Online Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Virginia: Compare Top Programs

An Overview of Online Medical Billing/Coding Classes in Virginia

As you begin your search for online medical billing and coding programs in Virginia, you’ll find that there are several different program types available. They include noncredit certification courses that focus on the basics of medical billing and/or coding practice to provide students with a fast and inexpensive path to landing an entry-level job. Other options include a certificate of completion programs that offer more subject depth and award college credits that may be applied later to earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in the larger health information or healthcare fields.

Below are descriptions of three popular online medical billing and coding programs in Virginia today. These descriptions will give you a good idea of what you can expect to find during your program search in terms of cost, curriculums, content delivery formats, completion times, and access to academic and career student support services. You’ll also discover which national billing and coding certifications each program will qualify you for. (More on national certifications below.)

Providing Answers to Popular Student Questions

It’s common for prospective medical billing and coding students to have questions that go beyond those answered in the program spotlights above. To help, here are the answers to five of the most often asked questions concerning medical billing and coding programs and careers in general.

Are medical billing and coding the same thing?

Although closely related and often carried out by the same individual, medical billing and medical coding are not the same. In simple terms:

• Medical billing involves the processing and submittal of claims for payment to patients and insurance carriers for medical treatments and services provided.
• Medical coding is the practice of converting medical treatments and services into a standardized form (alphanumeric coding) that is universally understood and used by healthcare providers, insurance companies, and others in their medical and billing records.

Medical billing and coding programs in Virginia may train you to perform one or the other or both of these activities. So, be sure you have a clear understanding of exactly what practices a program will prepare you for before you sign up.

Is medical billing and coding hard?

“Hard” is a subjective term. Whether medical billing and coding practice is hard for you will depend on your strengths. Basically speaking, to become a successful biller or coder, you’ll need to possess a number of skills. These include a meticulous eye for detail and ability to work with numbers and figures, a solid understanding of medical terminology, good communication skills, and competency in the use of computers and medical billing/coding software. Medical billers and coders intending to work remotely will also need to be highly organized, self-disciplined, and comfortable with working independently. It should be noted here that your online medical billing and coding program will help you develop all of these skills.

Is medical billing and coding a good remote job?

“Good” is another subjective term. But if you’re looking for a job that lends itself especially well to working at home or from other off-site settings, then medical billing and coding can be an excellent choice. And, depending on your specific employer and job duties, you may be able to work remotely on a full-time basis. It’s not uncommon, though, for medical billers and coders to divide their time between working from home and working at their employer’s place of business. Incidentally, medical billing and coding is just one of several healthcare-related occupations that can be done remotely.

Are online medical billing and coding programs in Virginia expensive?

One of the biggest benefits of a career in medical billing and coding is that you don’t have to invest considerable time, effort, and cash into completing a full college degree program to get started. However, program costs do vary somewhat depending on the specific program provider and credential awarded. The cost figures listed in the program descriptions above will give you a good idea of the range of program prices.

It’s important to bear in mind that financial aid opportunities are available to qualifying medical billing and coding students, particularly those in programs that award college credits. Funding resources include scholarships, grants, employer tuition assistance programs, work/study jobs, student loans, tuition payment plans, and more. Contact the programs you’re considering directly for details.

Is accreditation important in choosing a medical billing and coding program?

Accreditation is the process through which most postsecondary schools and the programs they provide are vetted for academic quality. If you choose a for-credit medical billing and coding program, you’ll want to confirm the institutional accreditation of the school that’s offering it. You’ll likely be able to do so by checking the school’s or program’s website. If you don’t see the information there, you can use this U.S. Department of Education accreditation search engine.

Most noncredit medical billing and coding courses, however, are not accredited like for-credit programs are. Don’t let that worry you. What’s important is to confirm that any program you consider will qualify you for national certification. Most noncredit courses will indicate on their websites the specific certifications for which you’ll be eligible. If you’re not sure about certification eligibility, though, contact the course directly.

Opportunities for Certification and Continuing Education in Virginia

Neither state-issued licensure nor certification is required to work as a medical biller or coder in Virginia. In fact, there are no state-mandated medical billing or coding training requirements of any kind. For all practical purposes, though, to find gainful employment in the state, you’re going to need some form of national medical billing and coding certification. And that, in turn, will require that you complete a formal training program, like any of the ones mentioned in this guide.

You’ll also need to take and pass an exam given by the certification’s issuer itself. Examples of popular national certifications in the medical billing and coding field include the Certified Professional Biller (CPB) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC) from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AACP) and the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). More advanced and specialized certifications are also available, many of which require completion of additional specialized training.

It’s typical for specific medical billing and coding programs to prepare students for one or two particular certifications, so be sure that you know which certifications a program you’re considering will qualify you for before you enroll.

Expected Salary for Medical Billing and Coding Professionals in Virginia

It's valid to wonder what kind of career opportunities await you in Virginia once you've finished your medical billing and coding education. Luckily, you'll have plenty of opportunities to choose from. Medical billing and coding jobs are expected to grow by 8.5% over the next decade across the United States. In Virginia, in particular, this trend of growth is even more pronounced, with an average projected growth rate of 13.2% over the next decade, well above the national rate. Furthermore, average medical billing and coding salaries in Virginia stand at $50,600 per year, with the top 90th percentile of Virginia medical billing and coding professionals earning $77,700 on average. Remember, though, salary rates vary by location, as you can see below, with more densely populated areas generally having higher salaries. For instance, the median medical billing and coding professional in Charlottesville earns $54,390, a few thousand dollars above the state median—and the table below provides even more information.