Medical billing and coding schools can be found through vocational schools, technical schools, online universities and community colleges.  These medical billing and coding schools will teach students how to organize and collect a patient’s medical information for billing purposes.  Those that have graduated from a certificate or degree program will earn the education and training that will qualify them for entry level positions as a medical coder.

How to Get Started in this Field

Some medical facilities in the past have hired employees for the medical billing position and offered on the job training. These days an employer will not even look at an applicant’s resume unless they have completed a certificate or degree program.  The certificate or diploma programs that are available can take four to eighteen months to complete and will teach coursework in general education, anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, ICD9 coding basics, advanced coding, medical law and ethics, encoding procedures, diagnostic procedure coding, coding software applications, information systems, pharmacology and medical coding.

To qualify for one of these programs the student will need to have their high school diploma or GED. Some medical billing and coding schools will require applicants to have basic computer experience and a background in medical terminology. A student may also be required to obtain liability insurance and undergo health testing before being accepted into a program.

The medical biller can work in private medical practices, hospitals, nursing homes and different types of out-patient facilities.  Those that have graduated from a program can qualify for entry-level positions such as insurance specialist, medical transcriptionist, billing and scheduling coordinator, medical administrative assistant and patient account rep.

The Degree Programs Available in this Field

The medical coding specialist two year associate’s program includes an education in coding, medical topics and computers.  Those that graduate from a degree program can meet eligibility requirements for professional certifications and advanced job opportunities.  During this type of program you will also work clinical hours in a professional medical setting, learning hands on training.

To qualify for an associate’s program the applicant will need to have their high school diploma or equivalent and can also require the completion of specific courses such as medical terminology, keyboarding and business communications.  These courses typically include courses in medical coding systems, medical diagnoses, medical treatments, pharmacology, information technology, office administration, medical leadership and advanced encoding.

Employers will require thirty six hours of continuing educational training and certification through the AAPC.  Those medical billing specialists need to renew their licensure every two years. These health care professionals need to apply for re-certification six weeks prior to license expiration.

The cost for certificate programs can range from 2,500$ to 4,000$, while the associate’s degree program can range from 3,500 to 5,000 each year.

While medical billing and coding certification is not state required in order to enter the profession, earning the medical billing and coding certification will provide you with the basic credentials that a potential employer will want for entry-level positions.  To earn certification as a billing specialist you will need to complete a certificate or degree program and take the exam through professional associations such as the AHIMA or the AAPC.

The Significance of Certification

Although it isn’t necessary to obtain certification to land employment in this field, it will greatly increase your chances of landing a job.  The employer will prefer an applicant who can provide proof that they have specific knowledge and skills that are crucial to working in this part of the health care field.

While a medical biller is not required to earn a degree prior to taking the certification exam, the programs are designed to not only provide hands on experience through clinical work in a medical setting, but they also cover extensive courses that train students on the material that’s covered in the certification exam. By having completed a certificate program or obtained a degree, you will show a potential employer that you possess a broader knowledge of the field in comparison to those applicants that have no formal training.

Coursework for Certification Programs

When choosing an accredited program, you should look for one that teaches basic and advanced courses in coding and features up-to-date billing and coding software program training. A course will teach students how to use the international classification of diseases manual, also referred to as the ICD9 coding book. This manual is periodically updated to incorporate advances in medical procedures. A new manual is scheduled to be released in the next year so students should find a program that teaches coding procedures for both the ICD9 and the ICD10.   This type of program will give the student an advantage over those that have no formal training for the newer procedure manual.

The AAPC, AHIMA and the AMBA can offer the best medical billing and coding accredited programs that offer both certificate and associate programs online or in-class.

The certification exam will consist of 200 multiple choice questions, with students having two hours to complete the test. Should a student fail to pass the exam they will have a chance to retake it within a year’s time, free of charge. To maintain licensure the medical billing specialist will be required to earn a total of thirty six hours of continuing education credits to qualify for certification renewal every two years.   CE credits can be earned by enrolling in an online or in-class study course or by taking AAPC approved exams through their website.