Completing the classes, however, will not automatically earn you an AHIMA certification. Credits can be transferred to participating learning institutions. These subjects were hand-selected by AHIMA’s experts as the most relevant and helpful for entering the field and earning an AHIMA certification. We chose to rank AHIMA’s Medical Coding and Reimbursement courses as the runner-up because an AHIMA certification tends to be the preferred certification for larger hospitals.ĪHIMA’s Medical Coding and Reimbursement program (formerly Coding Basics) consists of interactive courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, computer basics, and basic ICD (International Classification of Diseases) and CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) coding. Similar to AAPC, AHIMA administers exams to earn industry certifications in health information management, coding, and specialty coding. Originally founded in 1928, the American Health Information Management Association, more commonly abbreviated as AHIMA, is a premier nonprofit membership association of healthcare professionals. Required textbooks for CPC and CPB courses: $229.99 for members, $259.99 for non-members.Pathophysiology course (recommended prerequisite): $475 for members, $633 for non-members.
Medical Terminology and Anatomy courses (recommended prerequisites): $695 for members, $1,209.90 for non-members.CPB course with online practice exams, exam review, and exam cost included: $1,495 for members, $2,639.80 for non-members.CPB course only: $1,295 for members, $1,995.00 for non-members.CPC course with test prep, exam cost, coding practice, and live instruction: $3,095 for members, $4,888.80 for non-members.
CPC course with online practice exams, exam review, exam cost, and additional coding practice: $2,495 for members, $4,638.80 for non-members.CPC course with online practice exams, exam review, and exam cost included: $2,295 for members, $4,438.80 for non-members.CPC course only: $1,995 for members, $3,495 for non-members.Those enrolled in AAPC courses can get a discounted AAPC Student Membership for $100. You may find that healthcare employers in your region may prefer certification from AHIMA instead. It is your reponsibility to determine whether credits can be transferred to other schools.īefore signing up for AAPC courses, check job sites for medical billing and coding job listings in your area. After purchasing a course, you’ll gain access to its materials for four months.
Passing these exams is not required for all entry-level medical billing and coding jobs, but they are (along with the CCA certification from AHIMA) two of the most sought-after certifications by healthcare employers.Įvery AAPC course is taught by Certified Professional Coders with at least five years of coding experience. Assignments can be completed at your own pace and on your own time, unless you purchase the live instruction option. We chose AAPC’s Certified Professional Coder and Certified Professional Biller courses as best overall because they not only help students prepare for an entry-level career in medical coding and billing, but also double a student’s likelihood of passing the AAPC’s Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) exams. AAPC now offers online courses, career development services, and 28 professional certifications. Since then, it has grown into a premier medical coding and billing professional membership organization that aims to elevate industry standards. The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) started in 1988 as a quarterly magazine for medical coding industry professionals. These are the best classes based on curriculum, cost, time commitment, instructor quality, accessibility, and student feedback. To help you determine which online medical billing and coding class best fits your desired career path, budget, and schedule, we researched over 30 different options. Such training allows you to practice real-world coding scenarios before entering the field professionally and helps you pass exams to earn in-demand professional certifications, which will give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs. Taking a medical billing class is a great way to gain the fundamental knowledge you need in human anatomy, physiology, and healthcare technology to become a medical biller or coder. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow 8% by 2029.
Medical billing and coding is one of the fastest-growing careers in healthcare. Read our advertiser disclosure for more info. We may receive compensation if you visit partners we recommend. We recommend the best products through an independent review process, and advertisers do not influence our picks.