How To Become A Medical Coder

Medical coders or medical coding specialists go through detailed information about patient injuries, diseases and procedures from medical records and documents provided by doctors and other healthcare providers. They then assign codes for the information based on an official, universally used coding system.

These medical codes are often used to reimburse claims by hospitals and their physicians for insurance purposes. Having at least an associate’s degree and a credential in coding are preferred qualifications for this profession. Follow these steps to become a medical coder.

1) Get a high school diploma. Courses in high school algebra, biology, chemistry, typing, and other computer skills can be helpful in your medical coding career.

2) Get an associate’s degree. This may take 2 years of study at a college or university. Consider getting a degree in health information technology or something similar.

To get credentialed as a medical coding specialist, you should attend a college (university) that has accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
You can also attend a school that has been approved by a foreign organization that has a reciprocity agreement with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Recommended subjects to study include anatomy, physiology, healthcare reimbursement, classification and coding systems for medical or clinical purposes, and database security and management.

3) Get a Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) credential. Employers usually prefer to hire medical coders with this certification.

Visit the AHIMA website. Read the Candidate Guide for the RHIT credential’s exam, which is administered by AHIMA.
Apply online or send a paper application to take the RHIT credential’s exam. Submit an official college or university transcript if taking the exam for the first time. You may also need to provide other paperwork, such as a resume.
Pay the exam fee. Read your authorization to test (ATT) form. Schedule when to take the exam.
Pass the written test given by AHIMA.

4) Get a coding credential in a specialized field if desired. 2 organizations that offer credentials in specialty areas of coding are the Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC) and the Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCS).

You might have to join an organization that offers a coding credential(s), such as PAHCS, before you can take their exam.

5) Take continuing education classes offered in your area. This may be a condition to maintain your credential.

It is also important to remain up-to-date with current technology as the practice of keeping medical records in electronic form becomes more widespread. Electronic health records (EHR) can require their own type of software that you would need to know how to use.

6) Build your coding experience by working at a hospital, dental office, or other medical setting. Other possible places to work as a medical coding specialist are consulting firms or a coding and billing service.

Getting a certain amount of work experience may be a requirement to maintain your credential.
Consider taking advantage of any on-the-job training offered in your workplace.

7) Go through re-certification as necessary to keep any earned credentials.

Tips:

Get a bachelor’s degree or higher to help advance your medical coding career. You may also be able to get an advanced credential in your specialty.
Vocational or adult education schools in your area may also offer classes to begin a career in medical coding.
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) also gives credentials for medical coders.
Specialty areas you can get a credential for include Anesthesiology, Cardiology, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, and Urology.
You can also get a credential to be a Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) from the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA).

Things You’ll Need: