A high school diploma is technically all that is required to be eligible to take a medical coding and billing certification exam. Professional organizations and schools regularly administer the exam, which tests for competency in the field of medical billing and coding. Passing this exam usually requires study in a medical billing and coding course or fairly extensive field experience.
Most billers and coders, however, have an associate degree, which ensures a higher salary and more employment options, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many employers prefer to only hire billers with Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) certification from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Those holding RHIT certification must:
- be graduates from a two-year associate degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- pass the AHIMA-administered certification exam
Preferred coders are certified through:
- the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or specialty coding organizations
- the Professional Association of Health Care Coding Specialists (PAHCS)
- the Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC)
As in any other profession, the level of education you receive correlates to the salary you will earn and the opportunities for advancement. But, education aside, those in the field who hold a medical coding and billing certificate are more highly paid than their uncertified counterparts. According to the 2010 salary survey by the AAPC, credentialed coders received a 1.5 percent increase in average salary–$45,404–compared to a 1.2 percent increase–$37,746–for non-credentialed professionals in 2009. In addition, highly regarded credentials offer better job security and mobility, even in a tough job market.
Four Ways to Get Your Certification
Knowing these four paths to certification and the level of education required for each can help you decide which one is right for your goals and aspirations, your lifestyle, your interests and, not least of all, your budget. Academic programs in medical coding and billing are offered at community colleges, universities, medical billing schools and online.
1. The quickest and least expensive road to certification is enrolling in one of the medical billing diploma programs that offer a basic medical and billing certificate. These six- to nine-month programs:
- require a high school diploma to enroll
- cost several hundred dollars
- are offered at medical billing schools, community colleges, career schools or online
Make sure they are accredited by checking the websites of the aforementioned professional associations.
2. Your next option is to enroll in a two-year associate degree program. These programs offer more in-depth information and training in medical billing, coding or both. Although it is a greater investment in time and money, costing several thousand dollars, organizations such as AHIMA require an associate degree for certification and many employers prefer to hire billers or coders with AHIMA credentials.
3. Opt for a Bachelor of Arts program in health information and management if you want a broader range of knowledge in the health information field or if you are interested in health management and related opportunities. According to the 2010 AAPC survey, the average salary of a certified coder with a bachelor’s degree is $51,389, compared to $41,017 for a certified coder with a technical school degree. There are also master’s degree and doctorate degrees available in the health information and management field.
4. Online classes for diploma programs, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees are also available. Many of these programs are more convenient for students and less expensive than traditional classroom instruction. Be aware, however, that there are many medical coding and billing certificate scams, especially online. Some red flags that the program or school may only be out to get your money include:
- promising certification in a very short amount of time
- promising unbelievably high wages for future employment
- asking for a large sum of money up front, or conversely, touting extremely low fees
An excellent first step when selecting any program is to ensure that it is accredited by one of the professional organizations listed below:
For example, you can go to CAHIIM and search for an accredited program by name, state, education level, and distance learning. Most accredited academic programs are reputable, offer quality learning opportunities and suitably prepare students for employment upon completion.
In addition to checking for accreditation, research the program. Check with the Better Business Bureau and search online for forums where students can rate and discuss their personal experiences with the programs or organizations.
Which Medical Coding and Billing Certificate is Right For You?
In addition to these four paths you may take to become certified, be aware that there are several types of certifications. The AAPC lists some of the most widely used medical coding credentials you may pursue based on the type of coding you perform.
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC U+00AE)The CPC is the standard medical coding certificate, which demonstrates proficiency in medical coding, coding procedures and coding rules and regulations.
- Certified Professional Coder — Outpatient Hospital (CPC-HU+00AE)A variety of the basic CPC, this certificate designates proficiency in coding in a hospital, clinic or other outpatient setting.
- Certified Professional Coder — Payer (CPC-PU+00AE)In addition to basic coding proficiency, this certificate denotes the coder has special expertise in the perspective of the payer, including private insurers, Medicare, Medicaid or the patient.
- Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCCU+00AE)This certificate validates a coder’s special knowledge in the field of Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular. The AAPC medical coding salary survey found this is one of the highest paying specialties in the field of medical coding.
- Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)Offered by AHIMA, this certification ensures that the holder has an associate’s degree along with extensive knowledge in medical coding, medical billing, medical transcription, and health information in general.
The AAPC offers 20 specialty coding certifications for experienced coders to show expertise in their respective disciplines, including chiropractic, dermatology, family practice, pediatrics and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Whether you want to invest six months in an online diploma program or four years in a university setting, there’s a viable path for you to get your medical coding and billing certificate.
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.
