How a Patient Advocate gets certified

In order to get certified, patient advocates are educated in the complex healthcare system through a combination of experience and formal education and have completed a national exam.

A patient advocate who has passed their certification exam will have BCPA listed after their name.

While all patient advocates undergo the same education process to gain certification, the background of these advocates varies. Some patient advocates have experience working in various positions in the healthcare field such as registered nurses, doctors, or administrators; while others have been inspired to join the field after navigating care coordination as a patient or for a loved one. Regardless of their background, all patient advocates are ethically bound to only provide support in areas they are specifically qualified for. If a situation arises where an advocate does not have the necessary experience to provide adequate assistance to a patient, the advocate must refer their client to an advocate who does.