Certificate Description
Medical coding is an integral part of the medical profession as it is directly responsible for the reimbursement of medical services performed by medical professionals. The financial health of a medical hospital, clinic, or private practice depends on accurate coding to obtain the highest possible reimbursement for procedures and services performed.
This online Professional Certificate in Medical Coding program teaches the skills needed to become a certified medical coder. In this program, you will:
- Gain knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology
- Support coding processes and identify codes for diagnoses and procedures
- Learn the fundamentals of coding for Medicare/Medicaid claims
- Explore the basics of medical insurance billing
Key Benefits
- 100% online self-paced certificate program.
- Prepares students for the AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) CPC examination.
- No prior experience required.
- Stackable for academic credit towards a degree.
Learning Modules Include
This six-module, online program is designed to teach the student the principles of diagnosis and procedure medical coding and to prepare the student to take the AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) CPC examination. Medical employers and insurance payors seek certification from AAPC to ensure that the medical coder has extensive knowledge of coding procedures, guidelines, and conventions.
- Course 1: Medical Terminology
- Unit 1 - Medical Terminology Abbreviations
- Unit 2 - Word Formations
- Unit 3 - Hospital / Medical Office Terminology
- Unit 4 - Disease Terminology
- Unit 5 - Medical Exams / Treatment Terminology
- Unit 6 - Medication Terminology / OTC / HIPAA Basics
- Course 2: Anatomy & Physiology
- Unit 1 - Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Functions for Coding
- Unit 2 - Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, & Nervous Systems
- Unit 3 - Vision/Hearing, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, & Lymphatic Systems
- Unit 4 - Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary & Reproductive Systems
- Course 3: ICD-10-CM Medical Coding
- Unit 1 - Career Mindset: Coding & Reimbursement
- Unit 2 - Neoplasms and Signs & Symptoms Coding
- Unit 3 - Infectious Diseases, Pregnancy, and Perinatal Coding
- Unit 4 - External Causes & Injuries, Poisoning, and Circulatory System Codes
- Course 4: CPT Classification Systems
- Unit 1 - Introduction to the CPT Manual and Its Use
- Unit 2 - CPT Use for Anesthesia, Surgery, and Integumentary Procedures
- Unit 3 - CPT Use for Radiology, Pathology and Labs
- Unit 4 - CPT Use for Medications and Appendices
- Course 5: HCPCS / Medicare Requirements / HIPAA Basics
- Unit 1 - Intro to the HCPCS Manual and Its Use
- Unit 2 - HCPCS Use for Durable Medical Equipment
- Unit 3 - HCPCS Use for Drugs/Therapies and Medical-Surgical Procedures
- Unit 4 - HCPCS Index for Medicare/Medicaid and Modifiers
- Course 6: Coding Certificate Review
- Unit 1 - Introduction to Exam Basics
- Unit 2 - Intro to Test Taking
- Unit 3 - Practice Exam I
- Unit 4 - Test Taking Like A Pro
- Unit 5 - Practice Exam II
- Unit 6 - Tips for Success
Certificate Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the certificate program, students will be able to:
- Be able to define the fundamental medical terms and word formations using prefixes, suffixes, and root components of medical terms
- Identify fundamental medical abbreviations and meanings
- Identify common medical terms used in medical coding
- Identify common terms for medical settings, medications, specialties and
- Be able to identify common medical procedures, exams, treatments, and practices
- Be able to describe HIPAA requirements as they pertain to Patient Health Information and Electronic Health Information
- Learn and identify the human body systems, organs, location of organs and their functions
- Learn physiological functions of body system organs
- Learn anatomical and physiological terminology
- Learn the proper use of the ICD-10-CM coding manual.
- Learn the proper use of the Guidelines, Tabular List, and Conventions.
- Learn the proper methods of establishing the correct code or codes.
- Learn how to locate correctly the codes for conditions, illnesses, diseases, symptoms, external causes, fractures, neoplasms, and mental health conditions.
- Learn proper use of medical information and documentation procedures for establishing a proper medical diagnosis code.
- Correct utilization of the HCPCS Level II Expert Manual
- Identify correct DME, Medicare/Medicaid/Medication, Medical and Surgical procedure codes
- Identify correct modifiers, and use of the Tabular and Index of the HCPCS Level II Manual
- AAPC Certification Exam strategies
- Successful completion of two practice medical coding exams
Prior Learning Credit
The Professional Certificate in Medical Coding serves as a valuable credential that complements your educational path, offering the potential to earn 4.5 academic credits for prior learning towards COH150: Health Care Terminology at National University.
Requirements to Enroll
All learners are eligible to enroll in the Medical Coding Professional Certificate. There are no admissions requirements. It is recommended that learners have a high school diploma or GED. It is also recommended that students without previous medical experience complete the program in its entirety.
Students are responsible for purchasing the following course text materials:
- A Short Course in Medical Terminology, 4th ed., Nath, Judi L., Wolters Kluwer ISBN#9781496351470.
- Pearson's Comprehensive Medical Coding: A Path to Success, Papazian-Boyce, L., Boston: Pearson (2016). ISBN#9780133797787.
- The course material "bundle" used for the ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS, and Certification Review course is: Pro Fee Coder Bundle with AMA CPT Code Book. The certificate program content aligns with the 2023/24 versions of the bundle. Students may elect which bundle to purchase:
- The 2023 "bundle" contains their ICD-10-CM 2023, AMA CPT Professional 2023, HCPCS Level II 2023 and CPT E/M Companion 2023 through AAPC.com OR
- The 2024 "bundle" contains their ICD-10-CM 2024, AMA CPT Professional 2024 and HCPCS Level II 2024 Expert through AAPC.com
Estimated Time to Completion
The Medical Coding Professional Certificate can be completed in 53 hours, or in 3 months working approximately 20 hours per week, or in 6 months working 10 hours per week.
Access Time
Learners will have access to their certificate learning modules for up to 6 months from the date of their enrollment.
CEUs and PDUs
CEUs- 5.3 National University Continuing Education Units
Certificate of Completion
After completion of all 6 courses, learners will be awarded an official National University Workforce Education Solutions Professional and Continuing Education Certificate of Completion.
How to Access My Certificate
After enrollment allow up to 24 hours for the course to appear in Brightspace. Follow the steps below:
- Log in to your student portal at westraining.nu.edu
- Click the drop down next to “Login”, then click “Student Login”
- Log in using User Name (email address) and Password
- Once logged into your PACE student portal, click on “Brightspace LMS” on the left-hand navigation panel.
- Under My Courses, click the course title to get started.