Patient Account Representatives: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of patient account representatives 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 patient account representatives to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of patient account representatives 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 patient account representatives.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Patient Account Representatives?
Do patient account representatives need a degree? What kind of experience do patient account representatives 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 patient account representatives to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Patient Account Representatives
Jobs Postings for Patient Account Representatives By Education
- High School or GED: 80,263 (37%)
- No Education Listed: 62,345 (29%)
- Bachelor's degree: 56,383 (26%)
- Master's degree: 12,428 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,568 (2%)
High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of patient account representatives. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 37% of positions. In 29% of job listings no education level was listed and in 26% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Patient Account Representatives
Jobs Postings for Patient Account Representatives By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 39,600 (30%)
- 2-3 Years: 55,446 (42%)
- 4-6 Years: 22,662 (17%)
- 7-9 Years: 2,930 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 11,084 (8%)
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 patient account representatives. In 42% of job postings for Patient Account Representatives, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for patient account representatives.
What Kind of Degree Do Patient Account Representatives Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for patient account representatives, 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 14 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective patient account representatives, and in 2021 a total of 82,337 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 patient account representatives.
Top Degree Programs for Patient Account Representatives
Top 5 Degree Programs for Patient Account Representatives (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | 29,637 |
| Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder. | 9,924 |
| Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician. | 9,647 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 7,952 |
| Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary. | 7,715 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | 29,637 |
| Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder. | 9,924 |
| Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician. | 9,647 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 7,952 |
| Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary. | 7,715 |
| Medical Office Assistant/Specialist. | 4,884 |
| Medical Office Management/Administration. | 3,543 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other. | 3,492 |
| Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator. | 3,302 |
| Medical Informatics. | 2,004 |
| Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist. | 198 |
| Medical Staff Services Technology/Technician. | 26 |
| Disease Registry Data Management. | 8 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. | 5 |
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 Patient Account Representatives
Turn patient data into knowledge that improves lives with Franklin’s M.S. in Health Informatics. Finish your master's online in as few as 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Patient Account Representatives Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by patient account representatives 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 patient account representatives, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Patient Account Representatives
Based on 0 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Patient Account Representatives
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
Top 5 Common Skills for Patient Account Representatives
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 76,591 | 38% |
| Management | 47,703 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 46,415 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 34,101 | 17% |
| Operations | 30,866 | 15% |
Based on 0 job postings related to patient account representatives, was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with % of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for patient account representatives, followed by management, customer service, detail oriented, operations and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 76,591 | 38% |
| Management | 47,703 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 46,415 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 34,101 | 17% |
| Operations | 30,866 | 15% |
| Writing | 30,511 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 29,850 | 15% |
| Leadership | 29,281 | 14% |
| Microsoft Excel | 28,527 | 14% |
| Research | 28,478 | 14% |
| Microsoft Office | 23,574 | 12% |
| Computer Literacy | 21,218 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 20,781 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 19,219 | 9% |
| Clerical Works | 18,556 | 9% |
| Collections | 18,464 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 17,922 | 9% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 17,040 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 16,545 | 8% |
| English Language | 16,127 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about patient account representatives? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for patient account representatives.
What do patient account representatives do?
How much do patient account representatives make?
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