Medical Coding Training

If you are thinking about a future in medical coding, there are a lot of reasons why it can be a great career choice for you.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in healthcare significantly outpace the average for other occupations.1 Because the population is aging and people are living longer, healthcare will continue to be important. The healthcare industry is also projected to add more jobs than many other industries surveyed by the BLS.2

A career in medical billing and coding can provide flexibility, depending on your employer, and your skills may be transferable to other healthcare organizations such as hospitals or physician's offices that have similar roles. Whether you are interested in working part-time, full-time or remotely, there may be options you can pursue.

If you’re looking to get started in this field, exploring a medical coding training program is a good first step.

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What Is Medical Coding Training?

Medical coding training provides the knowledge you need to pursue a career as a certified medical coder in the healthcare industry.

You will learn the proper coding terminology and processes needed to keep healthcare organizations running smoothly.

You will also be able to provide insurance companies with the necessary information to reimburse patients and ensure they are billed accurately.

Is Medical Coding Hard?

If you are a detail-oriented person, medical coding training can help you learn the language of coding and prepare you for industry certification.

There are three types of codes you will need to learn. These codes represent the universal language that medical service providers use to talk to insurance companies. While each medical practice may call it something a little different, these standardized codes ensure everyone knows the exact diagnosis, treatments, supplies and services given.

  1. International Classification of Diseases (ICD Codes) – ICD codes are used to detail patient conditions and diagnoses.

  2. Current Procedure Terminology (CPT Codes) – CPT codes detail the procedures and treatments performed.

  3. Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS Codes) – HCPCS codes are used for identifying other treatments and services that are not included in CPT codes.

You do not need to memorize tens of thousands of codes, however. Coders typically reference books and software programs to make sure the codes they use are accurate.

If this all seems complex, there’s no reason to worry. When you get your Medical Billing and Coding Certificate at DeVry, we will work with you to learn what you need to know so you are prepared to pursue your career.

What Do I Need to Become a Medical Coder?

While some jobs may only require a high school diploma, many others require some college education as well as industry certifications. To become a medical coder, consider starting your medical coding training online with an undergraduate certificate in medical billing and coding.

DeVry offers certificate programs in Medical Billing and Coding (MBC) and Medical Billing and Coding – Health Information Coding (MBC-HIC). Both of these undergraduate certificate programs include built-in exam preparation for industry-recognized exams, so you can hit the ground running after graduation.

How Long Does Medical Coding Training Take?

As a full-time student, you can earn your medical billing and coding certificate, including hands-on training in a virtual lab environment, in as little as 1 year.3 At DeVry, new class sessions begin every eight weeks.

Our medical billing and coding course curriculum includes instruction on:

  • Medical terminology
  • Health and information systems
  • International classification of disease coding
  • Health insurance and reimbursement
  • Claims processing
  • Document and record information
  • Current procedural terminology
  • Classification of medical data

How to Get Medical Coding Certification?

If you’d like to become certified in the medical billing and coding field, consider starting by earning an undergraduate certificate.

DeVry’s MBC program is designed to prepare you for the entry-level Certified Coding Associate (CCA®) exam offered by The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Our MBC-HIC program provides study and preparation for the more advanced Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®) exam. These exams help show employers that you are proficient in key knowledge and skill areas.

Benefits for Medical Coding Training

Depending on the program you choose, an undergraduate medical coding training certificate may offer benefits including:

  • Preparation for the CCA or CCS industry certification exams.
  • A thorough understanding of medical coding terminology and processes, health insurance practices and healthcare ethics.
  • Ability to pursue job opportunities requiring education beyond the high school level.

At DeVry, you can complete your medical coding classes and earn your undergraduate certificate in as little as 1 year.Also check out the medical billing training courses.

Can You Do Medical Coding from Home?

It depends. Not all healthcare providers will allow you to work from home, but some do hire remote workers. As more people continue to work remotely, many healthcare providers have followed suit to let their medical coding and billing teams work at home. Others outsource their medical billing and coding processes to independent contractors that can work from anywhere.

Medical coders are typically not patient-facing – meaning that you'll likely work behind the scenes in a more traditional office environment – but still be able to play an important role in helping people with their healthcare needs.

Prepare for a Career in Medical Coding

Take the next step toward your healthcare career. DeVry University's Medical Billing and Coding certificate programs are dedicated to helping you prepare for a career in medical billing and coding. Get started today.

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1Job growth indicated is on a national level. Local growth will vary. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm
2Job growth indicated is on a national level. Local growth will vary. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.nr0.htm
3Not including breaks. Assumes year-round, full-time enrollment.