Category: 10 Reasons to Start a Career in Medical Coding

5 Things You Will Learn in Our Medical Billing and Coding School

Medical Billing and Coding School



Hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other medical companies are having trouble finding enough medical coding and billing professionals to fill their job vacancies. Medical billers and coders are in high demand, but you need to be certified to qualify for these jobs. That’s where Allied Prep comes in.
Our 16-week courses can give you all the skills you need to obtain your certification and step into an entry level medical billing or coding job. Here are five things you’ll learn about in our in-class and online programs:
1. Basic anatomy and types of medical procedures
To be successful as a medical biller or coder, you need to understand what doctors and nurses are referring to when they talk about specific medical procedures. The first step to being a great coder is understanding what the most common medical procedures and terms mean.
2. Medical codes
The most important job of a medical coder is translating the procedures written down by doctors and nurses into the appropriate medical codes. This helps keep records straight, keeps patients safe, and simplifies the billing process. Whether you’re interested in medical billing school or medical coding school, you will learn the basic codes.
3. How to find information you need
No one can memorize every single medical code. Therefore, it’s important for medical coders to be able to look up the correct codes for more obscure procedures quickly and correctly. This research skill will make your job as a medical biller or coder much easier.
4. How medical offices run
You’ve probably been to the doctor many times in your life, but you may have never been in a medical billing office. Beyond coding, our program will help you understand how medical insurance works, the claims process, and how to communicate with doctors and insurance providers. In other words, we’ll set you up with the skills you need to do the full job, not just the coding part.
5. How to pass your AAPC exam
You can’t become a medical biller or a medical coder if you don’t pass your certification exam. That’s why we make the exam a big part of the course. You’ll have multiple opportunities to take practice exams, learn the question format, and get your questions answered by experienced instructors. With so much practice, you should be fully prepared to pass your exam the first time around.
Learn more about our medical billing and medical coding programs by contacting our helpful staff today!

What to Look for in a Medical Billing and Coding Program

Medical Billing and Coding School


Are you looking to start a new career in medical billing or medical coding? If so, you’re probably wondering what you need to do first. If you do a little research, you’ll find that in order to get a job as medical coding or billing professional, you’ll need to get certified. And, the only way to do that is by passing what is known as the AAPC exam.
Thankfully, there are many programs you can choose from and some are even taught online. However, before you invest any money into a program, we suggest you look for the following:
1. How is the Program Taught?
You’ll want to know is if the program is taught exclusively in a classroom or if you can take it online. Different learning environments can be a good thing as each student is unique. Also, consider who is teaching the program. Is it just an instructor that has general knowledge or an expert in the industry? At Allied Prep, our medical billing program and medical coding program is led by teachers who have years of practical experience in the industry students are studying. This means our students learn from actual professionals who are more than equipped to answer their questions, teach them what they need to know, and impart the knowledge they need to pass their certification exams.
2. How Long has the School Been Around?
You want to work with a school that has a long-standing reputation and that has been around for a long time. This means the school has a structure that students appreciate and is credible. You’ll also want to see what the school’s students have to say. Take a look at the school’s website for testimonials or even ask to speak with the school’s administration.
3. Compare Costs
Whenever you are about to earn a professional certification, there is an investment involved. You’ll want to know exactly how much you’ll be spending. Furthermore, you’ll want to know if the school offers financial aid options which may make your certification more affordable. For example, at Allied Prep, we offer our students a pay as you learn plan so they are not overwhelmed by the expense of their education.
4. What is the School’s Mission?
It’s one thing to help students get certified, it’s another to do everything possible to ensure they are successful. At Allied Prep, we always put our students first and have done so for over 20 years. We want them to leave our school fully prepared so they can enter into exciting new careers with confidence.

5 Reasons Why You Should Choose Allied Prep

Professional Certification School


When it comes to choosing a school for medical billing, medical coding, pharmacy technician, IT support, or CPMA certification, we know there are many options to choose from. However, we believe our institution stands apart from the others for numerous reasons. Read on to learn more:
1. Our Courses are Convenient

At Allied Prep, we know that students appreciate flexibility when they are working toward their professional certifications. We also understand that no two students are the same. Some students learn better in a traditional classroom setting and others do better online where their curriculum is more self-paced. That is why we offer both in the classroom and online learning options for some of our programs.

2. Classes Led by Experts
Our classes are not just led by teachers, they are led by experts with years of relevant, real-world experience in the industries students are studying. Each of our teachers is highly skilled and prepared to give students the information they need to obtain their professional certifications in a short amount of time.
3. 20 Years of History
Allied Prep is not a new educational institution. We have been around for over 20 years and in that time, we have acquired an impeccable reputation. We’ve helped thousands of eager students step into rewarding, new careers.
4. We’ve Made Education Affordable
When students decide to further their education, a big obstacle is funding their courses. At Allied Prep, we understand this challenge and help our students overcome it by offering affordable financial aid options. Whether students want to pay for their classes with a credit card or want to pay as they learn, we are fully prepared to help them finance their education with minimal stress involved.
5. Putting Students First
Ever since we opened our doors, we have put our students first. We want every student to be successful and do all that we can to ensure that they get the education and training they need to start their new careers in little time.
If you’d like to learn more about what you can accomplish by enrolling at Allied Prep, contact our administration today! We’d be happy to discuss opportunities with you.

10 Reasons to Start a Career in Medical Coding

Career in Medical Coding


If you’re thinking about a career in medical coding, you probably have a lot of questions about the job itself and the benefits it might have. A medical coding career can be a doorway to a lot of great opportunities within the healthcare industry. Getting started requires a certificate in medical coding, but you can learn medical coding online through schools like Allied Prep.

Here are the top ten reasons to consider a career in medical coding:

1. Medical coders are in demand

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, medical coders are in high demand. The number of positions for medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 15% between now and 2024. That’s much faster than other types of work.

2. Medical coders make good money

Depending upon where you live in your level of experience, you can make between $12 and $24 an hour as a medical coder, according to PayScale.com. Annually, that works out to up to $50,000 a year.

3. Getting started only requires a certificate

Medical coding is a skilled position, but you don’t have to go to a four-year college in order to get started in this field. Instead, you can complete a medical coder certification course in order to gain the knowledge necessary to pass the AACP — the nationally recognized medical coding certification exam.

4. You can learn medical coding quickly

At Allied Prep, our medical coding program is only 18 weeks long. That means that in just a few months you could be starting a new career as a medical coder.

5. You can learn medical coding online or in classrooms

Allied Prep offers both options. Both the online course in the in-class option take 18 weeks to complete and should leave you fully prepared to pass your medical coding certification exam.

6. Medical coders work regular, stable hours

The vast majority of medical coders work 40-hour work weeks. Even in an entry-level position, you can expect to work from 9 to 5, which is ideal for many people, especially people with families.

7. There opportunities to earn overtime

Depending on where you work, you could have a lot of opportunities to work overtime. Your overtime rate, according to PayScale.com, could be anywhere from $15 to $36 an hour.

8. You can work anywhere in the country

The AACP certification is nationally recognized. That means that you could become a medical coder anywhere in the country. Medical coders are needed all over. They can work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and private healthcare facilities.

9. Medical coding is a great steppingstone into other healthcare careers

As a medical coder, you’ll work with people who handle the operation and management of healthcare facilities. Your experience as a coder could help you move up into other types of healthcare management.

10. You’ll make a positive difference

Medical coders are truly an integral part of the healthcare system. You’ll be responsible for maintaining patient records and data, coding each patient’s diagnosis, handle insurance issues, and more. This back office functions are important and, with your help, healthcare professionals will have practices that run smoother.

Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a medical coder by contacting Allied Prep today.