The Best Medical Billing and Coding Schools of 2024
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Medical billers and coders convert patient diagnosis and treatment information into numerical codes, which insurance companies and government agencies use to reimburse healthcare providers. You typically need a certificate or associate degree to become a medical biller or coder.
Attending an accredited medical billing and coding school can equip you with valuable clinical and clerical skills to manage patient records and accurately process claims. Learn more about the top medical billing and coding programs in this guide.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top 10 Medical Billing and Coding Programs
GateWay Community College-Central City
Phoenix, AZ- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled661
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Fox Valley Technical College
- Appleton, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,230
- Out-of-state$6,345
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled11,664
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
Sinclair Community College
- Dayton, OH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,649
- Out-of-state$7,396
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled18,544
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Bowling Green, KY
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,296
- Out-of-state$15,048
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled4,368
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
South Georgia Technical College
- Americus, GA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,000
- Out-of-state$6,000
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,611
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Lake Land College
- Mattoon, IL
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$7,139
- Out-of-state$12,941
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled3,644
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationYes
Waubonsee Community College
- Sugar Grove, IL
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,079
- Out-of-state$9,884
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled7,779
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
Paris Junior College
- Paris, TX
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$3,210
- Out-of-state$4,710
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate57%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled4,365
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Barton County Community College
- Great Bend, KS
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,368
- Out-of-state$3,136
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled3,748
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment69%
- AccreditationYes
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
- Fennimore, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,233
- Out-of-state$6,345
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,520
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment35%
- AccreditationYes
Benefits of Attending a Medical Billing and Coding Program
- With a certificate program, you can become a medical biller or coder in under one year.
- As of 2023, 63% of billing and coding staff work entirely or partially from home, according to AAPC’s 2024 salary report.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for medical billers and coders to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033 — much faster than the average job.
- AAPC’s 2024 salary report reveals that medical billers and coders earn average salaries between $45,000 and $80,000 per year, depending on experience.
- With continuing education, billers and coders can advance into senior roles within 10 years.
Are Medical Billing and Coding Schools Accredited?
The best medical billing and coding schools are accredited. Institutional accreditation demonstrates that schools — including universities, community colleges, and trade schools — meet rigorous academic standards.
Many employers prefer candidates with academic credentials from accredited schools. If you want to use federal financial aid to pay for your certificate or degree, you must also attend an accredited institution.
Specific programs can also hold optional programmatic accreditation. Though there are currently no programmatic accreditors for medical billing and coding specifically, related degree programs in health informatics and health information management can hold accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
In addition, many medical billing and coding programs earn approval from organizations like the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and AAPC, indicating that programs’ curricula adequately prepare graduates for medical billing and coding certification from these organizations.
Types of Medical Billing and Coding Programs
There are three main types of accredited medical billing and coding school. While each kind of program prepares you for national certification examinations, they differ significantly. The right program depends on your preferred time frame, budget, and career goals. We explore these options below.
Medical Billing and Coding Degree
A degree program includes general education and classes specific to medical billing and coding. An associate degree in medical billing and coding typically takes two years for a full-time student.
A degree program can be a valuable differentiator if you want to take on a leadership role in medical billing and coding. Community colleges typically offer the most affordable tuition for associate degrees.
- Time to Complete: 2 years full time
- Program Outcomes: Associate degree
Medical Billing and Coding Nondegree Course
A medical billing and coding nondegree course takes less time than a full degree program. Consequently, this educational option can benefit you if you want to start working faster, already have a degree in another field and want to transition careers, or are unsure if medical billing and coding is right for you.
Ensure all nondegree courses on your list come from an accredited organization or medical billing and coding school. Some providers offer these classes online to provide flexibility for working learners.
You may be able to transfer some or all of your credits from a nondegree course toward a certificate or degree program, though you should research transfer policies to understand how other programs will accept your credits.
- Time to Complete: 3-9 months
- Program Outcomes: Eligibility to take national certification examination; potential to transfer credits to certificate or degree programs
Medical Billing and Coding Certificate or Diploma
A medical billing and coding certificate or diploma program can be very quick, with some lasting just four weeks. However, most of these programs take 6-8 months. Shorter courses may require you to attend classes full time to complete them more quickly.
Be aware that certificate programs are not the same as professional certification. A school can award you a certificate, but only a certifying body can issue a certification. As with nondegree programs, you may be able to transfer some or all of your credits to an accredited medical billing and coding school if you want to pursue further education later.
- Time to Complete: 2-8 months
- Program Outcomes: Diploma or certificate; eligibility to take national certification examination; potential to transfer credits to certificate or degree programs
Common Medical Billing and Coding Certifications
There are more than 30 medical billing and coding certifications available, primarily from organizations like AAPC and AHIMA. The following list explores some of the most common professional credentials for medical billers and coders.
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC): AAPC offers the CPC certification, one of their most popular credentials. According to the organization, the median salary for professionals with CPC certification was $64,495 in 2023. To earn the credential, you must pass a test that consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. You must also take a required AAPC course and a year of relevant experience or have two years’ experience. The CPC certification requires applicants to hold AAPC membership.
- Certified Professional Biller (CPB): The CPB certification from AAPC demonstrates knowledge and expertise in medical billing processes, coding systems, insurance claims, and reimbursement regulations. Before taking the certification exam, you must take required classes from AAPC or have experience in healthcare or medical billing. The test includes 135 multiple-choice questions about billing. The median salary for a healthcare worker with CPB certification was $60,316 in 2023, according to AAPC data.
- Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC): Risk adjustment coding is a specific area of coding that ensures providers and health plans receive the funding they need to cover healthcare for high-risk patients. The exam for this credential includes 100 multiple-choice questions. The 2023 median salary for CRC-certified coders was $71,747, according to AAPC.
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA): AHIMA offers CCA certification for entry-level medical coders. To qualify for the credential, you need a high school diploma or its equivalent. The organization recommends—but does not require—either six months of coding experience or preparation courses. There are 105 questions on the certification exam, and you must bring your own codebook to the test. The average salary for a CCA was $53,790 in 2019, according to data from AHIMA.
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS): The CCS is an advanced AHIMA certification. The organization recommends applicants hold either a CCA credential and one year of experience as a coder or other combinations of experience and education. In 2019, the average salary for workers with CCS credentials was $79,060, according to AHIMA.
Advanced Credentials
Earning even more advanced certifications can help you progress in your career and negotiate a higher salary. These credentials require specialized knowledge of coding and coding administration. For example, workers with certified professional compliance officer credentials from AAPC earned an average wage of $89,010 in 2023. Similarly, the average salary for a specialty certification in healthcare privacy and security was $100,560 in 2019, according to AHIMA.
While advanced certifications like these may not have experience or education requirements to qualify for the examination, AHIMA and AAPC recommend professional experience, training, or both before taking these exams.
Medical Billing and Coding Coursework
Student billers and coders take hybrid courses in medical and clerical matters. Medical subjects focus on language — the medical Latin and shorthand communications of hospital settings — and how to translate those terms into thousands of codes. Office administration skills focus on billing communications among healthcare providers, insurance companies, government agencies, and patients.
Medical Billing and Health Insurance
The core skills of the medical billing and coding trade focus on the reimbursement processes of health insurance and government agencies like Medicare and Medicaid. Improperly coded claims are regularly rejected, requiring time-consuming resubmission. Students need a solid understanding of coding procedures, payment systems, and fee schedules.
Coding for Hospital Applications/Medical Office Applications
Students learn to submit and manage standard hospital billing claim forms, interpret medical data, and perform basic coding with two or more coding systems. Widely used systems such as CPT, ICD-9, and ICD-10 provide a shorthand for conditions, diagnoses, and treatments.
Medical Terminology
Translating medical services into code requires familiarity with medical terms, including the names of obscure ailments and surgical jargon. Student medical billers learn the origins and fundamentals of medical Latin, along with the terminology and shorthand used in laboratories and pharmacies. Courses cover vocabulary for basic anatomy, body systems, and specific fields.
Medical Contracts, Ethics, and HIPAA
Medical billers and coders handle private information, requiring training in ethics. Topics include care contracts, protected health information and disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and electronic health record incentives offered under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act.
Medical Office Procedures
Medical office administration includes managing electronic, telephone, and print mail; business letter writing; logistics planning; and task management.
How Much Does a Medical Biller and Coder Make?
Attending an accredited medical billing and coding school can offer a positive return on investment: The BLS reports that the 2023 median salary for these workers was $48,780—about $700 more than the median wage of $48,060 for all workers nationwide. Salary data from AAPC and AHIMA shows even higher average wages for medical billers and coders with professional certifications.
The BLS projects a job growth rate of 9% from 2023 to 2033—much faster than average. This equates to 15,000 job openings per year.
Q&A With a Real Medical Billing and Coding Specialist: Julie Muniz, CPC
Q: Is there a lot of technical change to keep up with in the medical billing and coding field? What is the continuing education experience like?
“[In medical billing,] every year we receive new and/or updated ICD-10 Diagnosis code changes October 1 and new or updated CPT changes January 1, so every year you will need to have new manuals. […] There are also continual CMS (Medicare) updated guidelines throughout the year. In addition, you would need to earn continuing education units (CEUs) yearly to renew your certification. In my case, it’s 36 CEUs every two years for a Certified Professional Coder with the AAPC. This can be done with conferences, webinars, local meetings, etc.”
Q: In your experience, what are the most valuable credentials a medical biller and coder can receive?
“I would say the CPC for professional coding and the CPB for professional billing. Certification already starts you off at a higher salary level, and, of course, any experience you have before your certification will also add to your compensation. There are many other certifications if you are interested in other areas, such as inpatient hospitals, risk management, auditing, and compliance. There are also specialty certifications within the medical coding field that can increase your compensation and promotion.”
Q: What are the most rewarding aspects of medical billing and coding?
“The appreciation of the physician group that I work for with employee acknowledgments throughout the year. Also, the opportunity to work from home is huge.”
Q: What are the most challenging aspects of medical billing and coding?
“In my day-to-day, it’s staying focused, reading operative reports and deciphering the procedure(s) that the physician performed. Insurance company appeals can be very challenging when a code is denied. And also staying up to date on coding guidelines.”
Q: What advice would you give someone looking to enter the field?
“Definitely get your basic certification to get your foot in the door. Many employers will not hire without having at least a CPC designation. I have many co-workers who left other fields to learn medical coding and love it. It’s a great field to get into.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Billing and Coding Schools
The primary difference between these roles lies in their professional responsibilities. Billing involves preparing medical bills for payers like insurance companies and patients. Conversely, medical coding assigns standardized codes to different procedures to simplify medical records and billing.
