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How to become a hospital receptionist: Ellis' story

Part of Careers

Meet Ellis, 25, from South Yorkshire. She is a hospital receptionist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Part of our Bitesize world of work series.

One of the best parts of the job is seeing someone who is very ill one week, and then they return the following week looking much better.

  • Ellis' role involves welcoming patients into the hospital, booking them in for clinical appointments with consultants, ensuring they have everything they need and answering any questions they might have
  • Some of the skills she uses in her job include customer service skills, functional skills, and written and spoken English
  • She studied Maths, History, Biology and Drama at A-level and completed her degree in Performing Arts
  • After graduating, she worked in customer service but was furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic
  • This gave her the opportunity to look for careers in healthcare. She initially worked in her local blood donation centre, and then applied and was successful in getting her current role.
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Top tips

  • Try and aim to do something that will make you proud
  • You should embrace any opportunities. If your preferences change and you work in a number of different jobs or departments, make the most of it.
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What to expect if you want to be a receptionist

  • Receptionist average salary: £15,000 to £22,000 per year
  • Receptionist typical working hours: 38 to 40 hours per week

What qualifications do you need to be a receptionist?

Some receptionist roles may not require formal qualifications, so you could be able to apply directly or work your way towards the role in another job. However, there are qualifications that could help you, such as college courses or an apprenticeship. There are relevant Level 1 and Level 2 college courses available, as well as a Level 3 T-level in Management and istration (England-only).

Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service, GOV.UK

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the GOV.UK website for more on T-levels.

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A collection of stories from people working across the healthcare sector.

Careers in healthcare

sca works as a receptionist at a youth centre.

sca: receptionist