Top 11 Patient Representative Certifications

Certifications are important for patient representatives in the job market because they signify a level of expertise and knowledge that can help employers make informed decisions about who to hire. Certifications provide proof of the individual’s qualifications and demonstrate their commitment to the field. In addition, certifications serve as a way for employers to differentiate between candidates and make sure that they are hiring a qualified professional. Furthermore, certifications may also be required by certain employers, making them an essential part of any job search. Finally, having a certification can give a patient representative more credibility and respect from colleagues, peers, and other healthcare professionals.

This article reviews and explains how top certifications for Patient Representatives can contribute to a Patient Representative's career growth and success.

What are Patient Representative Certifications?

Patient representative certification is a program designed to provide professionals with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to effectively represent patients and their families in healthcare settings. This certification helps individuals better understand how to communicate with medical professionals, navigate the healthcare system, and advocate for their rights as a patient or family member. It also provides the opportunity to learn about medical terminology, confidentiality laws, patient rights and responsibilities, HIPAA regulations, and other legal aspects of healthcare. Additionally, it can help individuals gain an understanding of the different facets of health insurance coverage so they can make informed decisions about their care. Finally, having this certification may help individuals build relationships with healthcare providers that will lead to more effective communication between patients and providers.

Pro tip: When considering patient representative certification, make sure to research the accreditation and recognition of the program you are considering. Look for a program that is accredited by a recognized professional organization and has been certified by an independent third-party review board. This will ensure that your certification is valid and accepted in the industry.

Related: What does a Patient Representative do?

Top 11 Patient Representative Certifications

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

1. Certified Patient Advocate (CPA)

Certified Patient Advocate (CPA) is a professional designation that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in the field of patient advocacy. The CPA credential is awarded by the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (NAHAC).

The CPA program requires completion of a comprehensive online course and passing an exam. The online course consists of eight modules, each taking approximately two hours to complete. It covers topics such as understanding the healthcare system, communication skills, ethical considerations, legal issues, and financial matters related to healthcare.

To obtain the CPA credential, applicants must successfully pass the exam with a score of at least 80%. The exam fee is $250 USD. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their CPA certificate and be listed in NAHAC’s directory of Certified Patient Advocates.

In addition to completing the course and passing the exam, applicants must also meet certain eligibility requirements including having at least three years of experience in healthcare or patient advocacy; being currently employed in a patient advocacy role; and having completed at least 30 hours of continuing education related to patient advocacy within the past three years.

2. Certified Professional Medical Advocate (CPMA)

Certified Professional Medical Advocate (CPMA) is a professional certification program for individuals who wish to become medical advocates. Medical advocacy is an emerging field that involves helping patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, advocating for their rights and supporting them in making informed decisions about their care.

The CPMA certification program is offered by the National Association of Medical Advocates (NAMA). It is designed to provide medical advocates with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively advocate for their clients. The program includes online courses, live webinars, and an exam.

It typically takes between 6-12 months to complete the CPMA program depending on how quickly you work through the course materials. To get certified, you must successfully complete all course requirements, including passing a final written exam.

The cost of the CPMA certification program varies depending on whether you are a member of NAMA or not. For non-members, it costs $995 USD; for members, it costs $795 USD.

3. Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA)

Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) is a professional certification program offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM). The CHAA certification is designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate competency in healthcare access management, which includes patient registration, scheduling, insurance verification, and financial counseling.

It typically takes about 6-9 months to complete the CHAA certification program. To get certified, applicants must first pass an online exam that covers topics such as customer service, medical terminology, coding systems, and financial regulations. Once they have passed the exam, they must also complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education credits within two years of passing the exam.

The cost of the CHAA certification program varies depending on whether you are an NAHAM member or not. For members, it costs $325 for the application fee and $275 for the exam fee. For non-members, it costs $425 for the application fee and $375 for the exam fee.

4. Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP)

A Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) is a healthcare professional who has achieved a certification in patient experience. The CPXP credential is awarded by the Patient Experience Institute and recognizes individuals who demonstrate expertise in the field of patient experience.

The CPXP certification requires applicants to have at least two years of experience in patient experience, healthcare, or a related field. Applicants must also pass an exam that covers topics such as communication, advocacy, customer service, and leadership. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within three hours.

In order to apply for the CPXP certification, applicants must first create an account on the Patient Experience Institute website and submit an application form. They must also pay a fee of $395 USD. Once their application is approved, they will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule their exam.

Once applicants have successfully passed the exam, they will receive their official CPXP certificate from the Patient Experience Institute and become eligible for career advancement opportunities in patient experience roles within healthcare organizations.

5. Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is a certification offered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated expertise in healthcare quality and performance improvement. The CPHQ certification is based on a comprehensive body of knowledge that covers all aspects of healthcare quality and performance improvement, including patient safety, risk management, data analysis, and quality assurance.

It typically takes about six months to complete the CPHQ certification process. To become certified, applicants must first meet the eligibility requirements (which include having at least three years of experience in healthcare quality), and then they must pass an exam. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and lasts four hours.

The cost of the CPHQ certification varies depending on whether you are a member or non-member of NAHQ. For members, it costs $395; for non-members, it costs $495. Additionally, there are fees associated with taking the exam ($200 for members; $250 for non-members).

Once you have passed the exam and become certified, you will receive your certificate from NAHQ as well as access to exclusive resources such as webinars and conferences related to healthcare quality topics.

6. Certified Healthcare Customer Service Professional (CHCSP)

Certified Healthcare Customer Service Professional (CHCSP) is a certification program designed to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively interact with customers and patients. It is offered through the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM).

The CHCSP certification program consists of two components: an online course and an in-person exam. The online course covers topics such as customer service principles, patient communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, and customer service leadership. The in-person exam is a multiple choice test that assesses knowledge of healthcare customer service principles.

To obtain the CHCSP certification, individuals must successfully complete both the online course and the in-person exam. The online course takes approximately 10 hours to complete, while the in-person exam takes about 2 hours.

The cost of obtaining the CHCSP certification depends on whether you are taking the online course or attending an in-person class. If you choose to take the online course, it will cost $299 USD. If you opt for an in-person class, it will cost $499 USD.

Once you have completed both components of the CHCSP program and passed the exam, you will receive your official certificate from NIHCM. This certificate can be used to demonstrate your commitment to providing quality customer service within a healthcare setting.

7. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and validate the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities of medical office managers. The CMOM credential is awarded by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), an organization that provides education and certification for healthcare professionals.

The CMOM program requires applicants to demonstrate their knowledge in areas such as medical terminology, coding, billing, compliance, patient relations, and operations management. In order to be eligible for the exam, applicants must have at least two years of experience in a medical office setting or have completed an accredited medical office management program.

It typically takes about four months to prepare for the exam. Applicants should plan on studying for at least 40 hours prior to taking the exam. The best way to study is by using practice tests and review materials provided by AAPC or other organizations offering CMOM prep courses.

The cost of the exam varies depending on whether you are an AAPC member or not; members pay $250 while non-members pay $350. After passing the exam, there is an annual fee of $50 to maintain your certification status.

8. Certified Patient Representative (CPR)

Certified Patient Representative (CPR) is a professional certification program designed to recognize healthcare professionals who have demonstrated a mastery of patient relations skills. CPR certification is awarded by the National Association of Healthcare Customer Service Professionals (NAHCS).

The certification process involves completing a course and passing an exam. The course covers topics such as customer service, communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. It takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete the course and pass the exam.

To become certified, you must first register for the course online or through a local NAHCS chapter. The cost of registration varies depending on the type of course you take, but typically ranges from $150-$300. Once you have completed the course and passed the exam, you will receive your CPR certification card in the mail.

CPR certification is valid for two years and can be renewed by taking additional courses or attending continuing education events offered by NAHCS.

9. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) is a professional certification that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to perform administrative duties in a medical office setting. This certification is offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

To become certified as a CMAA, individuals must pass an exam administered by NHA. The exam covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical office procedures and operations, insurance processing, coding and billing, patient privacy laws, and more. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

In order to take the CMAA exam, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements. These include having at least one year of experience working in a medical office setting or completing an accredited healthcare program within the past five years. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

The cost of taking the CMAA exam varies depending on whether you are taking it through an approved testing center or online. Taking the exam through an approved testing center costs $125 for NHA members and $150 for non-members; taking it online costs $95 for NHA members and $120 for non-members.

10. Patient Advocacy Certification Program (PACP)

The Patient Advocacy Certification Program (PACP) is a program designed to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively advocate for patients. The program is offered by the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Professionals (NAHAP). It is an online, self-paced certification program that takes approximately 6-8 weeks to complete.

To get certified, you must first complete an application form and submit it to NAHAP. Once your application has been approved, you will be given access to the PACP course materials. This includes videos, readings, quizzes and other resources that will help you understand patient advocacy principles and practices. You must also pass a final exam in order to receive your certification.

The cost of the PACP certification program varies depending on whether or not you are a member of NAHAP. For non-members, the cost is $395 USD; for members, it is $345 USD.

11. National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Professionals Certification Program (NAHAP-CP).

The National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Professionals Certification Program (NAHAP-CP) is a voluntary certification program that recognizes healthcare professionals who have demonstrated mastery of the core competencies necessary to provide patient advocacy services. The NAHAP-CP was created to ensure that healthcare advocates are knowledgeable and qualified to provide quality, ethical, and effective patient advocacy services.

The NAHAP-CP consists of two parts: an online assessment and a practical application project. The online assessment tests knowledge on topics such as healthcare systems, legal issues, communication strategies, and client relationship management. The practical application project requires applicants to demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting by completing a case study or other project related to providing patient advocacy services.

It typically takes about 6 months for applicants to complete the NAHAP-CP certification process. Applicants must first register for the program and pay the $150 registration fee. Then they must complete the online assessment within 90 days of registering. Once they have passed the online assessment, they will be given access to the practical application project materials which must be completed within 6 months of registering for the program.

Once all requirements have been met, applicants will receive their NAHAP-CP certification and can use it to demonstrate their expertise in providing patient advocacy services.

Do You Really Need a Patient Representative Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual and their circumstances. While a patient representative certificate can be beneficial for healthcare professionals looking to advance their career, it is not always necessary.

For those who are just beginning in the healthcare field, the certificate may provide an advantage when applying for jobs or internships. It shows potential employers that you have a level of knowledge and experience with patient care and can help you stand out from other applicants. Additionally, if you are considering changing careers or entering a new specialty area within healthcare, having a certificate could help demonstrate your commitment to the field.

On the other hand, if you already have extensive experience in patient care or are already employed in a healthcare setting, then a patient representative certificate may not be as important. Employers may already recognize your skills and experience and may not require additional proof of your qualifications.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a patient representative certificate depends on your individual situation and goals. If you think that having one would benefit your career prospects or open up new opportunities for you, then it could be worth pursuing. However, if your current credentials are sufficient for what you want to achieve in healthcare, then there may be no need for one.

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FAQs About Patient Representative Certifications

1. What is a Patient Representative Certification?

Answer: A Patient Representative Certification is a recognition of knowledge and skills in patient advocacy, customer service, communication, and conflict resolution. It demonstrates that the individual has a comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities of being an effective patient advocate.

2. How do I become certified as a Patient Representative?

Answer: To become certified as a Patient Representative, you must pass an exam administered by an accredited organization such as the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). The exam covers topics such as customer service, communication, healthcare regulations, medical terminology, and patient rights.

3. Are there any prerequisites to take the certification exam?

Answer: Yes, there are prerequisites to take the certification exam. The minimum requirements include having at least one year of experience working in healthcare or a related field and completion of an approved training program or coursework in patient advocacy or customer service.

4. How long is my certification valid for?

Answer: Your Patient Representative Certification is valid for two years from the date it was issued. After two years, you will need to retake the certification exam in order to maintain your certification status.

5. What are some benefits of becoming certified as a Patient Representative?

Answer: Becoming certified as a Patient Representative can help boost your career prospects by demonstrating your commitment to quality care and customer service excellence within the healthcare industry. Additionally, it may enable you to earn higher wages due to increased job opportunities and credibility with employers.