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What Is a Scheduling Coordinator and How to Become One


What Is a Scheduling Coordinator?

A scheduling coordinator makes appointments and performs other administrative duties. In a medical office, a coordinator may also register new patients or reserve meeting rooms. Education qualifications for this career are a high school diploma, although some employers may require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. You need communication skills and experience with general office duties to excel in this job.

How to Become a Scheduling Coordinator

The qualifications you need to become a scheduling coordinator include organizational skills and relevant training or certification. In general, you can start this career with a high school diploma or GED certificate. In this job, you need strong customer service skills as you coordinate appointments with clients in person or over the phone. In some fields, such as health care, employers prefer you have a medical support assistant certificate or degree in healthcare administration. Other employers may prefer prior experience as a clerk, secretary, office administrator, or receptionist.

Scheduling Coordinator Job Description Sample

With this Scheduling Coordinator job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Scheduling Coordinator role.

Job Summary

Our clinic is currently looking for a Scheduling Coordinator. In this position, your primary role is to schedule consults and procedures for our patients. Most of our procedures require prior authorization from the patient's insurance company, so you will also help verify their insurance coverage as part of the scheduling process. If they are not fully authorized, you may reach out to the patient to confirm they have alternative methods of payment. You must have basic computer and data entry skills, as part of your job will be to update our patient database. Applicants with some experience working in a medical office or in insurance verification are preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Answer phone calls from patients
  • Schedule consults and procedures
  • Obtain prior authorizations for scheduled procedures
  • Ensure there are no scheduling conflicts
  • Update our patient and provider database
  • Assist with general office duties as needed

Requirements and Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED certificate
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
  • Medical office or scheduling experience (preferred)
  • Telephone communication skills
  • Proficiency with office software, such as Microsoft Outlook and calendaring tools
  • Data entry and phone skills
  • Organizational skills