will vary.

Broward County Community College Broward County Community College Logo

Students enrolling at this college can receive financial aid and most programs it offers have a duration of 2 years.

Future PARs need to sign up for the healthcare management program.

The cost of this program is $16,000 if you don’t receive financial help.

School Name Address
Broward County Community College 111 E. Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
Florida State College 101 W State Street Jacksonville, FL 32202
Florida Technical College 12900 Challenger Pkwy Orlando, Florida 32826
Miami Dade College 300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132
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Salaries for Patient Access Representatives in Florida

Exploring potential salaries in the field of patient access representatives requires an understanding of the factors that impact earnings.

In Florida, the median annual salary for these professionals is around $48,151.

To highlight the cities in Florida where your income will be higher, I compiled a table!

Annual Salary Range:
$43K
$48K
$53K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Coconut Creek $49,220
Bell Glade $49,153
South Bay $49,153
Wellington $49,008
Fort Lauderdale $48,794
Hollywood $48,794
Summerland Key $48,482
Tavernier $48,350
Bay Pines $47,834
St. Petersburg $47,834

Regional Salary in Florida

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL440$50,270$24.17$68,600$36,210
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL160$49,530$23.81$75,540$32,180
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL470$42,300$20.34$64,700$30,000
Gainesville, FL340$55,890$26.87$79,090$34,310
Homosassa Springs, FL40$44,100$21.2$80,030$29,830
Jacksonville, FL1,410$48,380$23.26$74,750$34,540
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL300$47,630$22.9$65,760$32,610
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL4,270$50,160$24.12$77,440$31,030
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL140$48,590$23.36$67,230$33,180
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL440$51,500$24.76$76,750$35,880
Ocala, FL170$44,780$21.53$78,170$29,990
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL1,890$48,840$23.48$75,320$31,200
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL390$51,840$24.92$80,840$32,540
Panama City, FL120$41,640$20.02$60,660$29,680
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL360$44,260$21.28$64,200$29,600
Port St. Lucie, FL250$47,920$23.04$71,610$30,530
Punta Gorda, FL80$46,000$22.11$74,890$31,390
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL70$52,990$25.48$90,950$30,070
Sebring, FL50$41,410$19.91$64,040$28,180
Tallahassee, FL380$47,360$22.77$68,440$29,640
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL2,950$56,170$27$92,070$34,790
The Villages, FL60$41,670$20.03$66,910$30,180
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Medical Records Specialists, OCC Code 29-2072, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my certification need renewal?

Nationally-recognized certifications usually need renewal.

How often this must be done depends on the institution issuing the certification.

Are there benefits for becoming a PAR in Florida?

Yes!

The most important one is that you get to help others and thus feel needed if this is something important to you.

Another benefit is that this entry-level job pays much more than many others.

What skills do I need to work as a patient access representative in Florida?

These are some of the best skills to have for a PAR job:

  • Customer service
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving,
  • Organization,
  • Computer
  • General office
  • Being calm
  • Accuracy

USA Patient Access Representative by State


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