Online Medical Billing & Coding Programs: Choosing a School

How Online Medical Billing & Coding Programs Work

Medical billing and coding is a unique niche that opens doors to the healthcare field without requiring significant time and money for education. It’s not just a job; it’s a great career opportunity, with a projected growth rate of 9% through 2033 — much faster than the national average. The best part? Many medical billing and coding careers offer the flexibility of remote, part-time, or hybrid work, a rare find in the healthcare industry.

Entering into medical billing and coding is also an easy career switch for working professionals, with various certificate programs offering 100% online curriculum. But how do you choose the best online medical billing and coding program? Do you want to pursue an accelerated program or earn an associate’s degree? More importantly, what’s the difference between the two?

The program you choose will hinge on factors like your schedule, timeline, budget, and desired certification level (more on that later). To set you on the right path, we’ve highlighted a few standout medical billing and coding programs offered online, broken down by certificate and degree type.

Explore Top Online Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Your State

What You’ll Learn: Medical Billing and Coding Online Courses

Whether you take a 14-week course or work toward an associate’s degree in billing and coding, the curriculum between programs generally covers the same topics. The difference will be the depth of the coursework, as shorter programs will primarily focus on key knowledge. In contrast, more extended programs will provide more context and training on these topics. Following is a sample of the key curriculum found among online billing and coding programs.

Anatomy and Physiology: Building the knowledge required to interpret medical records accurately and assign codes that align with real-world diagnoses and procedures is essential. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of how the human body functions, focusing on its systems, structures, and interrelated processes.

Medical Terminology: Accurately coding medical records and adequately documenting healthcare records requires an in-depth knowledge of the medical terminology taught in this course, which covers terms related to anatomy, procedures, and diagnoses.

Medical Coding Systems: Proper understanding and application of medical coding systems ensures medical services are adequately documented and billed. This course introduces students to the primary coding systems used in healthcare, including ICD for diagnoses, CPT for medical procedures, and HCPCS for services and supplies.

Health Information Management: This course teaches students how to organize, manage, and protect patient health records, emphasizing accuracy, security, and compliance with industry standards. Since medical coders frequently handle sensitive information, these skills are vital for maintaining trust and meeting regulatory requirements.

Medical Billing and Reimbursement: Covering the end-to-end billing process, this course explains how to submit insurance claims, handle reimbursements, and navigate medical billing systems. Students will walk away well-equipped to help healthcare providers get paid accurately and efficiently for their services.

Answers to Common Medical Billing & Coding Student Questions

What’s the difference between billing and coding?

Until now, we’ve used medical billing and coding as a blanket term; however, medical billers and coders serve two distinct functions. Despite their different focus, many medical practices — especially smaller ones — have one person perform both jobs.

According to the AAPC, medical billing is “…the process of submitting and following up on claims with insurance companies to receive payment for services rendered by a healthcare provider.” Medical billers help manage these claims by communicating with insurance companies and patients (as needed), making changes, updating claims, and anything else required to get the necessary approvals that result in payment.Meanwhile, the AAPC defines medical coding as “…the transformation of healthcare diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment into universal medical alphanumeric codes.” Medical coders review the patient records for every diagnosis given, procedure performed, service rendered, and equipment used, then translate each into a particular code, which is then used by the medical biller to create claims that go to insurance companies.

Is it worth getting a medical coding certificate?

Absolutely — people are drawn to this field because a four-year degree is not required to begin a career, making it a more affordable option. Many young professionals choose medical billing and coding so they can start their professional lives unburdened by student loan debt. As we’ve already covered, the amount of tuition you can expect to pay will vary based on the program you choose; earning an associate’s degree can help you enter the field more prepared, while a 14-week program can get your foot in the door relatively quickly for a low cost. Many people who choose to earn an online certificate supplement their knowledge with continuing education later in their careers.

How fast can I become a medical coder?

Like the school spotlights featured earlier, program length can vary from a few weeks to a few years. Various accelerated medical billing and coding certificate programs are available, along with more comprehensive, two-year degrees. The length you spend on your education depends on your desired certification, as some certifications require a more detailed scope of knowledge.

The benefit of specializing your education or certification is that it can help you command a higher salary, as institutions are often willing to pay more for billers and coders who specialize in their field. For example, the AAPC offers specialized billing and coding certifications in ambulatory surgery centers, anesthesia, cardiology, and more. However, pursuing a specialized certification may require additional training that lengthens your educational timeline.

Can I teach myself medical billing and coding?

While teaching yourself medical billing and coding is possible, it requires extreme self-discipline and motivation. The best route for self-taught billers and coders would be to start by choosing their desired certification and then using the organization’s study guide and materials to ensure they learn everything needed to pass the exam.Plenty of free or low-cost resources are available for people who would like to teach themselves, such as the Absolute Medical Coding Institute’s Free Online Medical Coding Course (i2MC). The following books are also a crucial resource for self-taught medical billers and coders: Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).

Can you take a medical coding or medical billing exam without a degree?

A degree is not necessary to take the medical coding or medical billing exams, although most require at least a high school diploma or GED. You should expect to pay exam fees to sit for any certification exams unless you choose an online program that includes these costs with tuition.

How Much Does It Cost to Learn Medical Billing and Coding Online?

In addition to tuition, studying medical billing and coding online requires the following:

• Access to a reliable computer or laptop
• A strong, dependable internet connection
• The CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS manuals
• Certification or exam fees after graduating
• Ongoing fees to maintain your credential(s)

Due to the varied lengths and specializations available, program costs for online medical billing and coding courses can vary wildly. The table below breaks down various programs to give a snapshot of the tuition you can expect to pay.

Which Certification is Best for Medical Billing and Coding?

In short, there is no “best” billing and coding certification — you’ll choose your certification based on your desired career path and area of specialization. Like the spotlighted schools we covered earlier, many programs are geared toward a specific certification exam. Before choosing a program, you should explore the available certifications and determine which ones (s) align with your career goals. Once you know which credential(s) you’re working toward, you can choose an online program with an aligned curriculum. A few organizations are offering various levels of medical billing and coding certification; below is a snapshot of the core credentials sought after by recent graduates. If you want to become an expert in a specific niche, the AAPC also offers specialized medical billing and coding credentials.

American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certifications:

• Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
• Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
• Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)
• Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)
• Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)
• Certified Revenue Cycle Management Specialist (RCMS)

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certifications:

• Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
• Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Based (CCS-P)

American Medical Billing Association (AMBA) Certifications:

• Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS)
• Certified Medical Coding Specialist (CMCS)

Salary & Career Outlook for Medical Billing & Coding

Today’s Best Online Medical Billing & Coding Programs

Whether you’re looking to earn a 4-week certification or an associate’s degree in medical billing and coding, online programs offer endless options. While it’s easy to become overwhelmed by your choices, focusing on the right factors can quickly narrow your search. Below, we’ve researched and compiled the best two- and four-year online medical billing and coding programs based on affordability, flexibility, quality, accreditation status, and more — click “About the Rankings” to learn more about our scoring process.