One of the promising careers in the medical industry is that of medical billing and coding professional. However, before you can legitimately practice this profession, you have to get a medical billing and coding certification. The future of this career is bright because every year, the government and the health insurance industry are requiring more accurate and specific diagnoses and treatments of patients.

You can obtain the medical billing and coding certification in several ways. But before you choose any institution that offers these programs, you must be sure that they have high standards of instructions and are fully accredited by the government and medical institutions. This will ensure that your efforts will produce results and will not just go to waste.

Medical Billing and Coding Certification Overview

Essentially, the medical billing and coding certification is your proof that you have undergone the necessary education and training required to accurately code and bill patients’ diagnosis and treatments. These codes are used by doctors and health insurance companies to properly identify the services done to a patient and accurately assess or bill the amount of services that should be paid to the medical provider. There are no standard ways of instructions in this field, but most medical employers such as hospitals, clinics, and medical centers are looking for those who are certified by their accredited educational institutions.

How to Obtain Certification

There are four ways you can be certified. Your present level of education will be a factor in choosing the most effective way to obtain the medical billing and coding certification. The following are some of the ways to acquire certification to help you decide which one will be the best course for you to take.

1. Take a BA program
One option is to enroll in a Bachelor of Arts course on health information and management. Statistics coming from an AAPC survey show medical coders and billers possessing BA degrees earn about $51,389 annually. This is higher than those who only have acquired technical school degrees.

2. Take a study course leading to a medical billing diploma
This is the most affordable way of getting certified. It is a six-month course and only requires a high school education to enroll. The course will only cost you a few hundred dollars. You can take them in community colleges, medical billing schools and online.

3. Take a two-year associate program
These programs provide more in-depth coding and billing education and training. It is more expensive than the first option, but it is a better investment of your time and money. You may have to spend a few thousand dollars but it will be worth it because medical associations like AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) only accept those who have associate degrees for certification.

4. Take an online course
Online courses leading to bachelor and associate degrees for medical billing and coding are also available online. These courses are more convenient to take since you can do it on your own time. This is also a less expensive way of obtaining medical billing and coding certification compared to those being offered by educational institutions.

All are good ways help you achieve your goals and jump start your new career as medical coder and biller.