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Medical Coding Specialist
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The medical coding specialist reviews medical documentation provided by physicians and other health care practitioners and translates this information into standardized numerical codes. The coding specialist assigns and sequences diagnostic and procedural codes using universally recognized coding systems. The codes are used to facilitate third party reimbursement, facilitate statistical classification and research, and examine utilization patterns.
Career Opportunities
Job security is available nationwide — there is a critical shortage of qualified medical coders. This program prepares students for employment as entry-level coding specialists in health care facilities such as: hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, surgery centers, insurance companies, consulting companies, government agencies, computer software companies and other health care settings. Possible employment for program graduates may include:
- Outpatient Coder
- Inpatient Coder
- Medical Coding Specialist
- Coding Analyst
- Claims Analyst
Helpful Academic Background
- Keyboarding and basic computer skills.
- Biological Sciences.
Program Outcomes
- Assign diagnostic and procedure codes using ICD-9, CM, and CPT coding systems.
- Adhere to security/privacy, and confidentiality policies and procedures.
- Utilize computers to process information.
- Support data collection and maintain compliance with reimbursement systems.
- Communicate in a professional manner.
- Model appropriate professional behavior, ethics, and appearance.
- Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Program Basics
- Short-term technical certificate
- May take the program in modified plan
- All courses offered online
- Medical Coding students must achieve a grade of C or better in each course of the program curriculum to be eligible to progress.
- Financial aid available.
Program Admission Requirements
- Complete the application form.
- Interview with counselor.
- Pay $30 application fee (this is not refundable).
- Submit high school and any post-secondary transcripts.
- Be a high school graduate or equivalent.
- Possess related work experience in health care, medical records, or medical reimbursement is preferred.
- Students may re-apply to be admitted to a program for which they initially do not meet the Student Academic Achievement Plan (SAAP) criteria after they follow the additional courses and alternate program sequence prescibed for them.
Program Fees
Please contact Student Services at 800.362.3322, Ext. 2354, or email student-services@swtc.edu for current fee information.
A Program Fee list is provided (please note the costs are approximate and based on the current academic year).
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