How to become a Patient Representative

Official title: Patient Representatives

Also called: Access Representative (Access Rep), Admissions Coordinator, BCPA (Board Certified Patient Advocate), Case Manager, Patient Access Specialist, Patient Advocate, Patient Navigator, Patient Resource Worker, Patient Service Representative (Patient Service Rep), Service Coordinator

Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.

Main tasks

• Coordinate communication between patients, family members, medical staff, administrative staff, or regulatory agencies.
• Interview patients or their representatives to identify problems relating to care.
• Maintain knowledge of community services and resources available to patients.
• Refer patients to appropriate health care services or resources.
• Explain policies, procedures, or services to patients using medical or administrative knowledge.
• Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
• Collect and report data on topics, such as patient encounters or inter-institutional problems, making recommendations for change when appropriate.
• Investigate and direct patient inquiries or complaints to appropriate medical staff members and follow up to ensure satisfactory resolution.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Patient Navigator (Nof).
• Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $50,290 a year The middle half earn $44,170 to $64,340.
• About 185,600 people work in this job now, and about 196,400 are projected by 2035. (+5.9%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Patient Representative?

Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Patient Navigator (Nof).

How much does a Patient Representative earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $50,290 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $44,170 to $64,340.

Is a Patient Representative a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 185,600 to about 196,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Patient Representative?

Not always. 31% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Patient Navigator (Nof).

Will AI change the work of a Patient Representative?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.