The information presented here is true and accurate as of the date of publication. DeVry’s programmatic offerings and their accreditations are subject to change. Please refer to the current academic catalog for details.
May 13, 2023
6 min read
If you’re interested in becoming a medical billing and coding specialist, getting certified can be an important step toward that goal. There are two primary certifying bodies in the United States: The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
AHIMA offers three medical billing and coding certifications:
AAPC offers five medical billing and coding certifications:
While some roles may require you to earn a specific credential, passing any of these medical billing and coding exams can help you demonstrate your knowledge and skills to future employers.
The coursework in DeVry University’s Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding and Medical Billing and Coding – Health Information Coding certificate programs includes material addressed in the CPC® and CCS® certification exams, which may be helpful as you prepare to pursue industry certifications after you graduate.
Figuring out what you’ve already accomplished and what you need to work toward will help you figure out which certification is right for you.
Regardless of the path you choose, you may need to meet additional requirements to become fully certified, including becoming a member of the AAPC or the AHIMA after passing your certification exam. Those who pass the CPC® exam are considered apprentices until they gain 2 years of coding experience.
At DeVry, medical billing and coding students receive complimentary AAPC Student Membership, a tool that provides career resources to assist you in your career journey. While Medical Billing and Coding – Health Information Coding students receive a complimentary AHIMA Student Membership.
Our Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding programs include our Digital Health Core series of courses, which we designed to help our students develop a set of interdisciplinary skills for today's rapidly evolving health information field. Courses in this series explore many of the principles used throughout the healthcare ecosystem and expose students to essential topics related to medical terminology, compliance, ethics, electronic medical records, patient privacy and digital aspects of the healthcare delivery system.
The Digital Health Core curriculum also provides students hands-on experience with industry-standard software systems and simulated patient records.
1Normal schedule does not include breaks and assumes 2 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 6-13 credit hours a semester per 12 month period. Accelerated schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 6-13 credit hours a semester per 12 month period.
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