Top 10 Patient Access Manager Certifications

Certifications are important for a patient access manager in the job market because they demonstrate to employers that the individual has achieved a certain level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to their field. Certification also signals that the individual is committed to staying current with industry trends and best practices. Certifications can also differentiate the patient access manager from other applicants, as employers often look for individuals who have taken the initiative to become certified in areas such as healthcare management or patient access services. Finally, certifications can open up opportunities for career advancement within an organization or provide a pathway into other areas of healthcare.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the various certifications available to Patient Access Managers and how they can help advance their careers.

What are Patient Access Manager Certifications?

Patient Access Manager certification is a credential that recognizes patient access professionals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to lead, manage, and direct patient access services. Specifically, it certifies individuals’ ability to effectively coordinate the activities of the patient access department and ensure compliance with laws and regulations related to healthcare billing and reimbursement.

The Patient Access Manager certification program provides individuals with the tools they need to become successful leaders in their field. It helps them gain a better understanding of the various aspects of patient access operations, such as patient registration, insurance verification, scheduling and appointment management, financial counseling, customer service, data collection and analysis. The program also emphasizes the importance of leadership development, communication skills, financial management principles, strategic planning processes and quality assurance initiatives.

By earning this certification, those in the field can demonstrate their knowledge and commitment to providing excellent service to patients while helping their organizations meet legal requirements for billing practices. This certification will also help individuals stand out among other applicants when seeking employment or promotions within their organization or other healthcare facilities. Ultimately, this certification can give professionals an edge in a competitive job market while recognizing their expertise in a crucial area of healthcare operations.

Pro Tip: Take advantage of all the resources available to you when studying for the Patient Access Manager Certification. Utilize study guides, practice exams, and online tutorials to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the material before taking the exam.

Related: What does a Patient Access Manager do?

Top 10 Patient Access Manager Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Patient Access Managers today.

1. Certified Patient Access Manager (CPAM)

Certified Patient Access Manager (CPAM) is a certification program designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of patient access managers. It is offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM).

The CPAM certification program consists of two parts: an online self-assessment exam and a proctored written exam. The self-assessment exam assesses your knowledge of patient access management principles, regulations, and best practices. It takes approximately three hours to complete.

The proctored written exam tests your ability to apply patient access management principles in real-world scenarios. It takes approximately four hours to complete.

In order to become certified, you must pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher. You also must have at least two years of experience in patient access management or related field.

The cost for the CPAM certification program is $450 for NAHAM members and $650 for non-members. This fee includes both exams as well as study materials and other resources to help prepare you for the exams.

2. Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP)

Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the revenue cycle process. The CRCP credential is offered by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

To become certified, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass an examination. Eligibility requirements include having at least three years of experience in revenue cycle management and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as patient access, billing, coding, collections, reimbursement, compliance and more. It takes approximately four hours to complete the exam.

The cost for the CRCP exam is $395 for HFMA members and $495 for non-members. In addition to the exam fee, there is an application fee of $50 for HFMA members and $100 for non-members.

3. Certified Healthcare Access Manager (CHAM)

Certified Healthcare Access Manager (CHAM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of healthcare access professionals. The CHAM credential is awarded by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM).

The CHAM certification program consists of three parts: an online application, a written exam, and a practical exam. To be eligible for the CHAM certification, applicants must have at least two years of experience in healthcare access management or related fields.

The online application requires applicants to provide proof of their work experience as well as other information about their qualifications. Once the application is approved, applicants will receive an invitation to take the written exam. This exam covers topics such as patient access services, customer service principles, financial management principles, healthcare regulations and compliance requirements, and more.

Once the written exam is successfully completed, applicants can then take the practical exam. This exam evaluates candidates’ ability to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. The practical exam consists of multiple choice questions that require candidates to demonstrate their understanding of various healthcare access processes and procedures.

It typically takes between four to six months to complete all three parts of the CHAM certification process. The cost for taking the CHAM certification exams varies depending on whether you are taking them through NAHAM or through another organization such as AHIMA or AAPC. Generally speaking, it costs around $400-$500 for all three parts of the certification process.

4. Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP)

Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated expertise in the field of healthcare finance. The CHFP certification is offered through the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). It is an internationally recognized credential that validates a professional's knowledge and skills in the areas of healthcare finance, financial management, reimbursement, and compliance.

In order to be eligible for the CHFP certification, applicants must meet certain educational and experience requirements. Applicants must possess either a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university; or they must have at least five years of full-time healthcare finance experience within the last ten years. In addition, applicants must pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as financial management, reimbursement systems, accounting principles, cost containment strategies, and regulatory compliance.

The CHFP certification process typically takes between four to six months to complete. During this time period, applicants will need to submit their application materials and take the comprehensive exam. Once all requirements are met and the exam is passed, applicants will receive their official CHFP certification from HFMA.

The cost of obtaining the CHFP certification varies depending on whether or not you are an HFMA member. Non-members can expect to pay around $1,500 for the entire process while members can expect to pay around $1,000.

5. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and validate the knowledge and skills of experienced medical office managers. It is an independent, third-party certification that demonstrates a commitment to excellence in medical office management.

The CMOM certification program consists of a comprehensive written exam that covers topics such as financial management, human resources, operations management, patient relations, and healthcare regulations. The exam is administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have at least three years of experience in medical office management or have completed an approved training program.

It typically takes approximately three months to prepare for the CMOM exam and receive your results. Preparation materials are available through NHA's website or through approved study guides. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your official CMOM certificate from NHA.

The cost of taking the CMOM exam varies depending on how you choose to prepare for it. If you purchase a study guide from NHA, it will cost $99 plus applicable taxes and shipping fees. If you opt for self-study using materials from NHA's website, it will cost $50 plus applicable taxes and shipping fees.

6. Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA)

Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) is a professional certification for those working in the healthcare access field. It is designed to recognize and validate knowledge and skills related to patient access services, including registration, scheduling, insurance verification, financial counseling, customer service, and data entry.

The CHAA certification is offered through the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM). To get certified, applicants must first complete an application that includes a resume and three professional references. Once approved, applicants must pass an online multiple-choice exam. The exam covers topics such as patient rights and responsibilities; customer service; insurance verification; medical terminology; computer systems; scheduling; and financial counseling.

It typically takes about six weeks to receive the results of the CHAA exam. Those who pass will receive their CHAA certificate in the mail within four to six weeks after passing the exam.

The cost of obtaining a CHAA certification varies depending on whether or not you are a NAHAM member. Non-members pay $295 for the application fee plus $195 for the exam fee. Members pay only $195 for both fees combined.

7. Certified Patient Account Technician (CPAT)

Certified Patient Account Technician (CPAT) is a professional certification program designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of patient account technicians. This certification validates the knowledge and abilities of patient account technicians in areas such as medical billing, coding, collections, accounts receivable, and other related topics.

The CPAT certification program is administered by the National Association for Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI). The program consists of an online exam that tests the knowledge and skills of patient account technicians. To obtain this certification, applicants must have at least one year of experience in a healthcare revenue cycle position or have completed an accredited healthcare revenue cycle training program.

It typically takes approximately 2-3 months to complete the CPAT exam preparation process. During this time, applicants should review their course material and practice test questions to ensure they are prepared for the exam.

The cost to take the CPAT exam varies depending on whether you are a NAHRI member or non-member. The fee for members is $250 while the fee for non-members is $400. Additionally, there is a $35 processing fee for all applicants.

8. Certified Patient Accounts Representative (CPAR)

A Certified Patient Accounts Representative (CPAR) is a professional certification that recognizes individuals who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage patient accounts in a healthcare setting. This certification is offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and requires passing an exam to earn the credential.

The CPAR exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as insurance claims processing, medical coding, billing, collections, and other related areas. The exam must be completed within 3 hours and can be taken at any AAPC-approved testing center.

To qualify for the CPAR certification, applicants must have at least two years of experience working in a patient accounts role or have completed an accredited medical billing program. Additionally, applicants must pass the CPAR exam with a score of 70% or higher.

The cost for taking the CPAR exam is $299 for AAPC members and $399 for non-members. An additional fee may be required if you choose to take the proctored version of the exam.

9. Certified Health Information Administrator (CHIA)

The Certified Health Information Administrator (CHIA) is a professional certification offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to manage and protect patient health information in a variety of settings. The CHIA credential is awarded to those who successfully complete AHIMA’s comprehensive examination.

It typically takes about 6-12 months of study and preparation to be ready for the exam. This includes studying for the exam, taking practice tests, and attending review courses or webinars.

To get the CHIA credential, you must first apply to take the exam through AHIMA's website. Once your application has been accepted, you will receive an email with instructions on how to register for the exam. After registering for the exam, you will need to pay a fee before being able to take it. The fee is currently $329 USD for members of AHIMA or $429 USD for non-members. You will then be able to schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE testing center near you.

Once you pass the exam, you will receive an official certificate from AHIMA that verifies your CHIA status. You will also receive a digital badge that can be used on social media profiles and other online platforms as proof of your certification status.

10. Certified Medical Coding Specialist (CMCS)

A Certified Medical Coding Specialist (CMCS) is a professional who specializes in the coding of medical services and procedures for insurance reimbursement. This certification is offered through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It requires a comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and ICD-10 coding.

It typically takes around two to three months to complete the CMCS certification program. The program consists of online courses, practice exams, and a proctored final exam. To qualify for the CMCS certification, applicants must have a minimum of two years of experience in medical coding or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The cost to obtain the CMCS certification varies depending on which AAPC membership option you choose. The total cost for the certification can range from $300-$500 USD. This includes the cost of the application fee, exam fee, study materials, and any additional fees associated with your chosen membership option.

Once you have successfully completed all requirements for your CMCS certification, you will receive a certificate from AAPC that will be valid for two years. After two years have passed, you will need to renew your certification by submitting proof that you have maintained your knowledge and skills through continuing education credits or by retaking the final exam.

Do You Really Need a Patient Access Manager Certificate?

The answer to whether or not you really need a Patient Access Manager Certificate depends on your career goals and the industry you are working in. A Patient Access Manager Certificate can be valuable for those who want to advance their career in the healthcare field, as it provides a comprehensive overview of patient access management. It is especially beneficial for those who are already working in the field and need additional training, as well as for individuals who are just starting out and want to gain knowledge about patient access management.

The certificate covers topics such as patient registration, scheduling, billing, financial counseling, customer service, and data management. This type of training helps those in the healthcare industry stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies related to patient access management. Additionally, having a Patient Access Manager Certificate can give job seekers an edge over other candidates when applying for positions in the healthcare sector.

In conclusion, obtaining a Patient Access Manager Certificate can be beneficial depending on your career goals and field of work. It provides an overview of patient access management that is necessary to excel in this area of healthcare. It also gives job seekers an advantage when applying for positions related to patient access management.

Related: Patient Access Manager Resume Examples

FAQs About Patient Access Manager Certifications

1. What qualifications do I need to become a Patient Access Manager?

Answer: To become a Patient Access Manager, you must possess a high school diploma or GED, have at least two years of healthcare experience in patient access services, and obtain certification from either the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

2. How long does it take to get certified as a Patient Access Manager?

Answer: It typically takes about three months to complete the certification process. This includes studying for the exam and submitting your application, as well as any other necessary steps required by your chosen certifying body.

3. How much does it cost to become certified as a Patient Access Manager?

Answer: The cost of becoming certified will vary depending on which certifying body you choose and how many courses you take. Generally speaking, NAHAM certification costs between $200-$300, while AAPC certification may be slightly more expensive.

4. Are there continuing education requirements for maintaining my Patient Access Manager certification?

Answer: Yes, both NAHAM and AAPC require that you participate in continuing education activities in order to maintain your certification status. The specific requirements vary depending on which certifying body you use, so make sure to check with them for specifics.

5. What is the job outlook for Patient Access Managers?

Answer: The job outlook for Patient Access Managers is positive due to an expected increase in demand as healthcare organizations continue to focus on improving patient care and customer service. With the right qualifications and training, you can expect to find steady employment opportunities in this field.