Healthcare administration can be a fulfilling and stable professional path for new career-climbers that are attracted to the business side of medicine – patient administration, medical coding, billing, auditing, office management, and compliance. Beyond the front desk there’s a whole team of professionals that support the clinicians by protecting patient privacy and enforcing compliance guidelines, reviewing medical documentation, processing insurance claims, billing, and posting payments. All these roles are vital to the health of a medical office and can be a pivotal step into a career in medical office administration.
Obtaining a certification as a medical coder can be a pivotal step in accessing lucrative job opportunities and establishing yourself as a legitimate medical coding professional.
What does a medical coder do?
Before diving right into the requirements to obtaining a medical coding certification, it’s important to understand what medical coders do. Medical Coders translate healthcare visits, diagnoses, and procedures into universally standardized codes for billing and data analysis. The primary role of a medical coder is to ensure the consistency and accuracy of medical records and the reimbursement processes.
For example, as a medical coder, you are tasked with reviewing the documentation of the treatment of a patient who recently suffered a heart attack. This would include verifying medical codes for any diagnostic tests, operations, medications, counseling, or any other additional services the patient received. These codes then play a necessary role for accurately billing the patient’s insurance provider and ensuring reimbursement for the life-saving care provided.
Though being a medical coder does not require direct patient care, they serve a vital purpose in the healthcare industry.
Why get a medical coding certification?
Making the investment in receiving a medical coding certification is advantageous for an aspiring medical coder for numerous reasons such as
- Credibility and professionalism
- Access to more job opportunities
- Potential for Higher Salaries
- Increased confidence in performing coding tasks accurately and efficiently
- Provides structured framework for continuous learning and professional development
- Ensures Compliance with industry standards, regulations, and best practices
Obtaining a medical coding certification not only solidifies credibility and competency but also can also expand access to a wider range of job prospects and pathways for career growth. Additionally, certified individuals are more likely to find themselves in higher-paying positions when compared to non-certified medical coders. Certification serves as validation of one’s expertise and proficiency in medical coding methodologies, ensuring conformity to industry protocols and regulations. With that being said, a medical coding certification can be a strategic move that will do nothing but elevate one’s career. Earning a medical coding certification is usually required and will significantly enhance your career opportunities and potentially lead to a higher salary.
How to get a medical coding certification
1. Research Medical Coding Certification Options
The first step to becoming a certified medical coder is exploring the different kinds of reputable certification programs available that will best suit your needs. Medical coding learning programs vary in suitability based on your level of experience. For example, our Certified Medical Coder (CMC) course is designed for experienced coders that have a minimum one year of work experience in outpatient medical coding. For inexperienced coders, we offer a Medical Coding Bundle which includes 6 foundation courses that would prepare someone for the Certified Medical Coder course - which is also included in the bundle. We encourage all candidates to take our Free Medical Coding Assessment to test their base knowledge and see which course is right for them.
Both our Certified Medical Coder and Certified Medical Coder Bundle include
- Nine 3-hour instructor-led sessions
- A physical course manual with workbook exercises
- Bonus online course: Medical Terminology
- Exam prep handbook with coding exercises, testing tips, and course updates where applicable
- Live and self paced options
- Practice exam with answer key
- One on one sessions with instructors
- Proctored certification exam which can be scheduled up to a year after course enrollment.
While our CMC program offers comprehensive structured education to prepare for a medical coding certification exam, there are similar offerings from other providers such as AAPC’s Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and AHIMA’s Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) certification programs.
Research each program option to pinpoint which one aligns best with your career ambitions and professional development objectives.
2. Choose a Program and Study for Your Exam
After selecting a program that fits within your budget and aligns with your career objectives and experience level, the next crucial step is to maintain focus and commence diligent study for the exam. Practice Management Institute's (PMI) Certified Medical Coder program provides expert instruction, comprehensive study materials, access to instructor support while you learn, and practice exams formulated to empower you with the knowledge and proficiency needed to pass the certification exam.
When you put in the work, practice, and leverage all the study resources provided in the Certified Medical Coder preparation course, you will have a greater chance of success on the exam. Those that do not pass the exam the first time, may arrange a second attempt with PMI. However, other programs my vary.
3. Achieving Certification and Advancing Your Career
Once you pass the exam, you are officially a certified medical coder and are ready to continue advancing your career. If you’ve never held a job in medical coding before, your certification validates your expertise and opens doors to roles in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and more. If you had or already have a medical coding position, acquiring certification significantly enhances your marketability and offers the chance to enhance your earning capacity.
Once you earn your certification, it is important to note that continuing education is required to stay certified. Certified Medical Coders must complete 12 Continuing Education (CEUs) per year to keep their certification. CEUs can be earned by participating in webinars, courses, and other events. View our guide to earning CEUs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it required to be certified in order to be a medical coder?
No, being certified isn’t a requirement in order to work as a medical coder. However, certification is required by some employers and it can greatly enhance one’s standing and earning potential in the medical coding profession.
How long does it take to obtain a medical coding certification?
The amount of time it takes to finish a medical coding certification program varies depending on the program, but on average it ranges from several months to a year. Factors like previous experience, program delivery method (whether it’s conducted online or in a traditional classroom setting), and study intensity can impact the length of time it takes to complete the certification.
How much does it cost to get certified?
The cost for a medical coding certification program varies anywhere from $1300-$7000 depending on your needs and the provider you choose. Practice Management Institute offers competitive pricing, with our Certified Medical Coder course priced at $1375 for seasoned coders and our Certified Medical Coder Bundle, catering to beginners, at $1995.
Practice Management Institute’s Certified Medical Coder course is a comprehensive course for candidates of any skill level that want to pursue medical coding certification. It includes supplemental modules – self-paced courses that cover the basics of Medical Terminology for Coders and the Principles of Coding.
The Medical Coding Bundle is PMI’s most comprehensive series of courses for beginners that aspire to earn coding certification. The Medical Coding Bundle is newly recorded for 2024 and includes 45 hours of narrated instruction, physical course manual, workbook exercises, access to instructor support, and guided exam preparation.
Learn more:
Take the online Medical Coding Assessment
Review financial options
Submit a question: info@pmiMD.com