The specific job duties of a registration specialist can vary depending on the industry in which that professional works. Generally, the registration specialist will work with customers or clients to get relevant information and enter that information into a computer system that manages client data. Many such specialists work within the health care industry; they will work at the front desk or registration desk of a clinic, hospital, or other medical center, and will give patients the appropriate paperwork to fill out. Then the specialist will manage that information in files both on computers and in hard-copy form.

Within the health care industry, the registration specialist may have other duties including assigning patients to particular rooms or beds, managing employee shifts, or coordinating equipment throughout the building. Other duties of the registration specialist may involve filing admittance paperwork as well as discharge paperwork for when a patient is ready to leave a facility. The specialist must have a solid understanding of local laws and regulations regarding the paperwork he or she is assigned to manage; privacy concerns are prevalent, especially in the health care field, and if the paperwork is mismanaged, laws may be broken.

Job duties can vary for the registration specialist in other industries. A vehicle registration specialist, for example, will deal exclusively with managing records and registrations for vehicle ownership, driver's licenses, permits, and other special documents or endorsements. A familiarity with computer operations is necessary, and job training will be required so the specialist can learn any specific software used in a particular setting. While no set level of education is required to become a registration specialist in many cases, just about all employers prefer candidates who have completed high school as well as some post-secondary training.

Certificate programs or associate's degree programs are often available so candidates can get the necessary training. Once a candidate has been hired, he or she is likely to undergo job training for several months or even years, depending on the complexity of the job. Some special post-secondary training may be required, especially if the specialist works in the health care industry, but again, the requirements will vary by position and local laws or regulations. Training in medical terminology, for example, may be required by a health care employer so the specialist has a solid understanding of the process of denoting various medical processes and functions.