What is a CCS or CCS-P?
A Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) is a medical coding professional who is highly skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, generally in a hospital setting. The CCS-P credential is for an equivalent coding practitioner who specializes in physician-based settings, such as physician offices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, or specialty centers. CCS and CCS-P coders review patients' records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure. They possess expertise in the ICD-9-CM and CPT coding systems and are knowledgeable about medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology. Certified Coding Specialists work in wide variety of facilities and institutions, such as hospitals, medical providers, research institutions, and public health agencies.

Why is the CCS or CCS-P Certification Important?
Most employers value CCS/CCS-P certification when looking at job candidates. Coding accuracy is highly important to healthcare organizations, and has an impact on revenues and describing health outcomes. In fact, certification has become an implicit industry standard. Accordingly, the CCS/CCS-P credentials demonstrate a practitioner's tested data quality and integrity skills, and mastery of coding proficiency. The CCS/CCS-P credentials can provide a competitive advantage when seeking a new job, career advancement, and salary increase. Professionals experienced in coding inpatient and outpatient records should consider obtaining this certification. To pursue this certification, one should have at least three years of professional coding experience. AHIMA's Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management (CCHIIM) oversees testing and certification.

RHIT or CCS Certification?
Both the RHIT and CCS/CCS-P certifications are offered by AHIMA. The CCS certification shows that you are a master of medical coding. The RHIT certification will enable you to move beyond coding and into other health information jobs. For those struggling to decide on which of the two certifications to pursue first, educators, coding professionals, and AHIMA strongly recommend that candidates pursue the RHIT certification first. By completing a CAHIIM accredited HIT program, candidates will be eligible to sit for the RHIT exam. However, to sit for the more demanding CCS exam, candidates should have atleast three years of on-the-job experience.

How Do I Get the CCS or CCS-P Certification?
The CCS or CCS-P credential is not for entry level coders. Although there is no education requirement other than a high school diploma or equivalent, these professionals have typically completed a coding education program and mastered coding through on-the-job experience. AHIMA strongly recommends completing at least three years of experience prior to sitting for the credentialing exam.

Career Advancement and Salary Potential
Medical Coding provides opportunities for career advancement and increased salary potential. Coders can advance and broaden their careers by meeting additional education, experience, and certification requirements.
>> Read Guide on Certification (pdf)

Career Outlook for Medical Coders
The future for skilled medical coders is excellent. There are two major economic forces that cannot be ignored that will push the need for medical care -- the ARRA stimulus plan passed by Congress in 2009 is pushing the healthcare industry to become more data driven and the growing senior population in the US will require more healthcare services. Both will fuel the increase in demand for qualified professional medical coders. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a shortage of more than 50,000 qualified medical coding and HIM workers by 2015.

Online Schools offering Medical Coding, Medical Billing

Medical Coding - Certificate *
Kaplan's AHIMA approved Medical Coding Certificate program can be completed in just 12 months and is designed to help students examine and understand health care delivery systems, medical health care information terminologies, and classification systems for diseases. They will learn to abstract clinical information from a variety of medical records and assign appropriate diagnostic and procedural codes to patient records. Students will also learn to utilize computer software to categorize patients into one of several hundred "diagnosis-related groups" (DRG).

The Medical Coding Certificate program is approved as a Comprehensive Coding Program by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professionals. Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam.

• Medical Billing - Certificate

Medical Reimbursement and Coding - Associate of Applied Science
Hospital Track or Physician Track
The Medical Reimbursement and Coding (MRC) Program prepares students to sit for the national coding exams, or begin working in the coding and billing field. This unique program is formatted to specifically address, through core courses, a means to facilitate uniformity of terms, the structure and organization of the body systems, common disease processes, and common pharmacological treatments. The core courses provide students with a foundation on which they will complete the coding portion of this comprehensive program. After completing the mandatory core courses, students will have a choice of studying for Physician coding or Hospital/inpatient coding. While some coding professionals choose one type of coding based on their own interest and style, many coders are cross-credentialed and able to work in both arenas. The MRC Program prepares students with the information needed to choose one or both coding paths. Students will study and practice the skills that will help them gain national coding certification from either The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The comprehensive nature of the MRC Program fulfills all hourly criteria for both AHIMA and AAPC national certifying bodies. Students who successfully complete the MRC Program will be equipped to participate in the field of medical coding and reimbursement.

Medical Reimbursement and Coding (Physician Track) - Certificate
Get on track for an exciting career in medical coding by taking the Certificate in Medical Reimbursement & Coding. This inclusive program will cover everything you need to know to be prepared to gain national coding certification from either the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Students in this program learn medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, and coding methods starting from an introductory level up to advanced levels in either the physician or hospital track. Students who complete and pass this certificate program can articulate these courses for transfer credit upon being accepted into a Bryant & Stratton College degree program.

Medical Reimbursement - Certificate
Prepare for a career in the growing healthcare industry by training to be a medical biller. The Certificate in Medical Reimbursement prepares students to take the national billing certification from the American Billing Association (AMBA). Students of this program take courses that cover medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, and billing and coding methods on both a basic and an advanced level. Students who complete and pass this certificate program can articulate these courses for transfer credit upon being accepted into a Bryant & Stratton College degree program.

Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Associate of Science *
This AHIMA approved Associate of Science in Medical Billing and Insurance Coding degree program provides the student with a thorough understanding of the content of the medical record as well as extensive training in anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and medical terminology. This program will provide the student with the knowledge and understanding to analyze medical records and assign codes to classify diagnoses and procedures while applying the principles of professional and ethical conduct. The program will prepare the student for an entry-level position as a medical coder in a hospital, clinic, or other health care facility. Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate exam.

Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Diploma *
The goal of the AHIMA approved Diploma in Medical billing and Insurance program is to provide the student with a thorough understanding of the content of the medical record as well as extensive training in anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and medical terminology. This program will provide the student with the knowledge and understanding to analyze medical records and assign codes to classify diagnoses and procedures while applying the principles of professional and ethical conduct. The program will prepare the student for an entry-level position as a medical coder in a hospital, clinic, or other health care facility. Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate exam.

Medical Billing and Coding - Associate of Science
This degree program can help students develop the capabilities needed to explore career opportunities throughout the growing health care industry. In the program, the foundations of medical billing and coding are addressed in courses covering coding, medical terminology, disease processes, health care organizations and management. Graduates can gain concepts and skills that provide the ability to be immediately productive in both public and private health organizations.

Medical Billing and Coding - Associate of Applied Science
This comprehensive curriculum covers the technical aspects of the insurance industry, computer technology, federal and state regulations, coding techniques for doctors’ offices and hospitals, basic medical office administration and offers extensive practice in preparing medical claims. This 21-month program includes subjects such as Pharmacology, Computerized Billing, Law and Ethics of Health Information Management and more. Graduates will have a solid knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and the business aspects of the billing and coding field. The program will also prepare graduates for industry recognized certifications such as the CCA (Certified Coding Associate) and after a recommended three years of field experience, the CCS (Certified Coding Specialist).

Medical Coding and Billing - AABA
The AABA degree program with a concentration in Medical Coding and Billing features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with real-world experience in the field.

Health Information Technology - Applied Associate of Science
Rasmussen's Health Information Technology AAS Degree program is accredited by CAHIIM and will prepare students to take the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) examination to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Program topics include: basic, intermediate, and advanced ICD-9-CM coding, ambulatory care coding, pathology, health information technologies, and more.

Health Information Technology - Associate of Science
DeVry's CAHIIM accredited Health Information Technology program prepares graduates to work with applications systems and manage electronic health information databases. Graduates of this program will be prepared to take the RHIT certification exam.

Campus Schools offering Medical Coding, Medical Billing

• Medical Billing & Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing & Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing & Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Biller (Anaheim, Montclair, Riverside, San Diego, San Marcos)
• Advanced Medical Coder (Montclair, Riverside)

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Degree

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Certificate

• Health Insurance Billing & Coding - AS Degree (Brandon, Clearwater)
• Health Insurance Billing & Coding - Diploma (Brandon, Clearwater, Hialeah, Lauderdale Lakes, Miami, Pembroke Pines, W. Palm Beach )

• Medical insurance Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma, AAS Degree

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Coding - Diploma
• Medical Coding / Hospital - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

• Medical Administration / Billing and Coding

• Medical Billing & Insurance Coding - AS Degree, Diploma

• Medical Coding - Certificate
• Medical Coding and Billing - Master Certificate

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Health Claims Specialist - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing & Insurance Coding - AS Degree, Diploma *

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma, AAS Degree

• Medical Insurance and Coding Administration - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Administration / Billing and Coding

• Medical Billing and Coding - Degree

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Claims and Billing Specialist - Diploma

• Advanced Medical Coder / Biller - Degree
• Health Claims Examiner / Medical Biller - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma