Explore Top Medical Billing and Coding Online Schools in Louisiana
Find the best online medical billing and coding schools in Louisiana designed to help you earn valuable certifications for your rewarding career.
- Jump To:
- Program Features
- |
- Salary/Pay
- |
- FAQs
Are you looking to quickly enter the healthcare profession? If so, you have a number of paths in front of you to begin your healthcare career in no time. One of the quickest and most affordable is to become a medical biller or coder.
To start down this road, you’ll want to complete a quality program, like the many available today from medical billing and coding online schools in Louisiana. You have your choice of highly affordable programs that are available entirely or partially online. Next, you’ll sit for your certification exam and obtain your medical billing or medical coding certification. Then you’re ready to begin your new career.
It’s important to mention that medical billing and medical coding are two different occupations, each with its own skillset. The good news is that many of the medical billing and coding online schools in Louisiana prepare you to pursue certifications in both. It’s also notable that a career in medical billing and coding comes with substantial benefits including competitive salaries, job mobility, and solid career longevity.
Have we piqued your interest? Then keep reading to explore careers in medical billing and coding, and learn how you can get started today by finding the online medical coding and billing program in Louisiana that’s just right for you. Find out which schools made it onto our list as the top choices for prospective students in Louisiana.
Fletcher Technical Community College
Schriever, Louisiana
Public
Louisiana State University-Eunice
Eunice, Louisiana
Public
Features of the Best Online Medical Billing & Coding Schools
When researching medical billing and coding online schools in Louisiana, you have many factors to consider. But the goal of all of these programs is the same: to prepare you to obtain your professional certification and begin your career as a medical biller or coder. Below are several program elements you’ll want to confirm to ensure the program you select is right for you.
Accreditation
Along with ensuring the institution you choose for pursuing your medical billing/coding certification is accredited — which means it’s been reviewed and approved by an impartial third-party reviewer to meet academic standards — it’s common for these programs to follow standards set forth by certification agencies. The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is the largest credentialing agency for medical coders. Most employers of medical billing and coding workers in Louisiana and elsewhere either prefer or require employees that possess professional certification, so it’s important for you to confirm that any program you consider will prepare you to sit for the exam for the professional certification you’re interested in receiving.
Certification Exam Preparation
Obtaining professional certification requires passing an examination, and each specific certification has its own exam and requirements. You’ll find online courses offered by providers to help you prepare for their exams, but most medical billing and coding programs in Louisiana prepare you as well. For example, the Medical Coding Program at Delgado Community College in New Orleans prepares students to sit for the CPC and CCA certification exams.
Cost and Financial Aid
The costs for medical billing and coding programs in Louisiana vary (sometimes substantially) from just under $2,000 to over $9,000. The range accounts for differences in program length and comprehensiveness, the particular school offering the program (university programs tend to be more expensive than community college programs, for example), and the specific certifications that the program prepares graduates for. Keep in mind, though, that some programs offer financial aid opportunities to help students pay for their educations. The Medical Coding Specialist Certificate program at Southern University at Shreveport, for example, offers scholarships, or you may qualify for tuition assistance through the Medical Billing and Coding program at South Louisiana Community College.
Curriculum and Specializations
While medical billing and coding programs in Louisiana do not offer concentration or specialization tracks, it’s important to note that some programs (like the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate program at Delta Community College) are specifically for medical coding while others prepare students for working as both medical billers and medical coders. So be sure you have a clear understanding of exactly what a program prepares you for before you sign up.
Duration and Flexibility
Program lengths also vary from program to program, but you’ll find that most medical coding and billing programs in Louisiana are designed to be completed in about one year. There are notable exceptions, however, including the online Medical Billing and Coding program at Louisiana Delta Community College that can be completed in 12 weeks. The best online programs typically offer a great deal of convenience and flexibility in accessing and completing program requirements.
Format
Many medical and billing programs in Louisiana (including the three spotlighted above) feature 100% online coursework, most often delivered in an asynchronous format that allows students to log on and complete their studies at their convenience. Other programs are campus-based or offered in a hybrid format that combines online course components with in-person experiences in clinical settings — such as the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate program at Southern University at Shreveport. It’s critical, therefore, that you fully understand how the format works for any medical billing and coding program you consider before you enroll.
Salary and Career Outlook in Louisiana
In Louisiana, medical billing and coding professionals are experiencing a favorable job market. The median annual salary stands at $48,810, with the top 10% earning up to $74,300. Salaries vary across regions; for instance, professionals in Baton Rouge have a median salary of $62,090, while those in Monroe earn around $36,540.
Employment opportunities are on the rise. Currently, there are approximately 2,110 positions in the state, with projections indicating an increase to 2,280 by 2030. This growth rate of 8.1% aligns closely with the national average of 8.5% for this profession. Annually, about 160 job openings are expected, encompassing new positions and replacements. These trends suggest a stable and growing field for medical billing and coding professionals in Louisiana, offering competitive salaries and expanding employment opportunities. Check out the tables below for more detailed information about your career prospects in Louisiana.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $31,110 | $48,810 | $74,300 |
| Alexandria, LA | $31,200 | $55,400 | $76,330 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $33,720 | $62,090 | $78,280 |
| Hammond, LA | $32,630 | $50,080 | $57,350 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | $30,550 | $38,500 | $69,620 |
| Lafayette, LA | $30,500 | $41,950 | $73,280 |
| Monroe, LA | $28,980 | $36,540 | $59,960 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $34,000 | $50,650 | $78,870 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $31,440 | $47,740 | $67,230 |
Source: Medical Records Specialists, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 194,300 | 210,900 | 16,600 | 8.50% | 15,000 |
| Louisiana | 2,110 | 2,280 | 170 | 8.10% | 160 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
FAQs: Medical Billing & Coding Education in Louisiana
Still not sure if working as a medical biller or coder is right for you? To help you decide, take a look at these responses to some of the most frequently asked questions about medical billing and coding programs and careers in Louisiana.
How do I become a medical coder in Louisiana?
There are many paths you can take to become a medical biller or coder. To create a solid career foundation, however, you’ll need to complete these two steps: 1) Get admitted to and successfully pass a medical coding and billing program (like those mentioned in this guide); and 2) Pass any of a number of professional certification exams to obtain the professional certification of your choice.
How much does medical billing and coding pay in Louisiana?
The charts above detail earning potentials, noting that the BLS’s most recent (May 2023) median annual wage estimate of $50,700 in Louisiana is very much in line with the corresponding estimate for all occupations in the state. You can expect your earnings to grow as you gain experience as a medical billing and coding professional.
Is medical billing and coding worth it?
The answer to this question really depends entirely on you and your unique personal and career goals. What we can say here is that if you’re interested in a career that offers solid, consistent earnings and strong job security and longevity, then the medical billing and coding field may well be worth it for you.
Is medical billing and coding hard?
The answer to this one depends on your specific skills and talents. Medical billing and coding work requires a certain degree of technical proficiency in converting the clinical language in medical documents into standardized codes through the use of coding classification systems and coding software. But if you are detail-oriented and possess a basic proficiency in using computers and software, then you likely won’t have a problem in mastering the skills needed to work in the medical billing and coding field.
Is medical coding a good remote job?
Medical billing and coding professionals, particularly medical coders, are often able to work remotely from home or practically anywhere else with secure (as required for HIPAA compliance) internet access. Like other remote healthcare jobs, working remotely in medical billing and coding requires a fair amount of organization and self-discipline. But if you are good at working independently and getting assignments completed on time, then medical billing and coding can be a great remote job.
