UPDATE
Introducing: Penn Foster’s Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma Program
While Ashworth College is no longer Accepting enrollments in our Medical Billing and Coding Program, we’re excited to introduce you to our partner school, Penn Foster.
Open the door to a career in the medical field with Penn Foster. In our online Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma Program, you’ll gain the need-to-know skills to work as a medical billing and coding professional. At the end of the program, you’ll be ready to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam.
LEARN MORETake the Next Steps Towards a Career You Want
Penn Foster’s online Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma Program can help you prepare to take the first steps toward the job you want. With flexible, online courses, you can learn skills and knowledge on your schedule, from home.
Why Penn Foster?
Penn Foster has been on a mission to help people like you launch, accelerate, and thrive in their careers for more than 125 years. We provide students with a quality education that fits your busy lifestyle and budget, offering over 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs across our College, Career School, and High School. The program you choose is structured to fit your learning needs so you can achieve your goals, and is designed to work with your schedule, anytime, anywhere you want to study. With a focus on relevant skills and career preparation for the job you’re after, Penn Foster can help you graduate with confidence and help provide a pathway towards your career goals.
You'll learn with real coding manuals you can take with you after graduation.
Prove your worth, boost your pay, and strengthen your career path.
Learning on professional software fast-tracks your job qualifications.
What You'll Learn in Penn Foster’s Medical Billing and Coding Program
- How to apply CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS coding guidelines to identify diagnoses, procedures, and patient medical records.
- How to identify the procedures for patient record retrieval and reimbursement.
- How to explain the role of a medical coder as a liaison between the health clinician and billing offices.
- How to apply computer and information literacy skills using electronic health records software.
Penn Foster’s Online Medical Billing and Coding Curriculum
In our online Medical Billing and Coding Program, you'll gain the skilled and interactive medical billing and coding training required to pursue a career in this field. Your courses include:
- Body Systems and Medical Terminology
- Electronic Medical Records
- Basic Medical Coding
- Intermediate Medical Coding
Frequently asked questions
Whether you’re pursuing higher education for the first time or you’re a professional looking for a career change, you may have questions about how online programs work. Here’s what you need to know about enrolling in Penn Foster's Medical Billing and Coding Program.
Medical records and health techs have a median salary of $48,780 per year.† Learn more about a potential career as a medical billing and coding specialist in our Medical Billing and Coding Salary Guide.
Medical billing and coding specialists can find work in a variety of settings including:
- Doctor’s offices
- Hospitals
- Insurance companies
- Skilled nursing facilities
We keep our program costs low so you can keep your goals within reach! Your program includes a CBCS Exam Voucher ($115 value) in the cost of the program and we offer discounts and payment plans. Visit our tuition page for the most current tuition information.
Penn Foster has been accredited for over 50 years. Penn Foster College is accredited by the DEAC. You can find more accreditation details on our Program Details page.
The majority of your study materials will be available online in the form of study guides and study units in your Student Portal. Your medical billing and coding program also includes 3 digital textbooks and 3 physical textbooks which will be delivered through the mail as you need them at no additional cost. Your books include exam preparation material.
Certifications are official documents presented after successfully passing an appropriate exam, which is separate from graduating from your program. Certification exams are administered by independent third parties and are not given as part of a school curriculum. Upon completing your Penn Foster Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma Program, however, you’ll be better prepared to sit for industry-standard certification exams in the field, such as the National Healthcareer Association’s Billing and Coding Specialist Certification exam. Graduates of the program also receive a voucher to cover the cost of the exam, which is included in the price of tuition.
Typically, medical coders and billers need to have a few different skills to be successful on the job, including:
- The ability to analyze data and processes
- Time management
- Organization
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Attention to detail
- Knowledge of commonly used codes
- Understanding of HIPAA
- Basic medical terminology
Depending on the path you choose, it can usually take about a year to become a medical coder. Most medical billing and coding training programs can be completed in about a year. Once you’ve completed training, you’ll sit for your certification exam and start applying for jobs.
After gaining some on-the-job experience, you may want to advance your medical billing and coding career. One good way to do this can be by specializing in a particular area of billing and coding. Some of the highest paid medical coding specialties include coding manager, hospital coder, coding and reimbursement specialist, and inpatient and outpatient coding.
Like any job, there will be days that are stressful but medical billing and coding isn’t necessarily the kind of job where you’ll be stressed all the time. It may be more stressful when you have a lot of work to get done in a short period of time, but overall, it’s one of the more flexible jobs out there.
State requirements
A career in this field may require you to meet certain licensing, training, and other requirements that can vary by vocation and state. You should check with your state, local government, and/or licensing board to find out which requirements may be applicable in your state. Click here for contact information on state licensing/regulatory boards and certain professional licensing information.