Medical Billing and Coding Education in Minnesota - MN

Earning Medical Billing and Coding Certification in Minnesota

Although Minnesota does not have a formal licensing process for medical billing and coding professionals, there are several options for earning credentials that increase credibility and improve the workplace for specialists in this field.  This would include a Minnesota medical billing certificate, coding certificate, or a comprehensive medical billing and coding certification in Minnesota. As the field expands and educational options increase, most states will begin to certify their own specialists in billing and coding, but at the moment there are two ways to become certified on the national level.

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Billing and coding specialists who have a high school diploma and have either completed an NHA-approved training program or a full year of experience in the field can apply to become a Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) through the NHA.

To achieve the CBCS credential in Minnesota, professionals must:

1. Have a high school diploma
2. Complete an NHA-approved training program

- OR -

Have one (1) full year of experience in the field.

3. Take the CBCS examination at an approved NHA delivery site in Minnesota. The exam fee is $105.

Recertification of a CBCS credential in Minnesota must take place every two (2) years. To recertify through the NHA, professionals must complete 10 CEUs. These CEUs can be submitted annually, and each time an applicant completes five (5) CEUs, they are sent a “CREDITS COMPLETED�? sticker to adhere to their certification ID card. The processing of CEUs and recertification costs $79.50/year or $159 total.

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

For students who prefer to get a college degree in health information, the AHIMA offers two credentialing options for billing and coding specialists: the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS). These two options require graduation from a degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIME). The CCS credential was developed for specialists who already have a background in the field, while the CCA credential is available for specialists with limited job experience.

To become a CCS or CCA in Minnesota, specialists must take a two-part exam consisting of:

1. 60 multiple-choice questions
2. 180 medical care records that must be processed in four (4) hours.

The exam fee for CCAs who are members of AHIMA is $199. The fee for nonmembers is $299. The exam fee for member CCSs is $299, and the fee for nonmembers is $399. Annual membership in AHIMA is $165 for active status and $35 for students.
CCS and CCA certification is good for two (2) years, and specialists certified through AHIMA must complete 10 CEUs of continuing education during that time. These CEUs must be submitted to the AHIMA for approval, and the form for this can be found at www.ahima.org/certification.  The recertification fee for both credentials is $50.