Techniques and systems that provide timer based registration for efficiently registering access terminals with a wireless network are described. A timer is provided for an access terminal to register with the network. When the timer expires, the access terminal performs a timer based registration process if a currently serving base station is not the same as a base station that serves the access terminal when the access terminal completes the last timer based registration process, and avoids performing another timer based registration process if the currently serving base station is the same as a base station that serves the access terminal when the access terminal completes the last timer based registration process. The access terminal resets the timer if the currently serving base station is the same as a base station that served the access terminal when the access terminal completes the last timer based registration process.