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Patient access representatives hold a vital position within the healthcare industry, undertaking essential responsibilities to facilitate the seamless functioning of healthcare facilities.
One of their primary roles is patient registration, which involves gathering accurate and timely information from patients.
This ensures that all necessary details are collected for medical records and billing purposes.
Article Table of Contents
Road to Becoming a Patient Access Representative in Nevada
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a patient access representative in Nevada, here are the steps you need to follow.
1) Complete Your Education
In Nevada, obtaining a high school diploma or GED is a fundamental requirement.
However, for those seeking better professional opportunities, pursuing an Associate’s Degree is recommended.
When considering an Associate’s Degree, students have a range of options.
Programs in healthcare administration or related fields prove particularly advantageous.
By pursuing an Associate’s Degree, aspiring patient access representatives establish a solid foundation in various aspects of healthcare administration.
2) Get a Certification
In Nevada, specific certifications are not legally required for this occupation.
However, acquiring national certifications can greatly enhance career prospects within this field.
There are several certifications available in Nevada.
Some certifications 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)
Among these certifications, the CHAA certification offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) is the best choice for future patient access representatives.
The CHAA certification exam covers crucial topics such as customer service, patient access services, and regulatory standards.
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) provides two certifications that can be valuable for individuals interested in pursuing a career as patient access representatives: CMAA and CEHRS.
3) Work Experience
Building professional experience is of utmost importance for individuals aspiring to pursue a career as patient access representatives.
By securing positions in the following areas, individuals can acquire the necessary experience:
- Record Keeping
- Data Entry
- Medical Software
- Billing and Coding
Training Schools for Patient Access Representatives in Nevada
The patient access representative schools in Nevada are below.
Northwest Career College 
Northwest Career College offers a variety of programs in the healthcare field, designed to equip you with the knowledge required to become a patient access representative.
It provides three programs:
- Medical assistant,
- Medical billing and coding,
- Healthcare administration.
The medical assistant program spans nine months.
The total cost of tuition and fees for this program is $15,499.
The program curriculum is outlined as follows:
- Introduction to Medical Assisting
- Body Systems and Medical Specialties I
- Medical Records and Insurance
- Body Systems and Medical Specialties II
- Pharmacology and Patient Education
- Body Systems and Medical Specialties III
- Microsoft Office for Medical Assistants
- Body Systems and Medical Specialties IV
- Medical Assisting Externship
The course outline for the medical billing and coding program includes:
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Diagnostic and Procedural Terminology
- Commercial and Miscellaneous Insurance Plans
- Introduction to Health Insurance
- Microsoft Office for Medical Billers and Coders
- Introduction to Diagnostic Coding
- Medical Billing Externship
- Introduction to Procedural Coding
If you want a career in healthcare administration, this college provides a program that takes 18 months.
The tuition cost is $26,988.
The classes are:
- Introduction to Medical Administration
- Healthcare Finance
- Health Information and Medical Records Management
- Human Resource Management in Healthcare
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Healthcare Management
- Diagnostic and Procedural Terminology
- Healthcare Administration Externship
- Introduction to Billing and Coding
Asher College 
Asher College offers three program options that provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career as a patient access representative.
The programs available are the medical billing and coding program, health information specialist program, and medical records specialist program.
Medical billing and coding
The medical billing and coding program takes 10 months to complete.
The courses for the program include:
- Microsoft Essentials
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Medical Terminology
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Electronic Health Records
- Advanced Billing and Reimbursement
- Advanced Physicians Coding
- Advanced Facility Coding
- Career Success
- Advanced Career Development
An associate degree option is also available, requiring students to take six additional classes.
These are:
- Critical Thinking OR Introduction to Psychology
- Business Communication
- Business Math
- Introduction to Business
- Principles of Management OR Leadership
- American Government
- Nevada Constitution (required for Nevada students only)
Health Information Specialist
This program lasts for 9 months.
The required courses for this program include:
- Digital Literacy
- Microsoft Essentials
- Typing Fundamentals
- Office Administration
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Medical Terminology
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Electronic Health Records
- Health Information Billing and Coding
- Health Information Technology
- Career Success
- Advanced Career Development
Additional courses necessary for the associate degree option include:
- Critical Thinking or Introduction to Psychology
- Business Communication
- Business Math
- Introduction to Business
- Principles of Management or Leadership
- American Government
- Nevada Constitution (Nevada students only)
Medical Records Specialist
The medical records specialist program at Asher College can be completed in as little as six months.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Asher College | 6029 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146 |
| Northwest Career College | 7398 Smoke Ranch Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89128 |
Salaries for Patient Access Representatives in Nevada
Nevada offers abundant prospects for individuals aspiring to build a career in the healthcare industry.
The average annual salary for patient access representatives in Nevada is approximately $51,232 per year.
To gain a better understanding of salary ranges in the field, refer to the table provided below:
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Sun Valley | $51,161 |
| Las Vegas | $51,075 |
| Henderson | $50,874 |
| Boulder City | $50,812 |
| Reno | $50,718 |
| Genoa | $50,447 |
| Mesquite | $50,321 |
| Pahrump | $50,321 |
| Tonopah | $50,060 |
| Dyer | $50,045 |
Regional Salary in Nevada
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | 50 | $54,920 | $26.4 | $76,980 | $39,090 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 1,050 | $42,400 | $20.39 | $62,170 | $28,790 |
| Reno, NV | 230 | $43,480 | $20.9 | $61,880 | $29,710 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does my salary as a PAR in Nevada compare to other states?
In Nevada, PARs earn, on average, more compared to the median salary at the national level.
What skills do I need to work as a patient access representative in Nevada?
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
Where will I find Employment as a PAR in Nevada?
Future PARs from Nevada can work in these types of settings:
- Acute care hospitals
- Extended care and mental health facilities
- State and federal agencies
- Insurance companies
- Colleges
- Transcription services and consulting
Read the full guide: How to Become a Patient Access Representative
Patient Access Representative by State