Patient Advocate Qualifications
BACKGROUND
Patient advocate qualifications vary. Some are trained as nurses, doctors, pharmacists or other clinicians.
Others come from the business side of healthcare, with expertise in medical billing and health insurance.
Some were in your shoes, patients or caregivers, who had to learn the hard way how to fight for what they needed from the healthcare system. And they turned that passion and experience into a career.
Search our national directory to learn more about our patient advocates and their qualifications.
EXPERIENCE
Some advocates have been practicing advocates for years. Others have years of healthcare experience. It’s fair to ask how long an advocate has been practicing. Read our Guide to Hiring an Advocate for help selecting an advocate.
Credentials
Some have Board certification in patient advocacy or other certificates and credentials. Some credentials that patient advocates have include:
- Board-certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)
- Certified Case Manager (CCM)
- Care Manager, Certified (CMC)
- Certified Geriatric Care Manager (CGCM)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Medical Doctor (MD or DO)
- Lawyer (JD)
- Social Worker (MSW)
- Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
- Chiropractor
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Aging Life Care Expert
- Senior Care Manager
Advocate Services
Advocates offer different patient advocacy services depending on their credentials and areas of expertise. Some focus on the more financial aspects of healthcare like medical billing and health insurance. Others have a clinical focus and can help patients navigate a new diagnosis, manage multiple complex illnesses or support better communication with and between doctors.
Advocates may also specialize in certain patient populations like women, children, refugees or immigrants, the elderly, LGBQT+ people, people with disabilities and more.
