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Medical Coding is booming and is a great career option that is in high demand, especially during the ongoing pandemic. Even in the field of Healthcare, which is one of the fastest-growing industries for job seekers, people who know their way around a computer are essential. When we go to the doctor, come home and wait for the bill or the report, that is where Medical coders come in.
They are responsible for compiling the patient data. Pursuing a career in medical coding can be exciting and challenging at the same time. This blog will act as a guide regarding everything about pursuing a medical coding course.
This Blog Includes:
- What is Medical Coding?
- Medical Coding Course Overview
- Roles and Responsibilities of a Medical Coder
- How to Become a Medical Coder?
- Eligibility Requirements to Pursue Medical Coding
- Medical Coding is an Important Subject
- Skills Required for Medical Coding Course
- List of Institutions Offering Medical Coding Course
- Medical Coding Course Duration and Fee
- Some Other Medical Coding Course Options
- Medical Coding Scope
- FAQ’s
What is Medical Coding?
Medical coding refers to the method of converting healthcare diagnoses, procedures, medical services, and equipment into standardised alphanumeric codes. These codes are utilised by healthcare providers, payors, and government agencies to process claims, keep patient records accurate, and facilitate accurate billing.
Medical coders are required to know how to use 3 basic code sets: CPT (Current Procedure Terminology), ICD (International Classification of Diseases) and HCPCS (Health Care Procedural Coding System).
The three main code sets used in medical coding are:
- ICD (International Classification of Diseases): Codes for diseases and health conditions.
- CPT (Current Procedural Terminology): Codes for medical, surgical, and diagnostic services.
- HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System): Codes for supplies, equipment, and services not covered in CPT.
Medical Coding Course Overview
Medical Coding Course Overview provides a quick insight into the essentials of the program, including its purpose, duration, eligibility, syllabus, and benefits. It helps students and professionals understand how the course prepares them for a career in the healthcare and medical billing industry.
Here is an overview of the table for the medical coding course:
| Course | Medical coding |
| Duration | 9 months to 20 months |
| Eligibility | 10+2 and an associate degree/certificate program/bachelors degree |
| Exams Required | A Certification Exam like CPC |
| Salary | The average annual salary ranges between INR 4-6 Lakhs (India) |
| Other Names | Medical coding specialist, Diagnostic coder, Medical coding analyst, Clinical coding officer, Medical coding auditor |
Also Read: Want to Pursue a Career in Medical Coding
Roles and Responsibilities of a Medical Coder
Roles and Responsibilities of a Medical Coder explain the key tasks professionals handle, such as reviewing medical records, assigning accurate codes, ensuring proper billing, and maintaining compliance with healthcare regulations.
Here is a list of the most important responsibilities you will have to undertake as a medical coder.
- Reviewing Patient Records: They go through patient files to find details about diagnoses and treatments.
- Assigning Codes: Coders use systems like ICD (disease coding), CPT (procedures), and HCPCS (medical supplies) to translate healthcare services into standard codes.
- Checking for Accuracy: Ensuring all codes match the medical services provided is crucial for billing and reporting.
- Collaborating with Healthcare Teams: Coders often work with doctors and other staff to clarify or gather missing details.
- Billing and Payments: Medical codes help healthcare providers get paid accurately for their services. Insurance companies use these codes to calculate and approve claims.
- Data Analysis for Healthcare: Coded information is used to track health trends, monitor treatment success rates, and study disease patterns. This data is vital for improving public health strategies.
- Compliance with Regulations: Correct coding ensures healthcare organisations follow legal rules, helping them avoid penalties or accusations of fraud.
How to Become a Medical Coder?
The need for medical coders will only keep increasing with the rising demand for digitally-led medical infrastructure. If you are planning to pursue your professional career in this field, you need to go through the following hurdles.
Complete Medical Coding Training
After finishing school, you can pursue medical coding certification courses from renowned organisations like AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders), AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) and CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education). These programs are usually for less than a year and are available online.
You can also pursue a certificate course in medical coding from universities and colleges. Certificate programs teach you the basics of disease processes, treatment procedures, terminology, body systems, and basic coding in ICD-10. Students can also choose to pursue an associate degree, which is a 2-year course, or a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or health information management, which is a 3-year course.
Give the Required Exams
To get certified, you have to take certain exams. Certified medical coders have better job prospects and salary packages than non-certified medical coders. You can specialise in any field you want. The medical coding programs that you attended prepare you for these certification exams. Students can take the CPC exam, which is conducted by AAPC.
According to AAPC, coders who hold a certified professional coder (CPC) certificate earn 20 per cent more than their non-certified counterparts. Additionally, AAPC offers a variety of other certifications which certify the expertise of an individual in certain specialisations and other medical fields.
Gain Work Experience
After getting certified and completing your courses, the next step is to get employed. Completing your medical coding course for professional associations such as AHIMA or the AAPC can unlock employment opportunities. Medical coders can work from home as many medical facilities get medical coding outsourced. After gaining some work experience, you can also attend additional courses in specific areas and brush up on your skills.
Eligibility Requirements to Pursue Medical Coding
Eligibility requirements to pursue medical coding outline the basic qualifications needed, such as completing 10+2 or having a background in science, along with skills in biology and medical terminology, with computer proficiency. Here are the pointers to help you understand the eligibility requirements for the medical coding course:
- Completed Schooling
- A bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in healthcare-related fields or life sciences.
- A medical training program
- Being certified as a medical coder by an accredited institution
- Knowledge of the basic medical codes used.
- Analytical ability to read and analyse medical records by using the right codes and producing relevant data.
- Basics of disease processes, treatment procedures, terminology, and body systems.
Medical Coding is an Important Subject
A medical coding course covers both theoretical knowledge and practical application. The syllabus for general medical coding courses includes:
- Basics of Medical Science (Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology)
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare Delivery System
- ICD-10-CM Coding
- CPT Coding
- HCPCS Coding
- Insurance & Reimbursement Guidelines
- Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- Coding Compliance & Ethics
- Practical Training on Real Case Studies
Skills Required for Medical Coding Course
Skills Required for Medical Coding Course highlight the key abilities students need, such as knowledge of medical terminology, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and computer proficiency, to succeed in coding and healthcare documentation. Here are some of the main skills required for medical coaching courses:
- ICD-10
- CPT coding
- Microsoft Proficiency
- Customer billing
- Health information technology
- Inpatient coding
- Outpatient coding
- ICD-9
- Anatomy
- HCPCS coding
- Clinical documentation
Also Read: How to Become a Medical Assistant?
List of Institutions Offering Medical Coding Course
List of Institutions Offering Medical Coding Course provides information about reputed colleges, training centres, and online platforms that deliver quality education and certification to help students build a career in medical coding. Here are some of the top universities offering medical coding courses:
- Medical Coding Inpatient DRG (PCS Practical Lab) on Udemy
- Academy of Medical Coders in India
- Keiser University
- Fisher College
- Herzing University
Medical Coding Course Duration and Fee
Medical coding course duration and fee give details about how long the course takes to complete and the cost involved. It helps students plan their learning journey by comparing certification, diploma, and advanced certification options along with their fee structure. Here are some of the top certification medical coding courses and fees:
| Course Name | Duration | Average fee |
| Certificate/Diploma Courses: | 3 months to 12 months. | INR 30,000- INR 50,000 |
| Advanced Courses/Certifications (like CPC by AAPC or CCS by AHIMA) | Preparation may take 6 months to 1 year. | INR 30,000 to INR 1,50,000 |
Some Other Medical Coding Course Options
By simplifying complex medical information into standardised codes, medical coding does more than just organise data—it ensures the healthcare system operates efficiently, ethically, and smoothly. Courses in Medical Coding
The following course options are available in medical coding:
- Advanced ICD-10-CM Code Set Training
- Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery Coding Course
- Behavioural Health Coding Training
- Dental Billing and Coding with Medical Cross-Coding
- EHR and EMR Specialist Course
- Evaluation and Management (E/M) Online Training.
- Home Health Coding Course
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) Coding
- Skilled Nursing Facility Coding Course
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Medical Terminology
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
- CD-10-CM
- ICD-10-PCS
- CPT Coding
- CPT Coding
Medical Coding Scope
The scope for medical coders is widely increasing, with the employment of medical coders projected to grow 15 per cent by 2024. Medical coders can work in every type of healthcare facility, like hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, physicians’ offices, and medical laboratories etc. Medical coders can be employed as
- Medical Records Coordinator.
- Coder
- Medical Coding Specialist.
- Medical Billing Specialist
- Medical Records Technician
- Health Information Specialist
- Medical Records Clerk
- Health Information Clerk
The average initial salary earned by a medical coder is Rs 4-6 lakhs per year, and experienced medical coders can earn up to INR 15 lakh per year. In the USA, entry-level positions start at an average of $35,000 (INR 2583162) per year, while experienced workers can make up to $58,000 (INR 4280669) per year.
FAQ’s
Medical coding is the process of transferring healthcare diagnoses, procedures, medical services, and equipment into universal medical alphanumeric codes into uniform numeric codes. These codes are then used to accumulate patient data, process insurance claims with third-party players, and collect stats to track information on specific diseases, treatments, etc.
The average initial salary earned by a medical coder is Rs 4-6 lakhs per year, and experienced medical coders can earn up to INR 15 lakh per year. In the USA, entry-level positions start at an average of USD 35,000 (INR 25,83,162) per year, while experienced workers can make up to USD 58,000 (INR 42,80,669) per year.
To become a medical coder, you typically need a high school diploma followed by specialised training in medical coding. Certifications from organisations like AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) or AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) are often required to boost employability and demonstrate expertise.
No, prior experience in healthcare is not mandatory to enter medical coding. However, having a background in healthcare or related fields can be advantageous.
Medical coding involves assigning standardised codes to medical services, diagnoses, and procedures. Medical billing uses these codes to prepare insurance claims and invoices for patients. While both roles work together to ensure accurate payments, they require different skill sets and training.
Related Reads
That is all the required information that you may need to become a medical coder. If you are interested in knowing more about medical coding courses abroad and want to pursue a career outside India, our experts at Leverage Edu are ready to help you make your dreams come true.
Leave a Reply
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Hi I am sathyanarayanan from Mysore for becoming medicoding expert needs microbiologist?
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Hlo sir I have intrest to do medical coding.but I don’t know about medical coding.can you please explain me sir.
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Which is the best couching centre of medical coding in Hyderabad
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wants to learn medical coding,I am Doctor (BHMS) run myself OPD
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Hey Dr.Pratibha Ekhande,
To learn medical coding, select a university you want to study the course in. Some of the popular universities you can enrol in are Herzing University, Keiser University, and Fisher College. Next, ensure that you meet the admission requirements of the said course. For example, you must have bachelor’s degree or an associate degree in healthcare related field, have analytical skills to read and analyse medical records, etc. Once, you have selected the university you want to study in, and have met the basic requirements, you can contact the study abroad experts for the admission process. You can also call us at 1800 57 2000.
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13 comments
Hi I am sathyanarayanan from Mysore for becoming medicoding expert needs microbiologist?
Hlo sir I have intrest to do medical coding.but I don’t know about medical coding.can you please explain me sir.
Which is the best couching centre of medical coding in Hyderabad
wants to learn medical coding,I am Doctor (BHMS) run myself OPD
Hey Dr.Pratibha Ekhande,
To learn medical coding, select a university you want to study the course in. Some of the popular universities you can enrol in are Herzing University, Keiser University, and Fisher College. Next, ensure that you meet the admission requirements of the said course. For example, you must have bachelor’s degree or an associate degree in healthcare related field, have analytical skills to read and analyse medical records, etc. Once, you have selected the university you want to study in, and have met the basic requirements, you can contact the study abroad experts for the admission process. You can also call us at 1800 57 2000.
hi i am suhel khan have graduated with bachelore’s of pharmacy want to go in field medical coding
I WANT STUDY
I’m interested to join my daughter,she completed degree in BSC.biotechnology.
Hey N Chandra Mohan. Medical coding is an excellent choice for further education. The career of medical coders are projected to grow 15% by 2024. Some of the best universities that offer this course include: Herzing University, Keiser University, and Fisher College. For information related to the application process, scholarships/loans,visa, and accommodation consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.
i am k.santhiya from erode. i completed by B.sc Zoology . i am intersed with medical coding.
Hey,K Santhiya. Medical coding is an excellent career choice. To become a medical coder you need to obtain medical coding certification, give the required examinations, and gain work experience. Baker College, Herzing University, and Drexel University are some of the best colleges or universities offering accredited medical coding programmes. Advanced ICD-10-CM Code Set Training, Behavioral Health Coding Training, and Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery Coding Course are the best medical coding courses you can enrol in. For further information, consult with the study abroad experts at leverage edu.
Hello Sir, Iam Lakshmi Vinayagam and I am pursuing M.sc Physics. After completing my pg course I want to join Medical Coding. Can you please say I’m eligible for to continue my career in medical coding?
Hey Lakshmi Vinayagam,
Yes. You can become a medical coder. However, you need to complete a medical coding course and obtain certification for the same. A medical coding program usually covers topics like Medical terminology, and coding standards like CPT and ICD. You can find job opportunities in hospitals, health insurance companies, medical billing and coding firms. For further information, consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.