By exploring the medical coding certification requirements, you have taken the first step toward pursuing a satisfying and successful career. Employers today are increasingly requiring applicants to have solid education and experience as this field becomes more demanding, complex and competitive. Medical coding certification will give you a distinct advantage in reaching your goals.
You can choose from several national organizations that offer certification based on passing their exam.
American Health Information Management Association
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers various medical coding certifications, including the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), and Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P) credentials.
The only requirement for the CCA, in addition to AHIMA membership and paying the application fee, is a U.S. high school diploma or an equivalent educational background. In order to pass the exam, AHIMA recommends that you have at least six months of experience applying coding at a health care organization, or have completed an AHIMA-approved coding certificate program, or have completed another formal coding training program.
If you are interested in the more specialized CCS and CCS-P, AHIMA strongly recommends that you obtain at least three years of experience in a hospital or other physician-based setting where you apply coding systems to various cases. They also recommend that you complete coursework in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, or be able to demonstrate proficiency in these areas.
Visit AHIMA’s website for detailed information on medical coding certification requirements.
American Academy of Professional Coders
Getting certified through the AAPC requires obtaining a membership and paying the exam fee. The AAPC recommends that applicants first earn an associate degree. However, unless you have at least two years of medical coding experience, you will be designated as an apprentice upon passing your exam. Once you’ve completed the required two years, AAPC will remove that designation.
Find out more about AAPC and its medical coding certification requirements on its website.
Board of Medical Specialty Coding and Compliance
The Board of Medical Specialty Coding and Compliance (BMSC) offers these coding credentials:
- Specialty Coding Professional (SCP)
- Advanced Coding Specialist (ACS)
- Home Care Coding Specialist – Diagnosis (HCS-D)
The only requirements for taking the exam are to have your high school diploma or an equivalent educational background, in addition to paying the registration fee, which includes the cost of the exam. BMSC notes, however, that its most successful candidates have had at least three years of coding experience in the specialty they desire or two years in home-care coding. Check out the BMSC website for more information on medical coding certification requirements.
If you have targeted a hospital or other health care setting where you’d like to work, contact the human resources personnel who recruit medical coders. Ask for a meeting to talk about what credentials they look for when selecting candidates. You might also consider getting advice from the local college if it offers an associate degree in medical coding.
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.
