Referral Specialists: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of referral specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for referral specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of referral specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for referral specialists.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Referral Specialists?

Do referral specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do referral specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for referral specialists to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Referral Specialists

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of referral specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 31% of positions. In 28% of job listings no education level was listed and in 18% of postings a master's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Referral Specialists

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for referral specialists. In 45% of job postings for Referral Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 27% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 19% of job postings for referral specialists.

What Kind of Degree Do Referral Specialists Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for referral specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 43 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective referral specialists, and in 2023 a total of 556,378 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective referral specialists.

Top Degree Programs for Referral Specialists

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Referral Specialists

What Skills Do Referral Specialists Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by referral specialists to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for referral specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Referral Specialists
Based on 461,000 job postings

Based on 461,000 job postings related to referral specialists, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 21% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for care coordination, medical records, billing, auditing and electronic medical record were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for referral specialists, followed by management, leadership, operations, customer service and coordinating.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about referral specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for referral specialists.

What do referral specialists do?
How much do referral specialists make?

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