Medical Coding Program

If you enjoy staying organized and distilling complex information into easy-to-read language, medical coding might be right for you. Additionally, for those looking to grow their role in healthcare, a medical coding certificate can help you expand your knowledge and take on a new position.

Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great medical coder:

• Active listening — Medical billers need to be able to communicate with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and other entities. This includes active listening and understanding.
• Critical thinking — Medical billers are essential in the workings of healthcare offices and the field as a whole. Critical thinking can help them more efficiently perform their duties without errors.
• Complex problem solving — Are you good at logic puzzles? Medical coders often need to review information, evaluate viable options, and implement solutions.
• Time management — A good medical coder manages their time in order to process patient information in an efficient manner.
• Communication — Medical coders often need to use their knowledge of medical terminology and procedures to accurately translate diagnoses, treatments, and other patient information into code.

Medical coders can work in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Physician offices
• Professional, technical, and scientific services
• Management of companies and enterprises
• Administrative support services³

³Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Records Specialists

ACC’s medical coding curriculum comprises five required courses. You will begin your training with an introduction to human body systems and medical terminology. Additional medical coding classes include:

Diagnostic Coding — This course provides students with the principles of medical coding, with a focus on the ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases – Clinical Modification, 10th Revision) Code Set. The content is organized to reflect the various body systems presented in MC100. Students will apply coding conventions when assigning ICD-10-CM codes. Students will develop critical thinking skills to analyze complex real-world medical scenarios and apply proper coding principles effectively. Further topics covered include the Business of Medicine, OIG (Office of Inspector General), and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) principles. This course will prepare students for the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) or CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) exams.

Procedural Coding — This course provides students with the principles of medical coding, with a focus on the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) Code Manual. The content is organized to reflect the various body systems presented in MC100. Students will apply coding conventions when assigning CPT codes. Students will develop critical thinking skills to analyze complex real-world medical scenarios and apply proper coding principles effectively. Further topics include the E/M (Evaluation and Management) services. This course will prepare students for the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) or CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) exams.

PCS and HCPCS Coding — This course provides students with the principles of medical coding, focusing on the PCS (Procedural Coding System) and HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System) Code Sets. The content is organized to reflect the various body systems presented in MC100. Students will apply coding conventions when assigning PCS codes. Students will develop critical thinking skills to analyze complex real-world medical scenarios and apply proper coding principles effectively. This course will prepare students for the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) or CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) exams.

Applied Coding and Certification Preparation — This course provides students with the materials for a hands-on approach to applied coding practice. Students will gain deep familiarity with specific medical coding software (Practicode) to apply knowledge of ICD-10-CM, CPT, PCS, and HCPCS coding standards needed in the field.

Students will also complete an overview of the CPC or CIC certification exams, with emphasis on the above code sets, including coding guidelines, conventions, and rules specific to each code set. Further topics include effective exam preparation and exam-taking strategies through practice exams which simulate the actual testing environment to ensure confidence and readiness for the CPC or CIC exams.

For a complete description of coursework, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

ACC’s medical coding curriculum is designed to help prepare students for the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) or CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) certification exams. Our program culminates in an Applied Coding and Certification Preparation course, during which students will learn exam-taking strategies through practice exams which simulate the actual testing environment.

Students can earn their medical coding diploma in as little as 30 weeks — that’s just under 8 months!

To enroll in our Medical Coding program, students must have at least one year of healthcare or medical billing experience.

Yes. ACC offers remote learning for medical coding students, offering you greater flexibility in your schedule.

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out online medical coding school costs and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Medical Coding program cost, access our tuition info.

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify. Visit our financial aid page to learn more about available opportunities.

ACC’s online Medical Coding program helps prepare students to classify medical procedures, diagnoses, and treatments into a standardized coding system that healthcare providers, insurance companies, and government agencies can understand.

Medical coders possess a unique skill set that enables them to analyze medical records and perform specialized data entry. As an integral part of the healthcare field, medical coders:

• Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into the computer.
• Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems.
• Maintain or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information.
• Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
• Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.¹

Medical Coding Training Designed for You!

ACC’s online medical coding school helps foster your critical thinking skills so that you can approach real-world medical scenarios with confidence. With 36 required credit hours, the program helps you gain a thorough understanding of best practices, the regulatory landscape, and more.

Note: Applicants to the Medical Coding program will be required to demonstrate at least one year of healthcare/medical billing experience.

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¹U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), Medical Records Specialists