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Medical Billing and Coding Training

Find Top Medical Billing and Coding Schools

What are the prerequisites for entering a medical billing & coding training program?

A high school diploma or equivalent is required to enter a medical billing and coding training program.  Entrance exams test for English proficiency and usually require the applicant to test into at least English 101.  Although there is no required high school coursework for entering one of these programs, medical billing and coding schools do show a preference to applicants who have a strong showing in biology, math, chemistry, health, and computer science.

What types of billing and coding training programs are available?

Medical billing and coding certification programs take between nine months and one year to compete and prepare students for entry-level billing and coding positions in hospitals and other medical facilities.

Associate’s programs are two years in length and tend to be the most popular option as it provides a comprehensive education with the option to apply earned credits towards a bachelor’s degree.

Bachelor’s programs are four years long and prepare students for the most career options by providing the most well-rounded and comprehensive education of its kind.  Billing and coding specialists with bachelor’s degrees typically hold managerial positions in health information management or health care administration jobs.

What will medical billing and coding training programs teach?

Medical billing and coding programs vary only slightly in what they cover with some providing classes that help develop office skills like keyboarding for students who haven’t yet mastered these skills.  For most programs, however, keyboarding skills are a prerequisite.  Most comprehensive programs would include the following courses:

Are internships available?

Internships are a standard part of most medical billing and coding programs. These short one to two week internships provide on the job experience and an excellent way to transition into a career. As openings permit, graduating students will have the opportunity to stay on with the facility that offered them the internship. An admissions counselor at one billing and coding school we spoke with suggested that students research the availability of internships in their area, as it is a great way to check local job prospects while also planting the seed for potential future employment.