What You Should Know About This Degree
There are many occupations similar to a medical coder, such as patient account representative, medical transcriptionist, and medical office front desk receptionist. Before committing, make sure the program aligns with the career you wish to pursue.
With a medical coding certificate, you will be qualified for a variety of roles, including benefits coordinator, documentation specialist, and medical biller. These jobs are available in many settings, including city hospitals, rural clinics, physician offices, and insurance companies.
There are two main organizations that grant certifications for medical coding: the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). AAPC offers the CPC (Certified Professional Coder), COC (Certified Outpatient Coder), CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder), and CRC (Certified Risk Adjustment Coder) certificates. AHIMA offers the CCA (Certified Coding Associate), CCS (Certified Coding Specialist), and CCS-P (Certified Coding Specialist — Physician-based) certificates.
The programs covered in this guide will help you prepare for these exams and start your medical coding career.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching medical coding certificate programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? Medical coding certificate programs tend to require minimal qualifications. You should be eligible as long as you graduated high school with a 2.0 GPA.
- What tests are required for this degree? There are a variety of certification tests available for medical coding. The most popular is the AHIMA’s CCA exam.
During your research, take note of application deadlines and what kind of materials you need to submit. You can find this information by visiting the school’s website or contacting their admission department.
You will need to account for financial aid deadlines as well. In addition to financial resources offered by the school, we recommend you look for funding from sources such as outside scholarships and tuition benefits from your employer.