Medical coding schools offer widespread courses of study for students who want to enter the challenging field of medical billing and coding. The job market for medical billing and coding is growing at a faster than average rate due to the aging baby boomer generation increasing needs for medical procedures. This growing need for electronic recording keeping also requires that regulations for nationalized medical codes and insurance policy procedures become more precise and updated regularly.
Which Type of Medical Coding School to Choose?
Luckily, students have a variety of brick-and-mortar as well as online schools to choose from in their quests to learn medical billing and coding. Technical schools, business schools and health/medical schools are a good place start a search, but there are other schools that offer medical billing and coding courses. The best schools are up-to-date on the newest codes and regulations needed for these jobs.
Various medical coding schools may offer diplomas, certificates and even degrees in professions related to medical billing and coding. Most schools have a minimum eligibility requirements such as high school diploma or GED.
Resources for Finding Medical Coding Schools
On the Internet students can find websites and directories that gather together lists of top medical coding schools in the United States and Canada. These sites usually also offer valuable information on:
- curriculum
- training information
- salaries
- job descriptions
- job placement
- starting a home-based business and
- medical coding and billing related articles and news.
Brick-and-Mortar Medical Coding Schools
This is by no means a complete listing of all the schools that teach medical coding but it does highlight a few top schools. Conduct your own research to find the schools that will fulfill your education needs.
Brown Mackie College – Twenty-two branches in the Mid-west and South. Offers a certificate and diploma in medical coding and billing as well as a separate category of medical coding and billing for health care. Also offers Associate’s degrees in medical office management and health care administration.
Everest College – Nineteen branches throughout the U.S. Offers a diploma in medical insurance billing and coding as well as medical administrative assistant. The program includes such topics as medical terminology, insurance coding and coding for a variety of body systems. Includes a 160-hour hands-on work experience program.
Florida Career College – Eight locations in Florida. Offers a 12-month diploma program in medical billing and coding that includes medical terminology, human diseases, pharmacology and anatomy.
Lincoln Technical Institute – Locations in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and online. Offers non-degree courses in medical billing and coding. Features study in insurance, federal and state regulation and pharmacology.
National College – Seventeen branches in Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Offers a diploma in medical billing and coding. Program includes medical terminology, CPT and ICD coding, HIPAA and Medicare. Prepares students for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC), CPC-Hospital and Certified Medical Biller exams.
Sanford-Brown Institute – Eighteen branches throughout the U.S. Offers AAS degree, diploma and certificate in medical billing and coding, as well as advanced degrees in health care administration and health information management. Courses include billing practices, reimbursement systems, health record maintenance and medical coding.
Ultimate Medical Academy – Two locations in Florida and online. Offers degree in insurance billing and coding specialist. Trains students in coding medical and surgical procedures, using medical terminology, processing claims, networking and using software systems.
Online Medical Coding Schools
Medical coding schools do not have to be physical, brick-and-mortar schools. In fact, there is a vibrant network of online institutions that offer classes in medical billing and coding. These online medical coding schools are legitimate, accredited organizations that provide just as in-depth courses of study as the on-site schools.
Some of the more well known online schools include, but are not limited to:
Allied Health Schools – Medical coding program includes ICD-9-CM, HCPCS, CPT Standard and medical terminology. Students can study for the Certified Professional Coder exam. Also offers medical billing and medical transcription programs.
Ashworth College – Offers career diploma in medical billing/claims. Lessons include learning medical and billing claims procedures, submitting medical claim forms for private insurance organizations, handling patient invoices and obtaining reimbursements for patients and doctors.
Bryant and Stratton College – Offers Associate’s degree and certificate in medical reimbursement and coding. Prepares students for national coding exams. Students can specialize in the areas of Physician coding or Hospital/Inpatient coding.
Herzing University – Offers an Associate’s degree, as well as a diploma, in medical billing and insurance coding for positions as medical billing specialists, medical coders and insurance claims analysts. Courses include anatomy, physiology and medical coding.
Kaplan University – Offers certificate in medical coding and Associate’s degrees in medical transcription, health information technology and medical office management. Also offers Bachelor’s degrees in related fields such as medical office management, medical transcription and health informatics IT.
Penn Foster Career School – Offers career diploma and certificate in medical coding and billing. Courses teach coding, body systems terminology, filing claims, preparing insurance forms, billing and electronic medical records. Offers exams for Certified Coding Specialist and Certified Professional Coder.
Rasmussen College – Fargo, North Dakota, and online. Offers a diploma in medical coding. In addition to ICD-9-CM coding, the school offers courses in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and ambulatory care coding.
Virginia College – Offers certificate and diploma for medical coding using ICD-9-CM and HCPCS. The program includes an externship with nurses or other health care personnel.
University of Phoenix – Partnered with the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), this school offers undergraduate college credit, training and certification in medical coding and billing.
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.
