Many perfectly legitimate online medical coding schools offer certificate programs. Studying medical coding and billing through online classes is a convenient way to gain the necessary specialized knowledge needed for these professions. However, as in many aspects of life, scammers are always out there ready to fool people and take their money.
Why Choose Online Medical Coding Schools?
Many types of people choose online medical coding schools, such as working adults, healthcare professionals who want to branch into medical billing, people returning to the workforce, and retired people who want extra income.
Studying online is a viable option for people who want:
- The convenience of working at home
- The flexibility of learning at times of the day that work best for their schedule
- To save money on college tuition
- To study medical coding as a second job opportunity
- To save gas and mileage traveling to a brick-and-mortar school
Recognize Legitimate Online Medical Coding Schools
A fake website offering medical coding classes wants your money as soon as possible, and will tell you what you want to hear — that learning medical coding is easy, fast, and cheap. In truth, a trustworthy school’s website will outright tell you that medical billing and coding training is time-consuming, takes determination and lots of study, requires the oversight of experts and teachers, and could cost a bit of money to help you become professional and well-trained.
Costs and fees – A legitimate online medical coding school will ask students for a down payment for the courses, a registration fee, and perhaps a fee to download special software. These costs may scare some people into thinking the school is not legitimate, but these expenses are typical. Some schools may offer discounts and financial aid under certain circumstances. Feel free to call them for more information.
Accreditation of Online Schools
Online schools are just as educational and legitimate as physical schools; they just offer their classes electronically. Finding an online medical coding school that is accredited is not difficult. Look on the site for logos of accreditation organizations affiliated with the school or call the school to verify its accreditation status. Then verify this accreditation by searching the databases of accredited colleges provided by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Having a certificate from an accredited online school can be valuable in attaining a good job. Employers may even check if a prospective employee’s certificate is accredited. The American Academy of Professional Coders lets employers verify AAPC medical coding credentials of employees, contractors, and consultants.
Characteristics of Legitimate Online Schools
Legitimate schools and sources of certificates and diplomas will provide:
- A curriculum of courses and study topics
- Degrees
- Accreditation application
- A physical address
- Phone number with real human beings on the line
- Consultation with teachers who offer feedback and instruction
- Links to legitimate education programs, networking, and other training resources
- Financial aid
- Career placement programs and resources to find a job
- Networking and FAQ sections for more information.
Scour for Scams
Fake accreditation agencies and sketchy schools abound on the Internet. A fancy website does not necessarily mean the school is legitimate — just that it can afford a skilled web designer. To find the fakes, be leery if the school does not offer most of the benefits described above. In addition, beware of schools that list an unusual address in places such as the Caribbean or Eastern Europe. Finally, watch out for signs that the website was put together in a hurry, such as poor grammar or too many exclamation points.
About our expert. Jan Jacobs has worked in medical offices since the early 1980's. Ms. Jacobs has worked for M.D.'s and D.O.'s in primary care and specialty care. She is employed as a senior medical biller and has been at her current job for nearly 10 years, where she uses three different billing systems.
