Medical Receptionist Jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
Medical receptionists in Virginia Beach check in patients for Sentara, the ODU medical group, outpatient therapy clinics and dental offices, with most front desk pay running about $17 to $22 an hour. Here are the current openings, then who hires, what it pays, and how to get started.
Current medical receptionist Openings in Virginia Beach, VA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Receptionist Work in Virginia Beach
Front desk work in Virginia Beach health care follows the same map as the hospitals and clinics. Sentara Virginia Beach General near Hilltop runs patient access teams that register patients around the clock, including in the emergency department, and Sentara's practices along Independence Boulevard and in Princess Anne need check-in staff for every clinic day. The physician groups of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University staff Virginia Beach offices, and outpatient physical therapy and dental practices from Red Mill to Kempsville Road each keep a front desk or two.
The military adds a federal layer. The Hampton VA Health Care System hires medical support assistants to schedule and check in veterans at its clinics, including Chesapeake, and with NAS Oceana and JEB Little Creek-Fort Story in town, front desk staff across the city regularly verify TRICARE coverage for military families.
Top Virginia Beach Employers for Medical Receptionists
These hospitals, medical groups and clinics employ front desk and patient access staff in Virginia Beach:
- Sentara Health - hires patient access representatives for registration at Sentara Virginia Beach General, including evening emergency department shifts.
- Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU - the former EVMS medical group hires medical receptionists for its Virginia Beach OB/GYN office, at a posted minimum of $36,500 a year.
- Select Medical - hires patient service specialists for the front office of its outpatient physical therapy center on Fordham Drive, at $17.50 to $19 an hour.
- LWSS Family Dentistry - the Heartland Dental-supported practice hires business assistants for reception at its Red Mill and Kempsville Road offices, at $18 to $28.50 an hour.
- Hampton VA Health Care System - hires medical support assistants to schedule and check in veterans at Hampton and Chesapeake, through USAJobs.
- Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) - its administrative support and customer service staff handle scheduling, records and front-line patient service across Hampton Roads.
Medical Receptionist Salaries in Virginia Beach
- Entry level: about $16.50 to $18.50 an hour at physician offices, therapy clinics and part-time front desks.
- Experienced: roughly $18.50 to $22 an hour, around the metro median of about $21 for medical secretaries and administrative assistants.
- Senior: $23 to $30 an hour for federal medical support assistants and lead patient access or dental business roles.
These are estimates drawn from federal wage data for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro and local postings. Insurance verification and Epic experience, evening or weekend hospital shifts, and federal GS grades move pay the most. Hospital patient access jobs sometimes add sign-on bonuses, while private practices tend to offer weekday hours.
How to Become a Medical Receptionist in Virginia Beach
Virginia has no license for medical receptionists, so you do not need a state credential to work a front desk. Most employers ask for a high school diploma and a year or two of customer service, clerical or data entry experience; Sentara accepts an associate or bachelor's degree in place of experience. For formal training, Tidewater Community College offers a Medical Administrative Assistant specialization and career studies certificate at its Portsmouth Campus, and its Administrative Support Technology programs run at the Virginia Beach Campus.
What the Job Involves
Medical receptionists greet and register patients, scan IDs and insurance cards, verify coverage and demographics, collect copays, answer and triage phone calls, schedule and reschedule appointments, track referrals and authorizations, and handle check-out. Hospital patient access staff also admit patients and work alongside clinical teams in emergency and registration areas.
Skills Employers Look For
- Friendly, professional customer service
- Insurance verification, including TRICARE and Medicare
- Scheduling and electronic health record experience, often Epic
- Accurate keyboarding and data entry
- Copay collection and basic cash handling
- Privacy and HIPAA awareness
Career Path and Advancement
In Virginia Beach, many receptionists start at a private practice or therapy clinic front desk, then move into hospital patient access at Sentara or a federal medical support assistant job with the VA, where pay steps are clearer. From there the ladder runs to lead representative, practice coordinator or office manager, and some move into billing and coding or clinical roles such as medical assistant.
Related Careers in Virginia Beach
If medical front office work interests you, these Virginia Beach guides cover close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a certification to be a medical receptionist in Virginia Beach?
No. Virginia does not license medical receptionists. Employers look for customer service and clerical experience, and some prefer a certificate such as Tidewater Community College's Medical Administrative Assistant program.
How much do medical receptionists make in Virginia Beach?
Most front desk jobs pay about $17 to $22 an hour. Entry roles at clinics start around $16.50 to $18.50, and federal medical support assistant jobs at the VA can pay $23 an hour or more.
What is a patient access representative?
It is the hospital version of a medical receptionist. At Sentara Virginia Beach General, patient access staff verify identity and insurance, collect demographics and admit patients, including in the emergency department.
Are there evening or weekend medical receptionist jobs in Virginia Beach?
Yes. Hospital registration runs 24 hours, so Sentara posts evening shifts, while physician offices and therapy clinics mostly keep weekday hours.
Can military spouses find medical front desk work in Virginia Beach?
Yes. The role needs no state license, so it transfers easily between duty stations, and the Hampton VA hires medical support assistants through USAJobs, where military spouse hiring preferences can apply.
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