Tebra, formed from the merger of Kareo and PatientPop, serves a large base of independent practices with billing, practice management and EHR tools. Vendors integrating with Tebra usually need practice management data such as patients, appointments and charges, or standardized clinical data for patient access. Tebra offers different APIs for each. This guide explains the SOAP practice management API, the SMART on FHIR API and how to build reliable integrations. For broader connectivity, see our EHR and EMR integration services. Planning a Tebra integration? Request a free integration review.
Tebra’s API Options
Tebra’s developer resources reflect its Kareo history. The main practice management API is SOAP-based, while a newer SMART on FHIR API supports standardized clinical access. An older REST clinical data API was also documented. Understanding each prevents building on the wrong interface.
The SOAP practice management API
Tebra’s SOAP API, the former Kareo integration API, lets developers build programs that access Tebra data and functionality. It is a SOAP-based web service covering practice management data, which makes it the main path for billing, scheduling and patient administration integrations.
The SMART on FHIR API
Tebra publishes a SMART on FHIR API based on HL7 FHIR R4 and US Core, documented in a user guide updated in 2025. It supports standardized clinical data access aligned with federal patient access requirements, through a developer registration portal.
The older REST clinical data API
Tebra documented a REST clinical data API in 2023. Third-party observers report uncertainty about its current availability alongside the newer FHIR API. Confirm its status with Tebra before building on it, and prefer the FHIR API for standardized clinical access.
Choosing the right API
Use the SOAP API for practice management workflows such as patients, appointments, charges and payments. Use the FHIR API for standardized clinical data and patient access. Many products need only one, but some combine both carefully. Document the reasoning for each choice.
How SOAP API Access Works
Tebra’s SOAP API uses a different access model from modern OAuth APIs. Practices control access directly through administrator settings, and Tebra’s support covers only its side of the integration. Understanding these details avoids early setup frustrations for development teams.
Customer key and credentials
Tebra’s SOAP API requires a customer key in addition to user login credentials. A system administrator in the practice’s Tebra account generates the key and sets security permissions. Your onboarding guides should walk administrators through this process clearly. Store keys securely at all times.
Security permissions
Access depends on permissions assigned to the user account used by the integration. Missing permissions cause failed requests. Use dedicated integration accounts with only required permissions, and document exactly which permissions practices must enable for your product to work. Review permissions periodically.
Support boundaries
Tebra notes its customer care team supports the API only on the Tebra side. When troubleshooting, include request and response examples in support cases. Your own team must own client-side code, error handling and monitoring for the integration. Plan internal support coverage accordingly.
Working with SOAP in modern stacks
SOAP requires XML requests defined by a WSDL, which can feel unfamiliar to teams used to REST and JSON. Use mature SOAP client libraries, generate types from the WSDL and wrap calls in a clean internal interface for your application.
Common Tebra Integration Use Cases
Tebra’s roots in billing and practice management shape the integrations its customers value most. The use cases below represent common partner products and the API approach that typically supports each one in practice.
Billing and revenue cycle tools
Revenue cycle, analytics and billing service vendors use the SOAP API for charges, encounters, payments and transactions. Validate financial data carefully, because errors affect practice revenue. Our RCM software developers build reliable integrations for these workflows. Reconcile results with billing staff during pilots.
Scheduling and patient engagement
Engagement and reminder vendors use appointment and patient data from the SOAP API. Efficient sync designs reduce load and keep data current. Test time zones, cancellations and rescheduling thoroughly, because these scenarios often cause errors in patient communications. Confirm sync timing with practice staff.
Patient access applications
Personal health record and patient engagement apps use the SMART on FHIR API to retrieve clinical records with patient authorization. Our SMART on FHIR app development team builds these apps with clear consent and secure data handling. Test each flow with real patients first.
Data migration into Tebra
Tebra’s documentation discusses integration patterns, including approaches for sending patient information when billing is needed rather than bulk migrating everything. Plan migration scope carefully, and coordinate with Tebra on supported methods before moving large volumes of patient data. Validate migrated records with practice staff.
Building a Reliable Tebra Integration
The steps below reflect how we deliver Tebra integrations. They focus on choosing the right API, simplifying practice setup and handling SOAP reliably, because these areas cause most production issues in Tebra projects.
Step 1: Map requirements to APIs
List the data and actions your product needs, then map each to the SOAP API or FHIR API. Confirm availability of every function. Identify gaps early and discuss them with Tebra before promising features to customers. Record every mapping decision clearly.
Step 2: Prepare practice onboarding
Write clear instructions for generating customer keys, assigning permissions and creating integration accounts. Include screenshots where possible. Simple onboarding reduces support tickets and helps practices activate your integration successfully the first time they try. Test your guides with a practice administrator before wider rollout.
Step 3: Build robust SOAP handling
Generate client code from the WSDL, wrap calls in internal services and handle faults, timeouts and retries explicitly. Log requests and responses during development, removing sensitive data before production, so issues can be diagnosed quickly and accurately. Version your client code carefully.
Step 4: Pilot with practices
Launch with pilot practices, monitor data accuracy, performance and errors, and gather feedback from billing and front office staff. Pilots reveal permission setups and workflow differences that development testing cannot show. Agree on success measures with each pilot practice before launch, and review results together.
Step 5: Scale and maintain
Document onboarding, monitor integrations continuously and track Tebra updates. Because public change logs are limited, test regularly and watch for behavior changes. Assign ownership for maintenance so issues are resolved before practices notice. Regular health checks with key practices also help surface problems early.
How Taction Helps With Tebra Integrations
Taction has delivered 200+ healthcare projects, including practice management integrations, billing tools and FHIR apps. We help vendors choose the right Tebra API, simplify practice onboarding and build integrations that billing and clinical teams rely on.
Free Tebra integration review
Share your product and data needs. We map requirements to Tebra’s SOAP and FHIR APIs, outline onboarding steps and flag risks early. You receive a practical plan for development and launch. Request your free review. We also flag quick wins you can start immediately.
SOAP and FHIR integration development
We build Tebra integrations with robust SOAP clients, FHIR authorization, error handling and monitoring. Our FHIR and HL7 integration services extend these integrations to labs, payers and other partners. Every integration includes documentation and onboarding guides that help practices connect quickly and reduce ongoing support requests.
Billing software expertise
Billing integrations demand accuracy. You can hire medical billing software developers who understand charges, payments, claims and reconciliation, ensuring your Tebra integration supports practice revenue rather than creating new errors. Every financial workflow is tested against real practice scenarios before launch, protecting cash flow from day one.
EHR integration developers on demand
Need extra capacity? Hire EHR integration developers experienced with Tebra, SOAP, FHIR and independent practice workflows. They join your team quickly and document integrations thoroughly for long-term maintenance. Engagements scale with your roadmap, from a single Tebra integration to support across many EHR vendors and practice customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers address common questions about Tebra and Kareo API integration. Because Tebra’s APIs and documentation evolve, confirm current details in Tebra’s help center and developer resources when planning your integration.
Does Tebra have an API?
Yes. Tebra offers a SOAP-based practice management API, formerly the Kareo integration API, and a SMART on FHIR API for standardized clinical data access. An older REST clinical data API was documented in 2023, so confirm its current status with Tebra.
Is the Tebra API SOAP or REST?
Tebra’s main practice management API is SOAP-based. Its newer FHIR API is a RESTful, standards-based interface for clinical data. Choose based on whether your product needs practice management functions or standardized clinical data access. Some products need both interfaces. Plan accordingly.
How do I get a Tebra customer key?
A system administrator in the practice’s Tebra account generates the customer key and sets the required security permissions. The SOAP API requires this key along with user login credentials. Provide clear setup instructions to practice administrators. Store keys securely after setup.
Can I use the Kareo API with Tebra?
Tebra’s SOAP API is the former Kareo integration API, and its endpoints still reflect that history. Review Tebra’s current documentation and terms of use, and confirm details with Tebra when building new integrations or maintaining older Kareo-era code. Test older code carefully.
Who supports Tebra API integrations?
Tebra’s customer care team supports the API on the Tebra side only. Your team owns client code, error handling and monitoring. Include request and response examples when opening support cases to speed up troubleshooting. Plan internal support coverage accordingly. Logging helps greatly.