The Ultimate Medical Coding Certification: From Beginner to Expert

If you have an interest in the health sector and are looking for the Ultimate Medical Coding Certification from Beginner to Expert level, you are on the path to hitting the jackpot.

Intrigued? Let me clarify…

Medical Coding certification is currently the most sought-after certification in the healthcare sector. And, interestingly, the healthcare sector is the most flourishing industry even when economies around the globe struggle to tackle a spiralling recession.

To understand what this means for India, let me share some stats with you - the Indian medical tourism market is expected to touch US$ 13.42 billion by 2026 from US$ 2.89 billion in 2020. The primary factor fueling this phenomenal growth is the high influx of foreign tourists visiting India for medical treatment, ranked 10th by the Medical Tourism Association in the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) for 2020-21 out of 46 countries.

So, now, the obvious question – how do you hit the jackpot? Well, that is what this article is all about – guide you on the steps to achieve the ultimate Medical Coding Certification from Beginner to Expert. But before I take you on the journey, let me explain what Medical Coding is all about. Read on…

What is Medical Coding?

As a Medical Coder, you extract information from the medical records of patients and transform them into universally accepted standard codes. This codified information is then used by doctors for diagnosis and treatment, going forward. Additionally, insurance companies refer to this information for settling insurance claims. Even government agencies find this information helpful at the time of framing health policies.

Next, it will be good to know the eligibility criteria for pursuing this career path.

Are you eligible to be a Medical Coder?

To become a professional Medical Coder, you must earn the Medical Coding Certification or Diploma from a recognized University or Medical Coding Training institution. You can join a Medical Coding certification course if you:

Pass 10 + 2 from a recognized Board/University

Complete a Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree

Work as a professional interested to enhance your career

If you satisfy any of the above criteria, the next step is to join a Medical Coding training institute. The Medical Coding classes these institutes offer groom you to be a certified Medical Coder. But which certification should you go for?

Which is the best Medical Coding Certification?

To cater to the growing demand for Medical Coders, institutes are increasingly designing courses to address learning requirements at different levels. As a beginner, it is important to identify your area of interest and select the right Medical Coding certificate from the following options:

Certified Professional Coder (CPC) for medical practices

Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) for working in the outpatient department

Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC) for inpatient facilities

Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) for insurance companies

How to prepare for the Certification exam?

Generally, it is noted that Medical Coding aspirants opt for the CPC exam, as a starting point. So, let me guide you on how you can start as a CPC and reach the highest echelons as a Medical Coder. The journey remains the same for any certification you choose from the above list.

While you aim to ace the CPC exam, let me call out that it is not an easy one to crack. Instead, you need rigorous training, theoretical as well as practical, to master the necessary knowledge and skills of a successful Medical Coder.

One easy route to clear the CPC exam is to join a Medical Coding course that offers you all the necessary resources and support for passing the exam. However, when you finalise the course, ensure that you enrol for Medical Coding classes that offer you the following resources:

Practice exams designed by the AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) in line with the CPC Exam

Official CPC Certification Study Guide containing a rich repository of tips and tricks along with 200+ sample questions

Online exam review from AAPC focused on the most challenging coding concepts including the most common coding mistakes

After you complete the Medical Coding training and exhaustively use the exam aids listed above, you must be confident to write the CPC exam. Additionally, to clear the exam on the first attempt, be sure to gain complete mastery of the following topics during your Medical Coding classes:

Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Medical Terminology

Hands-on knowledge of Medical Coding guidelines, rules and regulations

When you are ready, take the CPC exam. Once you clear the exam, you have successfully achieved the first milestone. At this point, you earn the CPC-A credential, where “A” signifies your apprenticeship status. You can become a full-fledged CPC after you gather two years of coding experience.

How to secure a Medical Coding job?

Usually, Medical Coding training institutes offer you guidance during your job interviews and placement support after you complete the Medical Coding classes and ace the CPC exam. On your own, work to build a strong network with the Medical Coders community in your locality. This will grant you access to job opportunities in private or public healthcare facilities as per your area of interest.

Some Medical Coders even opt to work in the health insurance sector in case they are not too comfortable working in medical facilities.

I can probably sense one question lurking in your mind at this point. How much salary can you expect at the start of your Medical Coding career?

According to inputs gathered from Medical Coders, a fresher in India can draw an average annual salary of around INR 1.4 Lakhs (INR 11.7k per month).

If that sounds not too exciting, let me assure you that you can upskill yourself by earning some more Medical Coding certifications. That paves the way for a higher salary.

For example, after CPC, the next logical step for you can be to achieve the CIC or COC Medical Coding Certification. The choice depends on whether you want to work in the outpatient department or inpatient facilities.

Opting for an advanced level of Medical Coding certification enriches your skill set and acts as a strong catalyst for your professional growth. For example, from a simple Medical Coder, you can progressively move up the career path to become a Coding Supervisor, Coding Educator, or even a Specialty Coder.

How to move from Beginner to Expert?

In case you are exploring the possibilities of furthering your career as a Medical Coder, here are some of the certifications you can opt for:

Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA) for auditing medical documentation

Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM) for managing all aspects of a physician’s office including revenue, compliance, human resources etc.

Certified Documentation Expert Outpatient (CDEO) for examining medical documents and ensuring their completeness, accuracy, and compliance with coding guidelines and regulations

Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) for designing, developing, and implementing a compliance program that checks the compliance of a physician’s office

Once you earn any of the advanced Medical Coding certifications from the above list, it once again demonstrates your expert knowledge and skill as a Specialty Coder. In the process, you are in a position to demand a higher salary. To be precise, industry data shows that the highest salary you can earn as a high-end Medical Coder in India averages around INR 6 Lakhs per year (₹38.3k per month).

Summing Up

I believe you are now familiar with the basics of Medical Coding as a career. The information shared in this article should help make up your mind and follow the steps to advance from Beginner to Expert levels of Medical Coding.

Importantly, the health industry is now booming, particularly as a fallout of the Covid pandemic. So, grab the opportunity and make hay while the sun shines.