Medical Coding Career?
Alright so here's a bit of background information: I'm 21 years old. I've never worked full time. I've completed High School and some college. I'm married with no kids. Like everyone else, I'm looking for the quick way to make some decent money. I heard about medical coding a couple times over the last couple years. I've heard the schooling isn't too difficult and can be taken online and the pay is really good.
Some questions for anyone in the business:
How long is the schooling and how much is the price tag? Can all my classes be taken online? How soon before I can secure a job after getting certified? How much is the average salary? I live in Virginia, near Richmond area.
Best Answer
I teach medical billing and coding.
Most students do very well with the billing part of the course. The coding is more challenging. Some students have a natural aptitude for it and others have to work harder at it.
Program lengths vary. Here are some things to consider in no particular order.
The least expensive options are your community college, adult school and ROP programs.
I don't know of any online programs and in general I would not recommend them. Students all learn from each other when practicing and you miss out on a lot if you don't have an instructor there to help you as you go along and give real life examples of different experiences.
The private vocational schools are the most expensive but work well for some students who don't do well in a traditional college.
Before you begin any program contact local employers and find out which schools they like. Some companies won't hire graduates of certain programs.
Remember the economy is tight all around right now. Many of my students who study billing and coding start off with a job working in the medical front office because they understand billing and coding. At least it would get your foot in the door and you would be getting paid to learn. If you do well and have a good attitude there is a good chance you could eventually move up.
Something important to understand. Once you graduate the program you have a certificate of completion. That DOES NOT mean that you are certified. There are several different tests one can take to become certified and each has different prerequisites. Check with local employers to find out which one they want. Certified Professional Coder is a common one but there are others.
Source(s):
Been in the medical field over 20 years. Taught medical billing and coding for five years.
