How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Illinois (2026)

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 40,370 patient access representatives earning a median $37,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most patient access representatives train through an approved program before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Patient Access Representative Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
158.3$4,162 in-state / $14,399 out-of-state$47,58037%Yes*90 mi
257.4$5,260 in-state / $12,460 out-of-stateNot reported63%Yes*164 mi
355.1$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state$51,12121%Yes*52 mi
453.4$5,220 in-state / $25,830 out-of-state$50,34332%Yes*57 mi
550.0$4,800 in-state / $12,150 out-of-state$55,05849%Yes*36 mi
649.1$4,340 in-state / $7,840 out-of-state$47,50844%—157 mi
747.7$4,560 in-state / $12,750 out-of-state$55,98425%—73 mi
845.1$4,267 in-state / $6,061 out-of-state$56,99134%—116 mi
941.5$4,440 in-state / $7,440 out-of-state$47,29945%—94 mi
1040.0Contact school for pricing$39,52153%—179 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location 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.

Illinois employs approximately 40,370 patient access representatives according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,400 1. Nationally, patient access representative employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 128,500 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Patient Access Representative in Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school or community college
  • Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
  • Median wage (Illinois): $37,400 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Illinois

How to become a Patient Access Representative in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for patient access representatives in Illinois.

How long does it take? patient access representative training length in Illinois varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do patient access representatives earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for patient access representatives in Illinois is $37,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $48,350 or more 1.

How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Illinois

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved patient access representative program in Illinois that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to patient access representatives in Illinois before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Patient Access Representative Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Receptionists and Information Clerks Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), receptionists and information clerks wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin30,540$38,060$40,270$31,690$49,560
St. Louis8,700$36,470$38,080$30,550$47,500
Peoria1,010$35,970$37,270$31,200$46,270
Rockford1,000$37,460$38,530$31,200$46,630
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island790$36,170$36,870$31,200$45,100
Champaign-Urbana760$36,880$39,070$31,200$49,110
Springfield670$36,500$37,870$31,200$46,680
Bloomington520$35,340$36,400$31,200$45,450
Cape Girardeau330$34,750$35,820$29,120$43,920
Kankakee310$35,620$36,490$31,200$44,720
Decatur260$35,690$37,310$31,200$47,390
Paducah240$32,130$33,290$26,340$42,330

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for patient access representatives in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 40,370 patient access representatives 1. Nationally, patient access representative employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do patient access representatives earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient access representatives in Illinois is $37,400, which is $170 above the national median of $37,230 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

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Citations

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/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)