Medical coding certification, while not a hard and fast requirement, is highly recommended. For starters, Certified Medical Coders make more money than their non-certified counterparts - up to 17% more, according to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Additionally, medical coding career advancement opportunities are far more plentiful and likely for certified medical coders than for those without certification.
There are two national organizations that certify medical coders:
1. AHIMA – American Health Information Management Association
2. AAPC – American Academy of Professional Coders
Both of these organizations are reputable and respected and offer widely recognized medical coding credentials. Both organizations also offer entry level medical coding credentials as well as advanced medical coding credentials.
The best way to prepare for the medical coding credentialing process is to receive training from a reputable medical coding training school.
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Initial and ongoing training and continuing education will ever be a part of your life as you embark on a medical coding career. The healthcare industry is a vibrant and dynamic industry. New innovations in surgical procedures, pharmaceuticals, instrumentation, and treatment regiments all contribute to the need for continuous training. An entry-level certification is certainly important, but it is just the beginning of your ongoing medical coding career development. You will quickly discover that preparing for and passing advanced medical coding certification exams will be the fastest way to escalate your medical coding career and increase your medical coding salary.
In addition to a high school diploma and an entry-level medical coding certification, a college degree will be helpful in advancing your medical coding career – particularly as you move into higher levels of management and responsibility.
Certification Requirment