To pursue a career in medical billing or coding, you'll generally need to complete your training and education, then obtain at least one medical billing and coding certification to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and experience to employers.
The importance of certification cannot be overstated. 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 3 three medical billing and coding certifications:
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA®)
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)
- Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-Bbased (CCS-P®)
AAPC offers 6 six certifications:
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC®)
- Certified Professional Biller (CPB™)
- Certified Professional Coder & Biller (CPC® + CPB™)
- Certified Outpatient Coder (COC™)
- Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC™)
- Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC™)
To receive any of these certifications, you must sit for and pass its corresponding exam, among other criteria. While some roles may require a specific credential, passing any of these exams can help you demonstrate your knowledge and skills in medical billing and coding to future employers. We can help you understand the specifics of the medical billing and coding exams and determine which is the right fit for you.
Our online medical billing and coding courses can help you prepare to take the exams for these certifications1:
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC): This certification from the AAPC indicates that you have a strong grasp of medical billing code sets and evaluation and management (E/M) principles. The CPC exam also tests your ability to understand and properly implement documentation and coding guidelines.
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA): From the AHIMA, the CCA certification demonstrates indicates your competency with the various processes and skills needed for classifying medical data using patient records.
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS): Also from the AHIMA, the CCS certification requires you to showcase a high-level coding knowledge and commitment in all medical settings. Passing the CCS exam may be useful for those more interested in the coding side of medical billing and coding versus the billing side.