How long does patient access representative training take in Washington?

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 Washington?

In Washington, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship, 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 Washington (2026)

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), patient access representatives in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $44,710. Employment concentration in Washington is about 1.28 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Washington currently employs approximately 26,500 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

Washington receptionists and information clerks earn a median annual wage of $44,710 ($21.49/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 26,500 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 17.6% above the national median of $38,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $44,710 ($21.49/hr)
25th percentile: $38,980 per year
75th percentile: $49,110 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $57,840 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,730 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 26,500
Versus national median: 17.6% above the U.S. median of $38,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.28 - this occupation is more concentrated in Washington than the national average

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

Washington employs about 26,500 patient access representatives earning a median $44,710 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 Washington.

Key Facts

Median wage (Washington): $44,710/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Washington: 26,500 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.28x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 0.0% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Patient Access Representative Schools in Washington

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*	183 mi
2	Peninsula College	58.8	Contact school for pricing	$44,056	39%	Yes*	127 mi
3	Yakima Valley College	55.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,006	31%	—	45 mi
4	Salish Kootenai College	53.5	$4,311 - $13,047	$52,164	32%	—	332 mi
5	College of Western Idaho	50.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,903	29%	Yes*	328 mi
6	South Seattle College	47.7	Contact school for pricing	$50,142	29%	—	65 mi
7	North Idaho College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$50,312	37%	Yes*	208 mi
8	Blue Mountain Community College	45.3	Contact school for pricing	$49,347	27%	Yes*	148 mi
9	Institute of Technology	39.3	Contact school for pricing	$45,997	Not reported	—	170 mi
10	Rogue Community College	30.4	Contact school for pricing	$46,107	Not reported	Yes*	340 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.

Washington employs approximately 26,500 patient access representatives according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,710 ¹. The state’s concentration of patient access representative jobs is 1.28x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Washington, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Patient Access Representative Wages by Metro Area in Washington

Receptionists and Information Clerks Wages by Metro Area in Washington

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	17,920	$41,240	$42,630	$33,600	$54,790
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	14,260	$45,820	$47,620	$37,570	$60,520
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	8,340	$43,630	$43,590	$35,570	$51,410
Spokane-Spokane Valley	2,370	$41,800	$42,640	$34,890	$51,000
Kennewick-Richland	1,080	$43,530	$43,870	$35,510	$55,110
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	1,070	$42,910	$43,750	$35,780	$54,960
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	920	$44,130	$44,300	$36,670	$54,180
Yakima	890	$40,990	$42,320	$34,650	$48,120
Bellingham	810	$43,400	$44,160	$36,250	$54,780
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	450	$45,060	$45,390	$36,330	$59,400
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee	440	$41,410	$43,070	$35,270	$52,040
Longview-Kelso	300	$40,790	$42,940	$35,670	$54,660
Lewiston	200	$37,420	$38,890	$29,000	$49,340
Walla Walla	170	$39,630	$42,340	$34,650	$54,710

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 (Washington): $44,710 per year ¹

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

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

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 Washington? The median annual wage for patient access representatives in Washington is $44,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,730 and experienced professionals can earn $57,840 or more ¹.

How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Washington

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 26,500 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 Washington? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Washington.

How much do patient access representatives earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient access representatives in Washington is $44,710, which is $7,480 above the national median of $37,230 according to BLS data ¹.

In Washington

Best Trade Schools in Washington (2026)

Explore More Trades in Washington

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)