How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Georgia

Giving support to patients undergoing treatment is an essential role fulfilled by patient access representatives.

Patient access representatives collaborate with patients, medical staff, and insurance companies.

Georgia has an increased demand for patient access representatives, and this career path can be quite lucrative.

If this is the right choice for you, we have all the info you need to succeed.

Let’s have a look at the steps required to become a patient access representative in this state!

1. Complete Your Education

To start this new career path, you need to at least get a high school diploma or a GED.

But, if you are looking for a better job, you should consider getting an Associate’s Degree.

While not needed in Georgia, getting a college degree can significantly improve your resume and make you stand out when it comes to getting hired.

Some degree options in this sector are healthcare administration or medical assistance.

You should also know that some people opt to get a Bachelor’s Degree.

This can increase your chances to develop a fulfilling career even more.

Every degree program has a different duration, cost, and career paths available.

2. Getting a Certification

The state of Georgia does not require a license for those seeking to work as patient access representatives.

But, there are several national certifications you can choose from if you do decide to get certified.

Some of these include:

• 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)

The CHAA certification through the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) holds the most relevance for patient access representatives.

It includes topics like customer service, patient access services, and regulatory standards.

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is another organization providing two certifications: CMAA and CEHRS.

To get certified, you will need to complete a patient access representative training program.

3. Professional Experience

Having prior experience in areas such as record keeping, data entry, medical software, and billing can provide a valuable advantage, as these skills align closely with the responsibilities of a patient access representative.

To start building this experience, it is advisable to actively pursue employment opportunities or consider volunteering at local hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Moreover, if you are already employed, you can explore training opportunities within your current job to further enhance your expertise in the field.

Training Schools for Patient Access Representatives in Georgia

Georgia provides quite a few training programs for future patient access representatives and we’re going to have a look at them!

Georgia State University

This university’s health informatics program is what you need if you want to become a PAR.

The program has a specialized curriculum designed to equip aspiring professionals with the knowledge and skills needed for success in this role.

The program provides a flexible scheduling option, including full-time and part-time.

Admission to the program requires a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.

Additionally, satisfactory entrance exam scores are necessary to demonstrate your academic readiness for the program.

Augusta University

This university offers a health services program for individuals aspiring to become patient access representatives in Georgia.

This program places a strong emphasis on practical skills development alongside theoretical knowledge, preparing students for their careers.

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

To be admitted into this program, prior experience in a healthcare setting is required.

Agnes Scott College

At this college, you’ll want to look for the Certified Electronic Health Records program.

This program covers topics like:

• Coding and billing
• Medical technology
• Effective patient communication
• HIPPA practices
• Electronic health records

This program is offered online and you can enroll at any time.

Upon completion, you’ll qualify to take the CEHRS exam.

Georgia Southern University

This university offers an online Patient Access Representative course for a year.

You’ll need either a Windows or a MAC machine to attend the classes and enrollment is open.

Within this year you’ll have to complete 250 hours of training at your own pace.

You’ll have to pay at least $2,695 for the program, but Affirm can help with that.

This fee also covers the textbooks you’ll need, and these will be shipped to you a few days after you enroll.

At the end of the program, you can sit through both exams offered by the NHA (CMAA and CEHRS).

Salaries for Patient Access Representatives in Georgia

When considering a career in the field of patient access representatives, understanding the factors that shape salary potential is crucial.

These factors include experience, education, as well as employer, and location.

In Georgia, the median annual income for patient access representatives is around $49,181.

Let’s explore some of the cities in Georgia that present potential for higher income prospects for current and future patient access representatives!

Regional Salary in Georgia

Patient Access Representative by State