Top 10 Patient Care Representative Certifications

Certifications are important for a patient care representative in the job market because they demonstrate to potential employers that the person has the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the role. They also show that the individual is committed to staying current with best practices, regulations, and standards of care. Certification can also increase an individual’s job security by showing employers that they have a certain level of expertise and understanding of their field. In addition, having certifications can open up more opportunities for career advancement as some organizations may prefer or even require those with certifications for certain positions.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Patient Care Representatives and explains how they can help to advance a patient care representative's career.

What are Patient Care Representative Certifications?

Patient care representative certification is a type of training and certification program designed to give individuals the knowledge, skills and abilities required to provide excellent patient care in a variety of healthcare settings. The certification helps prepare individuals to work as patient care representatives in hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics and other medical environments. This program equips individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively interact with patients, assess their needs, provide quality customer service and handle any issues that may arise while providing patient care. Certification can also help individuals develop their communication skills, learn how to process paperwork, understand medical terminology and gain an understanding of patient rights. In addition to preparing them for working in the healthcare field, this certification can also open up career opportunities such as higher-level positions or promotions within the same organization.

Pro Tip: To become a certified patient care representative, be sure to research the requirements in your state or region. Many states have specific requirements such as completing an approved training program and passing a certification exam. Additionally, some employers may require additional certifications or other qualifications to become a patient care representative.

Related: What does a Patient Care Representative do?

Top 10 Patient Care Representative Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Patient Care Representatives today.

1. Certified Patient Care Representative (CPCR)

Certified Patient Care Representative (CPCR) is a professional certification program designed to provide healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively interact with patients in a healthcare setting. The program is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

The CPCR program consists of two parts: a comprehensive online course and an exam. The online course provides an overview of patient care topics such as communication, customer service, medical terminology, and health information management. The exam is a multiple-choice test that measures the knowledge gained from the course.

It typically takes about 8-10 weeks to complete the course and take the exam. To get certified, you must pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher.

The cost of the CPCR program varies depending on which package you choose. The basic package costs $199 and includes access to the online course material, practice exams, and one attempt at the certification exam. The premium package costs $299 and includes all of these features plus unlimited attempts at the certification exam until you pass it.

2. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) is a professional certification for medical administrative assistants. It is designed to recognize and validate the skills and knowledge of those who work in medical office administration. The certification is granted by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

The CMAA certification requires applicants to have at least one year of experience working in a medical office setting or equivalent education, such as an associate degree in health information technology, medical billing and coding, or a related field. Applicants must also pass an exam that covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical office procedures, insurance processing, and computer applications.

It typically takes between 4-6 months to complete the CMAA certification process. This includes studying for the exam, completing any required prerequisites, registering for the exam, and taking the exam itself.

The cost of obtaining the CMAA certification varies depending on the provider you choose to take your exam with. The NHA charges $125 for their online proctored exams; however there may be additional fees associated with other providers.

3. Certified Medical Receptionist (CMR)

A Certified Medical Receptionist (CMR) is a professional who specializes in providing administrative support to medical offices. They are responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance information, collecting payments, and managing patient records. CMRs also answer phone calls, respond to emails, and perform other clerical duties as needed.

To become a Certified Medical Receptionist (CMR), you must complete an accredited program or course of study in medical receptionist training. This typically takes between six months and two years to complete depending on the program. After completing the program or course of study, applicants must pass an exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

The cost of becoming a Certified Medical Receptionist (CMR) varies depending on the program chosen and whether any additional certifications are desired. The cost of the NHA exam is $115 for members and $135 for non-members. Additionally, there may be fees associated with taking courses or attending seminars related to medical receptionist training.

4. Certified Professional Coder (CPC)

A Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is a professional certification for medical coding professionals. It is the highest level of medical coding certification available, and it is awarded by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The CPC credential demonstrates a mastery of medical coding principles and practices, as well as an understanding of the official coding guidelines set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

In order to become certified, applicants must pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as anatomy and physiology, ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, CPT procedure codes, HCPCS Level II supply codes, and medical terminology. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions and takes approximately four hours to complete.

To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have at least two years of experience in medical coding or have completed an accredited program in medical coding. Applicants must also submit an application with proof of their experience or education.

The cost for the CPC certification exam varies depending on whether you are a member or nonmember of AAPC. For members, the cost is $399; for nonmembers, it is $499. There are additional costs associated with study materials and preparation courses if desired.

5. Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)

A Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) is a professional who specializes in medical billing and coding. This specialist is responsible for accurately entering patient information, processing insurance claims, and following up on unpaid claims. They also ensure accuracy of patient records, as well as compliance with laws and regulations.

The Certified Billing and Coding Specialist certification can be obtained through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). It typically takes between 6-12 months to complete the program, depending on the individual’s level of experience. The cost of the program varies but generally ranges from $500-$1000.

In order to become certified, individuals must meet certain requirements including passing an exam that covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, medical billing & coding principles, reimbursement methodologies, health insurance plans & programs, legal aspects of healthcare delivery systems and more.

Once certified, CBCS professionals are expected to stay current with changes in healthcare regulations by completing continuing education courses or attending seminars.

6. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) is a certification program designed to recognize and promote the professional development of medical office managers. The CMOM certification is offered by the National Association of Medical Office Management (NAMOM).

The CMOM certification requires applicants to have at least three years of experience in a medical office management role, as well as completion of an approved course in medical office management. The course can be taken online or through a university or college. Once the course is completed, applicants must pass an exam to become certified.

The cost for the CMOM certification varies depending on where you take the course and whether you choose to take it online or in-person. Generally, the cost ranges from $500-$1,500 USD.

In order to maintain your CMOM certification, you must complete continuing education credits every two years. This can include attending conferences, taking courses, and/or completing other activities related to medical office management.

7. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)

A Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) is a professional who has demonstrated mastery of the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use electronic health records (EHRs). CEHRSs are trained to understand and apply the principles of privacy, security, and confidentiality when working with EHRs. They also have an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements associated with EHRs, as well as the ability to analyze data and make decisions that will improve patient care.

It usually takes between 6-12 months to become certified as a CEHRS. The process involves completing an approved training program or courses, passing a written exam, and submitting proof of work experience in the field.

To become certified as a CEHRS, you must first complete an approved training program or courses. These programs can be found at community colleges or through online providers such as AHIMA or AAPC. Once you have completed your training, you must then pass a written exam administered by one of these organizations. After passing the exam, you must submit proof of work experience in the field in order to receive your certification.

The cost for becoming certified as a CEHRS varies depending on which organization is providing the training and exams. Generally speaking, it can range from $500-$2,000 for all materials needed for certification.

8. Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA)

Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) is a certification program offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM). The CHAA certification is designed to recognize and validate knowledge and skills in the healthcare access management field.

The CHAA certification program consists of two components: a written examination and an online learning module. To be eligible for the examination, applicants must have at least one year of experience in a healthcare access management role.

The written examination is composed of 150 multiple-choice questions that are divided into three sections: patient access, patient financial services, and healthcare information systems. It takes approximately four hours to complete the exam.

To get certified, applicants must pass both the written examination and the online learning module with a score of 70% or higher. The cost of the CHAA certification program is $395 for NAHAM members and $495 for non-members.

9. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

A Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) is a professional who has completed an accredited training program and passed the national certification exam. This certification is designed to provide medical assistants with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a variety of healthcare settings.

The CCMA certification usually requires completion of an accredited medical assistant program, which can take anywhere from six months to two years depending on the school and program chosen. Upon completion of the program, students must pass the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.

To get certified as a CCMA, you must first complete an accredited medical assistant program. Once you have completed your program, you must register for and pass the NHA CCMA exam. The cost of registration for the exam varies by state, but typically ranges from $125-$200.

Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your official CCMA certificate in the mail within 6-8 weeks. You will also be listed in the NHA's online registry of certified professionals.

10. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

A Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a healthcare professional who specializes in the management of health information. RHITs are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, quality, and security of medical records and other health information data. They use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, database management, and data analysis.

To become an RHIT, individuals must complete an associate degree program in health information technology accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The program typically takes two years to complete, although some schools offer accelerated programs that can be completed in as little as 18 months.

In addition to completing an accredited program, individuals must also pass the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam administered by AHIMA. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and covers topics such as health data management, legal aspects of health information technology, coding systems, and more.

The cost of becoming an RHIT varies depending on the school you attend and any additional fees associated with taking the exam. Generally speaking, tuition costs range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the school’s location and program length. Additionally, there is a fee of $199 to take the RHIT exam.

Do You Really Need a Patient Care Representative Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on your individual career goals and ambitions. If you are interested in working as a patient care representative, then having a certificate can be beneficial. A certificate is often seen as an additional qualification that can give you an edge over other applicants for the same job, and it may also open up more opportunities for advancement in the field.

Having a patient care representative certificate can also demonstrate to employers that you have a certain level of knowledge and skills necessary to do the job well. For example, many certificates require coursework related to healthcare administration, medical terminology, customer service, and other related topics. This means that employers will know that you have a good understanding of the duties associated with being a patient care representative and that you are aware of any regulations or laws pertaining to healthcare services.

In addition to providing proof of your qualifications and expertise, having a patient care representative certificate may also make it easier for you to find employment in this field. Many healthcare facilities prefer to hire individuals with formal training or certification when staffing their departments. Having this certification could make it easier for you to stand out from other applicants who do not have such credentials.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a patient care representative certificate depends on your own personal objectives. If you think having this credential would give you an advantage in the job market or make it easier for you to find employment in this field, then it might be worth considering obtaining one.

Related: Patient Care Representative Resume Examples

FAQs About Patient Care Representative Certifications

1. What is a Patient Care Representative Certification?

A Patient Care Representative Certification is a specialized certification that provides training and knowledge to those working in the healthcare field, such as medical assistants, home health aides, patient care technicians, and medical office administrators. It covers topics related to patient care, including communication skills, medical terminology, understanding insurance procedures and policies, and other relevant topics.

2. What are the requirements for getting a Patient Care Representative Certification?

In order to become certified as a Patient Care Representative, individuals must meet certain qualifications such as having at least one year of experience in the healthcare field or completion of an accredited program. Additionally, individuals must pass an exam administered by either the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) or the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

3. How long does it take to get a Patient Care Representative Certification?

The length of time will depend on the individual's background and experience level; however, it typically takes between six months and one year to complete all necessary requirements for certification.

4. What are the benefits of obtaining a Patient Care Representative Certification?

Having a certification as a Patient Care Representative can provide numerous benefits such as increased job opportunities, higher pay rates, improved job security, and recognition from employers that you have obtained specialized knowledge related to patient care.

5. Where can I find information about becoming certified as a Patient Care Representative?

Potential candidates can find information about becoming certified through various organizations such as the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), American Medical Technologists (AMT), or through accredited programs at colleges/universities. Additionally, there are many online resources available with helpful information about certifications for patient care representatives.