Coding Specialist, Certificate

Certificate—41 credit hours

Curriculum Code 1431

This program prepares students to become medical coding specialists and gain a working knowledge of diagnosis and procedure coding systems. Medical coders classify diagnoses and procedures into numerical format to be used for reimbursement, data quality and medical research. Coders develop a broad base of knowledge to enable the application of coding theory using medical terminology, disease process, surgical procedures, and pharmacology principles. Graduates may seek employment as coders, insurance billers, and reimbursement specialists. After completion of the certificate, students may choose to continue their education and earn the A.A.S. in Health Information Technology. All coding certificate courses are applicable toward the A.A.S. degree.

Program Approval

The Coding Specialist curriculum meets the basic requirements prescribed by the American Health Information Management Association and has been approved as a comprehensive coding program by the Professional Certificate Approval Program Council. Graduates may elect to take a credentialing exam which is administered by the American Health Information Management Association to become a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or Certified Coding Specialist—Physician Based (CCS-P).

Graduation Requirements:

• Students must earn a minimum grade of "C" in each required career course (theory and clinical)
• Any career course over four years old must be repeated
• Students must complete program within four years of receiving credit in MRT-111 (formal beginning of Coding Specialist program)
• MRT-110 and BIO-115 (or BIO-180 and BIO-181) must have been passed with a minimum grade of "C" within the last five years

Required Career Courses

41 credit hours as follows:

BIO-115	Anatomy and Physiology	5
IMS-115	Microsoft Office I	3
MRT-110	Medical Terminology	3
MRT-111	Health Information Management	3
MRT-113	Coding Professional Practice	4
MRT-119	Insurance Reimbursement Procedures	2
MRT-123	EHR and Practice Management	3
MRT-125	Pathophysiology and Pharmacology	3
MRT-131	CPT/HCPCS Level II	4
MRT-132	ICD-10-CM	4
MRT-133	ICD-10-PCS	4
MRT-212	Medical Reimbursement Systems	3

Suggested Schedule

Semester 1 (6 credit hours)

IMS-115	Microsoft Office I	3
MRT-110	Medical Terminology	3

Semester 2 (12 credit hours)

BIO-115	Anatomy and Physiology	5
MRT-111	Health Information Management	3
MRT-131	CPT/HCPCS Level II	4

Semester 3 (9 credit hours)

MRT-119	Insurance Reimbursement Procedures	2
MRT-125	Pathophysiology and Pharmacology	3
MRT-132	ICD-10-CM	4

Semester 4 (10 credit hours)

MRT-123	EHR and Practice Management	3
MRT-133	ICD-10-PCS	4
MRT-212	Medical Reimbursement Systems	3

Semester 5 (4 credit hours)

MRT-113

Coding Professional Practice

4

Gainful Employment Disclosures – 2019

Program Name: Coding Specialist - Certificate
This program is designed to be completed in 20 months.
This program will cost $8,720 if completed within normal time.  There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed.

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with N/A* of debt.
*Fewer than 10 students completed this program within normal time. This number has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of the students.

Program meets licensure requirements in the following States: Illinois
Program qualifies students to sit for licensure exam in the following States: Illinois
For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/