The best patient access representative programs near Des Moines, Iowa pair focused training with a state median wage of about $37,330 a year for patient access representatives (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most students finish a 3-to-9-month patient access or medical office certificate, or start directly with employer training; the voluntary NAHAM CHAA credential can come with experience.
Patient access representatives register patients, verify insurance coverage, schedule appointments, and manage front-desk operations in hospitals and clinics. Training typically covers insurance verification, scheduling systems, medical terminology, and HIPAA.
Key Facts
Iowa median wage: $37,330/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Iowa location quotient: 0.51 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Typical program length: 6-12 months (certificate) to 2 years (associate) (Source: IPEDS, 2024)
Patient Access Representative Schools near Des Moines
Compare patient access representative schools near Des Moines
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from Des Moines, Iowa.
Schools closest to Des Moines, Iowa are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from Des Moines, Iowa is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 8 schools
within 220 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
8 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Patient Access Representative Programs in Des Moines, Iowa (2026)Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Patient Access Representative Programs in Des Moines, Iowa (2026)
School
Median graduate earnings
Dakota County Technical College
$59,518
Metropolitan Community College Area
$53,376
Western Technical College
$53,114
Johnson County Community College
$52,956
Minnesota State College Southeast
$51,496
Riverland Community College
$49,768
Patient Access Representative Pay and Job Outlook
Annual Wage by Percentile, United States - Receptionists and Information ClerksSource: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Receptionists and Information Clerks annual wage percentiles
Percentile
Annual wage
10th
$28,760
25th
$33,960
50th (median)
$38,010
75th
$45,130
90th
$49,950
Projected employment growth, United States, Receptionists and Information Clerks, 2024-2034Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Receptionists and Information Clerks employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year
Employment
2024
1,007,200
2034 projected
1,007,600
Iowa Patient Access Representative Quick Facts
Patient-Access-Representative Salary in U.S.
Median Salary$38,010$18.27/hr
Average Salary$39,460$18.97/hr
Salary Range
$28,76010th pctl
$38,010Median
$49,95090th pctl
10th Percentile$28,760 $13.83/hr
25th Percentile$33,960 $16.33/hr
75th Percentile$45,130 $21.70/hr
90th Percentile$49,950 $24.01/hr
Employment & Outlook
Total Employed910,180
Growth (2024-2034)0.0%
Annual Openings128,500
Jobs per 1,0005.9
How to Start a Patient Access Representative Career in Iowa
Finish high school or earn a GED. Customer service and office experience are helpful.
Complete patient access or medical office training. Short certificate programs typically cover insurance verification, scheduling, terminology, and privacy rules (HIPAA).
Learn your employer’s systems. Health systems provide paid on-the-job training in their registration and EHR software.
Consider the NAHAM CHAA credential. The Certified Healthcare Access Associate is a voluntary mark of competence in the field.
Advance in the revenue cycle. Experienced representatives may move into lead, supervisor, financial counseling, or billing roles.
No. No license is required to work in patient access. The National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) offers the voluntary Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) credential, which some employers value.
Pathways into the Field
Common entry paths are direct hire with employer training, a short patient access or medical office certificate, or transfer from another customer service role. Skills transfer across every part of the healthcare industry.
What You Study
Patient registration and check-in workflows
Insurance verification and authorizations
Scheduling and EHR systems
Medical terminology basics
HIPAA and patient privacy
Tips for Choosing a Patient Access Representative Program
Confirm accreditation and how recognized the credential is with employers.
Look for hands-on training in EHR system exposure, externship placement, and employer partnerships.
Compare flexible schedules (day/evening/online) that match your availability.
Ask about job-search support with local employers.
Review certification-prep resources and post-completion support.
Popular Online Programs In Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does patient access representative training take near Des Moines?
Certificate programs in patient access and medical front office work typically run 3 to 9 months. Many representatives instead start with a high school diploma and paid on-the-job training in their employer's registration systems.
How much do patient access representatives earn in Iowa?
According to BLS OEWS (May 2025), patient access representatives in Iowa earned a median annual wage of about $37,330. Pay varies with experience, employer, and specialization. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $26,740 to $47,610 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many patient access representative schools are near Des Moines?
The schools listed above are within driving distance of Des Moines. Compare them by tuition, program length, BOC Score, and the credential each one awards.
Do patient access representatives need a license?
No. No license is required to work in patient access. The National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) offers the voluntary Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) credential, which some employers value.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
