Education

Learn what it takes to become a Medical Coder. Explore detailed listings of online Medical Coding schools to find the one that best meets your needs.

Careers

Interested in establishing a prosperous career in medical coding? Discover the tools, skills, positions, and specializations available.

Jobs

Educate yourself about what a Medical Coder actually does. Learn about the day to day life of a Medical Coder and the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to succeed in the field of Medical Coding.

Salary

Salary information and future outlook for medical coding professionals may range by region and state by state. Find information on the highs, lows, and averages of medical coder salaries.

Online Medical Coding Training

What is medical coding?

Medical coding involves taking descriptions of procedures and diagnoses from medical records and translating them into universal medical codes for the purposes of tracking, billing, and analysis.

What should I look for in an online medical coding school?

The best online medical coding schools should either possess regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online medical coding schools based on:

  • The school’s name and status
  • The school’s history
  • Teacher credentials
  • Alumni network
In choosing the best online medical coding school for you, you should consider the following factors:

  • Admission requirements
  • Residency requirements
  • Class and teaching style
  • Testing methods used
  • Course content and presentation
  • Program length
  • Class size
  • Student-teacher interaction
  • Technology use
  • Tuition and financial aid
  • Transferability of credits
  • Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online medical coding programs are available?

The following levels of medical coding degree online programs are available:

  • Online Medical Coding Certificate Programs
  • Online Associates in Medical Coding
  • Online Bachelor in Medical Coding
  • Online Masters in Medical Coding
  • Online PhD in Medical Coding

How long does it take to get an online medical coding degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online medical coding degree depends on the level of medical coding degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:

  • Online Medical Coding Certification Programs – 6 months to 1 year
  • Online Medical Coding Associates Degree – 2 years
  • Online Medical Coding Bachelor Degree – 4 years
  • Online Medical Coding Masters – 2 years
  • Online Medical Coding PhD – 2 to 5 years

What are some examples of online medical coding courses?

Coursework varies from one accredited online medical coding school to the next, but these are some of the most popular online medical coding degree courses:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
    This online medical coding degree program course gives students a functional knowledge of the human body as it relates to the terms they will come across while working in the profession.
  • Medical Terminology
    In this top online medical coding degree course, students learn commonly used medical terms and their meanings. Special focus is given to the etymological makeup and history of the terms.
  • Medical Billing and Reimbursement
    Most accredited online medical coding schools offer extensive courses in medical billing and reimbursement because it is an essential element of medical coding. This course teaches students how medical codes relate to the billing of insurance, welfare, and private payers.
  • Medical Coding Theory
    In this course, special emphasis is placed on the role of those in the medical coding profession. The course explains the importance of online medical coding certification programs and their graduates, including where they fit into the overall health care picture.
  • Ethical Issues in Health Care
    Because medical coders potentially have access to sensitive information, this course teaches the importance of maintaining a high level of integrity on the job. This and other online medical coding courses emphasize the role of medical coders in the healthcare establishment.

What areas of medical coding specialization are available?

Popular online medical coding degrees often offer a variety of specializations such as:

  • Hospital Coding
  • Medicare/Medicaid/Tricare Coding
  • Payer-Related Coding
  • Cancer Registry
  • General Medical Coding
  • Public Health Coding
  • Emergency Department Coding
  • Cardiac Coding
  • Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Coding
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Coding

What can I do with a medical coding degree?

Although accredited online medical coding degrees are rather narrow in the skills set and training they offer, there is room to learn different jobs within the scope of the medical coding major. Some of the medical coding jobs held by graduates with top online medical coding degrees are:

  • Hospital Coder
  • Physician's Office Medical Coder
  • Freelance Medical Coder
  • Cancer Registrar
  • Long-Term Care Facility Medical Information Technician

What is a medical coder?

A medical coder is a technician who organizes, manages and quality-checks the medical information of patients. Graduates of popular online medical coding school programs assign codes to every action in a patient's chart - whether that be an office visit, hospital stay or battery of tests - for the purposes of billing.

What does a medical coder do?

Using written charts, electronic health records and vocal records from physicians, graduates of online medical coding training programs enter information on symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments into special software. The software assigns codes to each action; the codes are then used to bill Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance for whatever portion they cover. Medical coders may also be responsible for tracking outbreaks or other pertinent health data over a wide number of patients or span of time.

How much does a medical coder earn?

Graduates with the best online medical coding degrees can expect to earn an average yearly income of $33,880. The medical coding profession is expected to grow by 20 percent over the next decade, which is much faster than many other career fields. The projected growth is due to the increasing number of medical procedures and tests that will be developed and administered.

How do I become a medical coder?

While enrolling in a top online medical coding school is a good start toward working as a medical coder, graduates should think about taking one more step before working in this profession. After attending one of the available accredited online medical coding certificate programs, graduates should plan to earn coding credentials from the American Academy of Professional Coders. Earning these credentials is not required, however; simply earning the best online medical coding degree available is a very positive mark on a medical coder's resume.

view all

From the Blog

Working From Home, a Medical Coder’s Flexibility
Posted on February 1, 2011

If you have been a medical coder for any period of time, you know that despite the monotony of work, the career and be incredibly rewarding. Working with physicians to review, complete, and process medical claims is a lot more intriguing than what people outside of the industry might think. Each day on the job [...]

Read More »
Recent Posts
Infographics Resources

Additional Resources

  • Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers career information for medical records technicians and health information technicians. The site also includes authoritative and thorough information on job prospects and average salaries for anyone considering a degree or career in medical coding.

  • American Health Information Management Association

    The American Health Information Management Association is a professional organization for medical coders, and provides valuable information for those who are researching or considering the medical coding profession.

  • Medical Coder: An Overview

    This website is designed for those considering a position in the healthcare industry as a career, and provides pages dedicated to the overview, working conditions, preparation, and resources of medical coding. Prospective students can find useful information, and research other healthcare fields as well.

  • AAPC

    AAPC helps provide business certification for medical practices, such as a physician’s office or outpatient facility. AAPC helps uphold the standards of medical coding by providing training, certification, and employment opportunities.