12 Best Medical Billing And Coding Certification Programs 2024: Best Paying Certificates
The Best Medical Billing And Coding Certification Programs: Best Paying Certification. Medical billing and coding professionals assign standardized codes to diagnoses and treatments and handle billing procedures so insurance companies can pay insurance claims.
Billing and coding certification verifies that you have the skills and knowledge to perform this job successfully. The certification can be a useful way to increase your competitiveness in the job market for billing and coding specialists. They also create coded data that hospitals and medical providers use to obtain reimbursement from insurance companies or government programs.
What Is a Billing and Coding Certification?
A billing and coding specialist processes medical bills, insurance claims and payments. Therefore, a billing and coding certification is a professional credential that recognizes billing and coding specialists and helps them showcase their expertise to employers.
Why Choose Study Medical Billing and Coding Programs
- MBC undergraduate certificate program can help prepare you to pursue the AAPC’s Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam.
- AHIMA’s Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) certification exam prep is built into our Medical Billing and Coding Certificate programs.
- It takes advantage of Career Services support to help you with your resume and job search.
- You can also get first-hand experience in medical billing and coding with simulated medical records in a web-based learning platform.
- Online classes are also available 100% – with sessions starting every 8 weeks, allowing you to attend classes on your schedule.
Which certification is best for medical billing and coding?
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is the most popular medical billing and coding certification students pursue.
Highest-Paying Medical Coding Certifications
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC®): $61,000
- Certified Medical Insurance Specialist (CMIS®): $59,994.
- Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC®): $65,000.
- Certified Outpatient Coder (COC®): $57,000
- Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM®): $63,000.
How to Get a Medical Billing Coding Certificate
- Many certification programs require that you have prior employment experience working in the billing and coding field. This experience can demonstrate that you already understand the basics of the field and its requirements.
- Certifying bodies typically require that you pass one or more examinations before you can earn your certification. The length of time the exam takes to complete and the number of questions on it typically varies depending on the organization.
- To work in any medical field, prior education is often necessary. Many certification programs require or prefer that you complete your online medical billing and coding education and have a college degree from an accredited university, such as an associate degree.
Are Medical Coding Certifications Worth It?
Yes, medical coding certifications are worth it because they provide professionals with the qualifications to practice in various healthcare settings. They also boost your administrative skills, career-earning potential, and professional experience. Obtaining a medical coding certification is perfect if you’re after rapid professional development in healthcare management.
Can I learn medical coding online for free?
Yes, you can learn the basics of medical coding online for free. While a free course is an excellent way to explore a new career, you need to take additional steps to become certified. Completing a free training program may help qualify you for an entry-level position.
Free Online Medical Billing And Coding Certification Programs:
Basics of Medical Billing and Coding
This course is a shortened version of a paid course in the fundamentals of medical coding and billing.” This free version features 10 abbreviated lessons with written information and short videos. You can choose which lessons you want to view. It covers the basics, such as terminology, preventing fraud abuse, health insurance plans and creating and submitting insurance claims.
Introduction to Medical Coding Course (I2MC)
Absolute Medical Coding Institute is a medical coding exam preparation institution. The organization offers a free weekly webinar that introduces medical coding for beginners. Completing this course prepares you to enroll in the organization’s paid course with a 20% discount toward the fee. This course covers anatomy, medical terminology and the fundamentals of ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS Level II. You earn a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
MedicalBillingAndCoding.org (MB&CC)
MB&CC is a medical billing and coding organization that offers free tutorials in the field. These tutorials cover the terminology and basic principles used in medical billing and coding. The free training comprises five sections and features videos and written information. MB&CC’s goal is to prepare people for a certification exam. In addition to this free course, participants have access to free study tools, a free e-textbook, a list of medical billing and coding schools, health insurance guides and other resources.
Best Medical Billing And Coding Certification 2024: Paid Certification Programs
1. Medical Billing and Coding – Online
Be ready to help healthcare companies provide more effective care by earning an online medical billing and coding certificate. Our 100% online medical billing and coding classes start every 8 weeks. Explore natural sciences, anatomy and health information technology courses in our Medical Billing and Coding Undergraduate Certificate program.
2. Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P)
The CCS-P certification verifies coding specialization in physician-based settings like doctor’s offices, group practices, specialty centers and multispecialty clinics. This certification is available through the AHIMA, and it’s beneficial for billing and coding personnel with extensive experience in the field. Candidates must complete a medical coding training program that offers the same coursework as the CCS.
3. Certified Medical Coder (CMC)
The CMC certification recognizes individuals with advanced training in medical coding guidelines for outpatient claims, and it’s available through the Practice Management Institute (PMI). The PMI’s prerequisites include at least one year of experience in outpatient medical coding or the completion of foundational training courses. Before applying, it’s necessary to complete the PMI medical coding assessment to identify potential knowledge gaps before training.
4. Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
This certification, offered by the AAPC, verifies that an experienced medical biller has the skills to manage all aspects of the revenue cycle. It ensures they thoroughly understand the various types of insurance plans and possess the experience to apply payer policies, local coverage determinations (LCDs) and national coverage determinations (NCDs).
5. Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA)
The CPMA certification available through the AAPC demonstrates that a person knows coding and documentation guidelines that are necessary to improve the revenue cycle and health care practices. It verifies that they understand the risks associated with noncompliance. People with a CPMA demonstrate expertise in coding concepts, medical documentation, fraud and abuse and coding risk analysis.
6. Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)
The AAPC also offers the COC certification, which shows a coder’s proficiency in assigning medical codes for procedures and services performed in outpatient hospital groups, outpatient surgical centers and hospital billing and coding departments. The prerequisites include two years of medical coding experience and an active AAPC membership.
7. Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
This certification is available through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and it’s beneficial for entry-level coders working in hospital and physician office settings. It’s a nationally recognized standard of achievement in the health information management (HIM) field. You need a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify.
8. Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)
Candidates with this certification have verified expertise in assigning medical codes for diagnoses and procedures performed in an inpatient setting. This certification shows you know how to handle ICD-10 Procedure Coding System (PCS) and the ICD-10 Clinical Modification (CM). The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers this high-level certification, addressing hospital and facility inpatient coding topics. To qualify, the AAPC prefers that you have an associate degree and be a current AAPC member.
9. Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)
The CRC certification offered by the AAPC verifies proficiency in assessing patient risk scores for improved patient outcomes and in reviewing and assigning accurate medical codes for diagnoses performed by physicians and other qualified health care providers in an office or facility setting.
10. Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)
This certification verifies that you have the skills required to support the coding and billing process, assign codes for diagnoses and procedures, prevent fraud by auditing billing procedures and submit claims for reimbursement. The CBCS is ideal for entry-level medical coding and billing specialists.
Best Paying Medical Coding Jobs After Certification
The best medical coding jobs typically involve working in a hospital setting which can be very demanding. Below are some of the roles that you can look forward to.
- Health Information Coder | Average Salary: $59,512.
- Certified Outpatient Coder | Average Salary: $57,000.
- Risk Adjustment Coder | Average Salary: $65,000
- Certified Medical Coder | Average Salary: $44,421.
- Coding Compliance Specialist | Average Salary: $60,041.
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