2023-2024 Catalog

Medical 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.

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 General Education Courses

5 credit hours minimum as follows:

BIO-115Anatomy and Physiology

5

OR-

BIO-180Human Anatomy & Physiology I

4

AND-

BIO-181Human Anatomy & Physiology II

4

(Note: May take BIO-180 and BIO-181 instead of BIO-115)

Required Career Courses

36 credit hours as follows:

CIS-115Microsoft Office I

3

MRT-110Medical Terminology

3

MRT-111Health Information Management

3

MRT-113Coding Professional Practice

4

MRT-119Insurance Reimbursement Procedures

2

MRT-123EHR and Practice Management

3

MRT-125Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

3

MRT-131CPT/HCPCS Level II

4

MRT-132ICD-10-CM

4

MRT-133ICD-10-PCS

4

MRT-212Medical Reimbursement Systems

3

Suggested Schedule

Semester 1 (11 credit hours)

CIS-115Microsoft Office I

3

MRT-110Medical Terminology

3

BIO-115Anatomy and Physiology

5

(Note: May take BIO-180 and BIO-181 instead of BIO-115)

Semester 2 (10 credit hours)

MRT-111Health Information Management

3

MRT-125Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

3

MRT-131CPT/HCPCS Level II

4

Semester 3 (9 credit hours)

MRT-119Insurance Reimbursement Procedures

2

MRT-123EHR and Practice Management

3

MRT-132ICD-10-CM

4

Semester 4 (7 credit hours)

MRT-133ICD-10-PCS

4

MRT-212Medical Reimbursement Systems

3

Semester 5 (4 credit hours)

MRT-113Coding Professional Practice

4