Irrespective of the field, employers today want candidates with a strong educational background and practical work-related experience.
This couldn’t be truer for the medical coding career. Most employers prefer individuals who have earned a medical coding certification as it validates both professional know-how and skills proficiency. This is why certified medical coders enjoy a distinct competitive advantage in the job market.
According to a 2017 survey, medical coders certified by AAPC enjoyed a $1,626 higher annual salary than the average. If you’re a current or aspiring medical coder who’s planning to pursue a medical coding certification, you’re already a step closer to achieving success in this field.
In this post, we will discuss the main medical coding certification organizations in the U.S and their certification requirements.
Although there are several national-level organizations that offer recognized medical coding certification, the three most reputed organizations include:
1. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
This association offers aspirants a number of medical coding certifications such as Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist—Physician-based (CCS-P) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS).
Certification Requirement(s)& Recommendation(s):
| Certification | |
| CCA Exam | Requirements
· AHIMA membership · Application fee · High school diploma or an equivalent
Recommendation · 6-month experience at a healthcare facility · Attend an AHIMA-approved medical coding certification program
|
| Specialized CCS or CCS-P Exams | Recommendation
· 3-month practical medical coding experience at a physician-based facility · Coursework in physiology, anatomy etc.
|
2. American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
If you’re interested in earning a certification from this organization, there are a total of 4 certifications for you to choose from namely, Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Coder Hospital (CPC-H), Certified Professional Coder Payer (CPC-P) and Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC).
Certification Requirement(s):
AAPC requires applications to have an organization membership and exam fee. The organization recommends earning an associate degree. Those who do not possess a minimum of two years experience as a medical coder will be selected as an apprentice after passing the AAPC exam.
3. Board of Medical Specialty Coding and Compliance (BMSC)
There are three coding credentials offered by BMSC. These are:
- Specialty Coding Professional (SCP)
- Advanced Coding Specialist (ACS)
- Home Care Coding Specialist in Diagnosis (HCS-D)
Certification Requirement(s):
On top of paying a registration fee, BMSC only requires applicants to have a high school diploma or an equivalent in order to earn the above-mentioned certifications. The organization recommends gaining a 3-year coding experience in their chosen field of specialty.
To find out the details of any of the mentioned certifications, visit the official website of the respective organizations.
Become A Certified Medical Coder
It isn’t particularly difficult to earn a medical coding certification if you attend a refined and accredited medical coding school like Allied Prep Technical Institute. Our medical coding program is led by certified instructors who have practical experience in the field of medical coding.
We provide rigorous, 6-month long, online and on-campus medical coding, and medical billing medical auditor training and certification programs to expand students’ skillset and subject expertise.
Call us at 504-577-2066 or email at contact@alliedpreptech.com to know more.