Medical Billing and Coding Classes at DeVry

A medical billing and coding certificate is different from a medical billing and coding certification in a number of ways. First, a medical billing and coding certificate is earned from a college or institution of higher learning by taking courses as part of a dedicated program. By passing these courses and earning your certificate, you can develop your capabilities in performing medical billing and coding tasks.

A medical billing and coding certification on the other hand, such as the CPC, CCA or CCS, is a professional credential awarded by a third-party organization. It helps demonstrate your knowledge of medical billing and coding topics and is earned after you have passed an exam and met any other necessary requirements.

Beyond these definitions, there are also differences in the process of earning them. A medical billing and coding certificate requires you to earn a certain number of credit hours by taking medical billing and coding classes, among other courses and training. During these classes you'll have the opportunity to develop your understanding of how to apply and perform particular aspects of medical billing and coding.

A medical billing and coding certification, by contrast, does not actually teach you about medical billing and coding. Instead, it tests your knowledge of what you have learned from taking classes or by completing a certificate program.

At DeVry, we offer two Undergraduate Medical Billing and Coding Certificate programs. While there is some overlap, each program has a different set of courses that you need to take to earn your certificate. The first program, Medical Billing and Coding, requires the following courses:

• BIOS105 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab
• BIOS268 Pathopharmacology

• HIT111 Basic Medical Terminology
• HIT120 Introduction to Health Services and Information Systems
• HIT141 Health Information Processes with Lab
• HIT203 International Classification of Diseases Coding I with Lab
• HIT205 International Classification of Diseases Coding II with Lab
• HIT211 Current Procedural Terminology Coding with Lab
• HIT230 Health Insurance and Reimbursement
• HIT 253 Coding Practicum and Review (CCA Exam)

The second program, Medical Billing and Coding – Health Information Coding, requires these courses:

• BIOS105 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab
• BIOS268 Pathopharmacology

• HIT111 Basic Medical Terminology
• HIT120 Introduction to Health Services and Information Systems
• HIT141 Health Information Processes with Lab
• HIT203 International Classification of Diseases I with Lab
• HIT205 International Classification of Diseases II with Lab
• HIT211 Current Procedural Terminology Coding with Lab
• HIT213 Current Procedure Terminology Coding II w/ Lab
• HIT220 Legal and Regulatory Issues in Health Information
• HIT230 Health Insurance and Reimbursement

• HIT260 Coding Practicum w/Lab
• HIT262 CCS Review (CCS Exam)

Like all of our courses, medical billing and coding classes have rolling admission, allowing you to begin your education when it’s convenient for you. Our classes last 8 weeks, meaning new class sessions start every 8 weeks as well.

You can earn your Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding in as little as one year* —or even more quickly with qualifying transfer credits.

At DeVry, there is no difference! Our online medical billing and coding courses will teach you the same information and provide all the same student resources as an on-campus programs, including office hours with your professors, tutoring¹ and library access.

Students who take classes online can enjoy greater flexibility when it comes to setting up their schedule, while in-person students will follow a more fixed course schedule. If you’re balancing a full-time job, raising a family, want to avoid a commute to campus or have other commitments, you may find that taking online classes is a better fit for you.

Ultimately, both online and on-campus options provide students with the same education and resources, so it is up to you to determine which method is better suited to setting yourself up for success.

Medical billing and coding isn’t inherently any more difficult than any other subject, since what might feel difficult for some, might be easier for another. While there is an attention to detail that is needed for this kind of work, studying medical billing and coding can be an attainable goal for anyone who wants to pursue a career in this field and is prepared to put in the study time, concentration and determination necessary.

While you may run into some basic math in the billing portion of the job, medical billing and coding typically does not require math skills. While some math concepts are present in certain courses, there are no medical billing and coding classes that are explicitly focused on mathematics in our online Medical Billing and Coding Certificate programs.