How long does patient access representative training take in Montana?

Most paths into the patient access representative field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for patient access representatives in Montana?

In Montana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Montana Apprenticeship and Training Program, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

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

Q: How much do patient access representatives earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), patient access representatives in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,360. Employment concentration in Montana is roughly 0.43 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for patient access representatives in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 1,280 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana receptionists and information clerks earn a median annual wage of $37,360 ($17.96/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,280 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.7% below the national median of $38,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $37,360 ($17.96/hr)
25th percentile: $33,080 per year
75th percentile: $42,840 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $47,420 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $27,240 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 1,280
Versus national median: -1.7% below the U.S. median of $38,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.43 - this occupation is less concentrated in Montana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.

Montana employs about 1,280 patient access representatives earning a median $37,360 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most patient access representatives train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Montana.

Key Facts

Median wage (Montana): $37,360/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Montana: 1,280 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.43x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 0.0% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Patient Access Representative Schools in Montana

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 the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Spokane Community College	68.4	Contact school for pricing	$52,567	35%	Yes*	304 mi
2	Laramie County Community College	67.1	Contact school for pricing	$49,818	Not reported	Yes*	506 mi
3	Ogden-Weber Technical College	63.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,224	54%	Yes*	393 mi
4	Yakima Valley College	55.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,006	31%	—	452 mi
5	Salish Kootenai College	53.5	$4,311 - $13,047	$52,164	32%	—	154 mi
6	Western Wyoming Community College	52.1	Contact school for pricing	$52,871	Not reported	Yes*	378 mi
7	College of Western Idaho	50.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,903	29%	Yes*	352 mi
8	Central Wyoming College	48.5	Contact school for pricing	$43,068	Not reported	Yes*	296 mi
9	South Seattle College	47.7	Contact school for pricing	$50,142	29%	—	535 mi
10	North Idaho College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$50,312	37%	Yes*	277 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.

Montana employs approximately 1,280 patient access representatives according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,360 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 Montana, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Patient Access Representative Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Receptionists and Information Clerks Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	250	$37,810	$38,180	$29,760	$46,040
Bozeman	190	$40,370	$41,150	$29,960	$53,310
Missoula	170	$36,610	$37,720	$28,350	$49,810
Great Falls	100	$36,580	$36,740	$27,040	$46,430
Helena	100	$38,320	$38,060	$27,980	$46,870

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 .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Montana): $37,360 per year ¹

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

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

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do patient access representatives earn in Montana? The median annual wage for patient access representatives in Montana is $37,360 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $27,240 and experienced professionals can earn $47,420 or more ¹.

How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Montana

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for patient access representatives in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 1,280 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 Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Montana.

How much do patient access representatives earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient access representatives in Montana is $37,360, which is $130 above the national median of $37,230 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Explore More Trades in Montana

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

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)