Online Medical Billing and Coding Certification Prep
This career training program is delivered through a partnership with ed2go through Etown Edge. Become a Certified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist through a 100% online course that lets you choose the credential path that fits your career goals.
Become a Certified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
This course builds the working knowledge medical billing and coding specialists rely on every day — HIPAA compliance, official coding guidelines, and the rules third-party payers require before they'll reimburse a claim. Rather than locking you into one certification path, the course lets you choose the voucher that best fits your goals: the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) through AAPC, the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) through AHIMA, or the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) through NHA.
You'll finish with a Certification of Completion and be ready to sit for whichever exam you selected.
Enroll NowProgram Outcomes
What You'll Learn
- Medical terminology and the structures and functions of the human body needed to read clinical documentation accurately
- Common disorders and procedures associated with each body system
- Legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts central to the field, including HIPAA compliance and third-party payer guidelines for filing claims
- The major coding manuals: ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II
- How to code diagnoses, services, and procedures across every body system
- Core fundamentals of medical billing, coding, and terminology, including word parts and root structures
Job Outlook
Medical records specialists — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics category covering medical billing and coding work — earn a median annual wage of $50,250 as of May 2024. Employment in this field is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with roughly 14,200 openings a year nationally. Certified specialists consistently report higher earnings than their non-certified peers, based on industry salary survey data from organizations like AAPC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a medical biller and coder do?
Medical billers and coders process patient records and related insurance information — translating a patient's diagnosis and treatment into standardized codes, then submitting those codes to the insurer for payment. It's a role that directly determines how quickly and accurately a healthcare provider gets reimbursed.
Is there a difference between medical billing and medical coding?
Yes. Coders translate clinical documentation into standardized procedure and diagnosis codes. Billers take those codes and build the insurance claim around them. Many professionals in the field are cross-trained in both, which is exactly what this course covers.
What are the requirements for a medical billing and coding career?
Most entry-level roles require either a certificate and a passing score on one of the certification exams, or an associate degree in medical billing and coding. You'll also need a working understanding of HIPAA, since patient privacy compliance runs through nearly every part of the job.
How long does it take to become a medical biller or coder?
Timelines vary, but most people are job-ready within one to three years. A certificate-based path like this one can be completed in well under a year; an associate degree route typically takes closer to two to three years.
What's the difference between the CPC, CCA, and CBCS certifications?
All three demonstrate entry-level competency in medical billing and coding, but they come from different credentialing bodies and carry slightly different weight depending on the setting:
- CPC (AAPC) — widely considered the standard entry-level credential for physician/professional-fee coders.
- CCA (AHIMA) — an entry-level coding credential recognized across both physician practices and inpatient hospital settings.
- CBCS (NHA) — an entry-level billing and coding credential covering ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II.
Is medical billing and coding a good career?
It's a field with strong job security and real flexibility — much of the work can be done remotely, and demand is tied to healthcare utilization rather than any single employer or region, which makes it a relatively stable career path even during economic downturns.