If you’re looking into starting a career in medical billing and coding, you might be happy to hear that it’s entirely possible to learn everything you need to know without dealing with the hassle of in-person classes.
That’s because there are plenty of medical billing and coding online courses that are reputable, affordable, and effective. This guide will help you decide if getting your medical billing and coding certification online might be the right choice for your career.
Types of Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs
The first thing to know is that not all online medical billing and coding courses are the same. One of the most important factors to pay attention to is the promised outcome of the course:
- Degree: You won’t usually need a bachelor’s degree for medical billing and coding, but many programs offer associate degrees after two years of schooling.
- Certificate: Looking to go into your new career as soon as possible? Completing a program that prepares you for a medical billing and coding certification exam, like the ones offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcareers Association (NHA), only takes a few months.
- Skills: Although you might wonder why you’d choose a program that’ll teach you about billing and coding without giving you a degree or certification, you can maximize your opportunities by acquiring those skills as part of a program that also prepares you for similar roles, like a medical administrative assistant.
Most Common Medical Billing and Coding Online Courses
Most medical billing and coding courses, whether online or in-person, will cover at least some of the following topics.
CPT Codes & How to Use Them
You can’t become a medical biller or coder without understanding what Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are and how to use them.
CPT codes are created by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to categorize each type of healthcare service a doctor or clinic might provide to a patient. These standardized codes help healthcare administrators coordinate with clinicians and insurers with minimal confusion, making sure patients get coverage for the care they need.
Some programs that cover CPT codes include Southern New Hampshire University Online Medical Billing and Coding Course and the California Online Medical Billing & Coding Program offered by CALRegional.
You should also note that Stepful’s Medical Administrative Assistant Program will teach you how to handle CPT codes in addition to many other medical administrative assistant skills.
Managing Electronic Health Records
Knowing how to handle CPT codes is key to another common responsibility for medical receptionists, medical office assistants, and medical billers and coders: keeping patients’ records accurate and up-to-date.
Hospitals and clinics use electronic health records (EHR) to keep track of patients’ health histories and provide competent care. Managing these records requires prospective medical billers and coders to know how to use the correct CPT codes to indicate any services a particular patient has been provided, as well as maintain familiarity with EHR software as it develops.
Any medical billing and coding program worth the tuition will ensure you graduate with a thorough understanding of electronic health records. Some examples include Kilgore College’s online Medical Coding program and the Online Medical Billing and Coding Course offered by Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City.
Understanding Medical Terminology
You won’t be able to help hospitals and clinicians track patient care if you don’t understand the medical terminology used to describe the healthcare services they provide.
That’s why nearly every medical billing and coding course covers human anatomy and medical terminology, equipping you with the knowledge you’ll need to not only choose the right CPT codes for each procedure, but also communicate with clinicians, patients, and insurers about specific healthcare services.
Examples of programs that teach medical terminology include the Medical Billing & Coding Specialist program at Ohio State Career Training Center and the Online Medical Billing Course from the U.S. Career Institute, but you can assume that any reputable medical billing and coding course will address this important topic (or require that you learn a bit about it before you start).
What to Expect from Medical Billing and Coding Courses
Aside from the curriculum, what can you reasonably expect when you’re enrolling in an online course for medical billing and coding?
First off, you should plan to be taking classes for anywhere from a few weeks to two years, depending on the program you choose. Shorter courses are the fastest way to set yourself up to pass one of the certification exams and start working as soon as possible, while longer courses are more likely to award a degree you can use for other healthcare administrative positions if billing and coding doesn’t work out.
Another factor that can vary from program to program is how long it takes graduates to find a job. Some programs will help you find a full-time role after you graduate, while others only offer to guide you through the process of getting certified. You can expect to pay a little more for a program that includes job search support, but your investment is more likely to pay off.
No matter how long it takes to finish your courses and get hired, you’ll likely end up working in one of a few types of environments:
- Hospitals and clinics: From the largest health systems to the smallest private practices, nearly every healthcare institution relies on medical billers and coders to keep their operations running smoothly.
- Government agencies: Medicare, Medicaid, and other governmental bodies often hire medical billers and coders to audit records and look for fraud.
- Insurance companies: Just as healthcare providers need billers to submit codes, insurance companies need professionals to receive and interpret those codes and process claims accurately.
How to Choose the Right Billing and Coding Course for You
Before you commit to attending a medical billing and coding course online or in person, you may want to take a moment to consider whether you have the right temperament to be a good fit for the role.
You’ll know you’d make a good biller or coder if you tend to be extremely organized, detail-oriented, and willing to go the extra mile to investigate any discrepancies you uncover, no matter how small. It also helps if you have a knack for navigating data management systems and other complicated software programs.
Once you’re set on pursuing a career in billing and coding, it’s time to decide on a particular training program. Here are a few factors you’d be wise to consider:
- Lifestyle preferences: Think through your current obligations before deciding whether you’ll need the flexibility of online classes or the structure of an in-person program.
- Target salary: You’ll have a better chance of locking down a high-salary role if you choose a program that’ll award you a degree or certificate.
- Long-term career goals: Medical billing and coding is a great skill to have in your arsenal, but you may want to choose a program that includes additional training if you hope to maximize your chances of upward mobility in your new career.
As the use of AI becomes more widespread, the availability of billing, coding, and other information management roles is starting to decline. If you want to future-proof your career in healthcare administration, your best bet is to learn medical billing and coding in addition to other relevant skills.
Luckily, Stepful’s 100% online three-month Medical Receptionist and Medical Office Assistant programs both include a deep dive into medical billing and coding, as well as other essential skills you’ll need to master to be eligible for more roles in healthcare administration.
