How long does it take to become a Scheduler?

It takes 6 years of professional experience to become a scheduler. That is the time it takes to learn specific scheduler skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How do I become a certified scheduler?

You must take and pass the required exam for your certification to become a certified scheduler. Earning this credential requires a certain amount of professional work experience, the length of which depends on the level of education completed.

How much does a scheduler make?

A scheduler makes up to $50,000 a year. Like any other job, how much you make depends on a few factors. Your level of experience, qualifications, and area in which you work will all decide your pay factors.

Is scheduling a good career?

Yes, scheduling is a good career. If you want a job where you feel like what you do matters and that you're helping people, then being a scheduler could be the right fit for you. This is a fast-paced job, and what you do matters. As a scheduler, you will be in charge of the following:

What are the requirements for a scheduler?

The requirements for a scheduler are: High school diploma or GED Excellent communication and organization skills Basic computer program knowledge

What is a scheduler position?

A scheduler position is one that coordinates daily schedules within a medical facility. Their primary duties typically involve managing the flow of patient care. A scheduler's responsibilities can include:

How To Become A Scheduler: What It Is and Career Path

What is a scheduler and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A scheduler creates and manages schedules for individuals, teams, or organizations. They use software tools to plan and allocate resources, such as staff, equipment, and time, to optimize productivity. Schedulers balance conflicting priorities and constraints to ensure that all tasks are completed on time and within budget. They communicate with team members, customers, and stakeholders to coordinate activities and adjust schedules as necessary. Schedulers may work in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and construction.

ScoreSchedulerUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,565

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.2

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 3.77%

Black or African American 9.57%

Hispanic or Latino 11.96%

Unknown 3.77%

White 70.56%

Gender

female 77.13%

male 22.87%

Age - 51

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51

Stress level

7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.7

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.3

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a scheduler?

Pros

Good pay
Opportunity to work with a variety of people and departments
Opportunities for advancement within the field
Can be a challenging and stimulating job that keeps you engaged and interested
Often involves problem-solving, which can be rewarding and satisfying

Cons

May involve dealing with difficult or demanding personalities who are not happy with the schedule you create
Can become repetitive over time, as scheduling often follows similar patterns and routines
May involve working alone or in isolation for long periods of time
May involve having to make tough decisions that impact other people's schedules or workloads
Can require extensive use of technology, which may not appeal to everyone.

Key steps to become a scheduler

Explore scheduler education requirements

Most common scheduler degrees

Bachelor's

37.3 %

Associate

25.1 %

High School Diploma

17.8 %

Start to develop specific scheduler skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	20.61%
Customer Service	13.27%
Medical Terminology	7.21%
Patient Care	5.05%
Data Entry	3.03%

Complete relevant scheduler training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New schedulers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a scheduler based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real scheduler resumes.

Gain additional scheduler certifications

Scheduler certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific scheduler certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for schedulers include Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM).

More About Certifications

Research scheduler duties and responsibilities

Manage clinic visit schedules, rehabilitation conferences, medical exams, trial appearances, depositions, etc.
Utilize knowledge of medical insurance including manage care, Medicare, Medicaid, liability and workman's compensation.
Manage patient pre-op responsibilities, and generate all necessary paperwork.
Schedule procedure, surgery f/u, register new patients, referrals, insurance, send nurse messages.

Prepare your scheduler resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your scheduler resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a scheduler resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable scheduler resume templates

Build a professional scheduler resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your scheduler resume.