If you’re like me, when considering Medical Billing and Coding Training, you really just want to know three things:
- What training do I need?
- How long will it take?
- How much will it cost?
We’ll try to answer all those questions here and in the linked pages below.
For Medical Billing and Coding training you can spend anywhere from $300 to $15,000 and take anywhere from 2 months to 2 years. Of course the more you can learn, the greater your potential and options.
Training Options
What to look for when considering your medical billing and coding training options. A look at some of the different training options such as Associates, Diploma, and Certificate programs.
Online Medical Billing Training
Medical billing training online – Online medical billing training. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of medical billing training online. See the course outline for one of the most comprehensive online medical billing courses.
Online Medical Billing Degree
What are the available options when considering an online medical billing degree? What to look for in a reputable medical billing and coding training online degree program.
Medical Billing & Coding Schools
8 Questions to Ask when selecting a traditional or online medical billing and coding school and spending thousands. There are options to the more traditional programs that can save you a lot of money.
Free Medical Billing and Coding Training
What do you get for nothing? Hold on to your credit card! Learn free creative alternatives to traditional training.
Medical Billing and Coding Certification
What organizations offer both Medical Billing and Coding Certification? Learn what certification is and the benefits to being a certified Medical Billing Specialist or Certified Professional Coder.
Certification in Medical Billing
More details on certification for medical billing only. The four organizations that offer certification, the costs, and requirements for becoming certified.
Online Medical Coding Schools
Many people consider online medical coding schools because they wish to obtain marketable skills and become certified as a medical coder. Online medical coding training has made it possible to learn at you own pace, at a time convenient for you, and generally for a lower cost than traditional campus programs.
Your Career Goals
If you’re pursuing a medical billing job in a more corporate setting such as a hospital or insurance company, a certificate or degree from an accredited institution that prepares you for certification is a big plus. Generally the more medical billing and coding training and credentials you have, the more your income potential.
Starting salaries in medical billing and coding are usually around the mid $20,000 a year with experienced billers earning well into the 30’s. With coding experience and good managerial skills this could be higher.
Those with more credentials would typically work for a large practice, hospital, or insurance company. With the more advanced certifications offered by AAPC or AHIMA and some experience you could expect to earn $30-40,000/year range. This of course can vary a lot depending on location and employer.
There are exceptions. Good experience can make up for a lack of training. I’m a good example of that. Before my medical billing business took off, I was offered a conventional job for a large practice downtown near the city I live in. I got an offer near $16/hour which I thought was pretty good. The same day I got a call from a doctor who ended up being my first client. Needless to say I declined the offer.
Scams
Watch out for fake online medical billing and coding schools. There are fake accreditation agencies so make sure the school is accredited by a legitimate organization. They should be easy to contact via phone if you have questions. Also make sure they have a physical address.
Don’t let a nice website fool you. Fake schools put up a good front. Just having a .edu web extension doesn’t mean they are legitimate as these website extensions are available to everybody. If their claims sound to good to be true, they probably are.
Starting a Business
If you’re starting you own business, being knowledgeable on coding and industry and regulatory trends and changes gives you more services to offer. Not to mention the consulting opportunities.
However you don’t have to go through extensive medical billing and coding training to operate a successful medical billing and coding business – I’m a good example of that!
You do need knowledge and skills like:
- An attention to detail
- Math and data entry
- Understand insurance plans
- Understanding of terminology and ICD-9 (& ICD-10) and CPT codes
- Familiarity of medical billing guidelines
Alternatives To Traditional Training
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced alternative option, you may want to checkout an online medical billing training course like MedicalBillingCourse.com. It’s a reputable, highly rated, self-paced online medical billing training course taught by instructors who actually work in medical billing. And its accredited by the Better Business Bureau and guaranteed.
We’ve also listed the individual online programs offered by Medical Billing Live here.
I’ve learned that there’s no program or book that will make you successful – that comes from you. Your drive, passion, and perseverance will make you successful. However these recommended resources will teach you everything you need to know to get started in medical billing for a very reasonable price.
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