Medical Billing Certification Training Courses & Schools Online
The U.S. healthcare system depends on accurate information being communicated between patients, healthcare providers, clinics, hospitals, and insurance companies. To ensure that medical bills represent the care patients actually received, the system relies upon medical billing specialists to compile, research, and communicate billing costs to the patient and insurance companies. Medical billing specialists ensure that health care providers receive full payments for their services.
Medical billing specialists perform advanced clerical tasks and financial processing. They work closely with healthcare providers and insurance companies to request and process payments.
As a student in a medical billing program, you will learn the process of entering patient information into databases, as well as become familiar with medical terminology, pathology, anatomy, basic pharmacology, medical ethics and laws, and the financial practices of hospitals and insurance companies. You will also learn federal regulations that address patient privacy and insurance eligibility.
The Differences Between Medical Billing and Medical Coding
The tasks assigned to medical billers and medical coders in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations are closely related. These tasks may be performed by a single person with extensive knowledge of both fields, or there may be different people handling the various stages of documentation, research, and billing.
Medical billing specialists focus on collecting payments from patients and insurance companies to ensure healthcare providers are compensated for their services. These professionals possess a strong working knowledge of insurance plans. They determine the amount a patient should pay and what amount should be billed to the insurance company.
Medical coding specialists, on the other hand, understand the ICD and CPT codes that apply to all medical procedures and diagnostics. They are responsible for coding patients’ bills accurately so they can be processed correctly.
Become a Certified Professional Biller
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers professional certification in medical billing. Many employers require this certification for their medical billing professional staff. The Certified Professional Biller (CPB) exam is an open book, proctored exam consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions. To become a Certified Professional Biller, you will need to:
understand the different stages of the billing process.
possess a strong command of the different types of commercial and government-sponsored insurance plans.
be able to process claims and follow up with payees.
understand healthcare, insurance, and billing regulations; particularly HIPAA, the False Claims Act, Fair Debt Collections Act, and Stark Law.
research coverage for patients.
actively pursue payment or coverage denials issued by insurance companies.
Prepare For the CPB Exam
The courses on this site cover the different sections of the CPB exam and provide an overview of the material you will need to master in order to successfully complete the CPB exam.
Q: Do I need a degree to become a medical billing specialist?
A: Degrees are not essential to find work in this field. You can improve your career prospects with coursework in finance, accounting, business, or health care-related fields.
Q: How important is certification?
A: Most jobs in medical billing will require CPB certification offered by the AAPC.
Q: How can I advance in my career?
A: Billing management or administration jobs within healthcare providers’ offices are possible career advancements for a medical biller. You might also consider a degree in science, accounting, business, or healthcare administration to advance further in your career.
Q: Do I need to be certified for both medical billing and coding?
A: Though not necessary for a career in the medical billing field, certification in both fields will open up more potential job opportunities.
Q: Does CPB certification allow me to start my own business?
A: Yes, once you have your certification you can either work for a healthcare provider directly or open your own practice and contract with hospitals or individual providers.
This course focuses on describing the medical claims process. It also includes an introduction of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), managed care plans, and public insurance.
This course focuses on describing the medical billing process and the duties of a medical insurance specialist. This course also provides an overview of patient management starting with scheduling an appointment to collecting payments for the healthcare services.
This course focuses on listing the everday vocabulary used by the medical billing specialists and their peers. The course provides an alphabetical glossary of the medical billing terminology.
This course focuses on an overview of the Healthcare Reform Act of 2010 along with guidelines for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Office of Inspector General (OIG) compliance.
This course focuses on highlighting all the different types of insurance claims processing and filing along with the role of clearinghouses in processing medical claims.
This course focuses on an overview of the government health programs - Medicaid and Medicare. This course also highlights the differences between the two programs.
This course focuses on describing the government and commercial insurance providers along with the differences in the two categories. The course also highlights health insurance coverages.
This course focuses on describing all the medical billing errors along with the ways to catch and correct these errors early. This course also highlights the differences between a denied and a rejected claim.
This course focuses on describing ways of coding diseases and treatments. This includes using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Current Procedural Technology (CPT) codes.
This course focuses on highlighting the ICD-9 and ICD-10 classifications which help identify symptoms, social circumstances, cause of an injury or disease, and medical diagnosis.
Allan Hancock College offers a Medical Billing Certification option under the Medical Assisting program. This nights-only program is only available by application, but it covers the details of billing and coding in the medical field. The program concludes in the certification exam offered through the National Healthcareer Association; this ensures compliance with national standards so graduates are prepared for employment anywhere in the country.
Blinn College
Brenham, TXMore Info
Blinn College has a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Certificate program through the Information Management department. The program allows flexibility to 0 future plans. The curriculum is specifically designed for students seeking to enter the workforce immediately; graduates are competent in all of the skills and tools of the profession. However, the course-work easily transfers for credit in a degree program to suit students intended further study.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Martinsburg, WVMore Info
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers a Medical Billing and Coding program. The 70 credit hours provides students with the skills in insurance forms and reimbursement, CPT and ICD-9 medical code systems, medical terminology, and coding for specialty fields. With this program and practical work experience of two years or less, graduates should qualify for any national professional certification exam for billing and coding specialists.
Canada College
Redwood City, CAMore Info
Canada College offers an Associate in Science for the Medical Billing Specialist. The required classes for this comprehensive program includes medical billing competencies, but also general education, physical education, and ethnic studies. Alternatively, a certificate program is available for students preferring a shorter, more focused program. Essentially, the certificate program's curriculum consists entirely of the medical billing core requirements from the associate degree program. Therefore, students desiring fast entry into the workforce may opt for the certificate, then complete the degree program at a later time.
Central Arizona College
Coolidge, AZMore Info
Central Arizona College offers the Coding and Reimbursement Certificate for those interested in medical billing. Part of the Health Careers District program, the 34 credit hours in the curriculum also qualify for a Health Information Technology degree. Furthermore, all courses count as elective credits at North Arizona University for graduates seeking a four-year degree.
Coahoma Community College
Clarksdale, MSMore Info
Coahoma Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Billing and Coding Technology for prospective students interested in medical billing. The comprehensive degree program takes two years to complete; basic academics and the career technology core round out the 74 credit hours comprising the program. This long program allows some flexibility for students; quality study options focus on accounting, behavioral sciences, and databases.
Coastal Carolina Community College
Jacksonville, NCMore Info
Coastal Carolina Community College has multiple options for medical billing. The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program is designed specifically to ace the Certified Professional Coders exam given by the American Academy of Professional Coders. The understanding is that certification equates to 20% higher pay for employees. Both online and on-campus options exist, as well as day and evening and schedules.
College of Lake County
Grayslake, ILMore Info
College of Lake County has the Medical Billing Specialist Certificate plan. The certificate is part of the Health Information Technology program, so most of the course-work can be applied toward an associate degree in health information technology. The program elicited 100% passing students on the national certification exam.
Columbia Basin College
Pasco, WAMore Info
Columbia Basin College a Professional Technical Certificate for Medical Billing Clerk program. The curriculum consists of 12 courses related to the major; the rest of the classes fulfill the general education requirements of this well-rounded program. The entire program can be completed in only one year, facilitating quick entry into the workplace.
Community Care College
Tulsa, OKMore Info
Community Care College has a Medical Billing and Coding degree program. The Associate in Occupational Science degree program focuses on the computer interactions required by medical billing and coding technicians in the workplace. The classes recognize the importance of personalized instruction for students with experienced instructors. This college offers choices to accommodate various schedules and needs; the degree can be earned entirely online or on-campus, and qualifying students may obtain career assistance.
Dade Medical College-Hollywood
Hollywood, FLMore Info
Dade Medical College-Hollywood has the Associate of Science in Medical Billing and Coding degree program. The curriculum is mostly focused on workplace entry rather than merely passing a certification exam. The program's 1160 clock hours are usually completed in 18 months; 100 percent of students graduate on-time. Post-program job placement for graduates is also 100 percent.
Daymar College-Scottsville
Scottsville, KYMore Info
Daymar College-Scottsville has a program offering a Professional Technical Certificate for Medical Billing Clerk through the Administrative Office Technology department. The curriculum is designed for college-ready students; while 49 credit hours are devoted to the specialty, a minimum of 18 are for general education purposes, including typing proficiency. Upon completion, graduates are ready for immediate employment as medical billing clerks.
Daytona College
Ormond Beach, FLMore Info
Daytona College has both a degree program and diploma program for prospective medical billing technicians. The Medical Billing Technician diploma has courses integral to the Associate of Science in Medical Billing and Coding program, so students can enter the workforce immediately with the diploma while continuing their education toward associate level. The programs have the recognition of the National Healthcare Association, and graduates will qualify to take professional certification exams such as the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist, Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist, and the American Academy of Professional Coders' CPC-A certification.
Delaware County Community College
Media, PAMore Info
Delaware County Community College presents the Certificate of Competency in Medical Billing program. The curriculum is short at only two semesters, but provides the skills needed by medical billing technicians in any medical environment.
Fresno City College
Fresno, CAMore Info
Fresno City College offers an accelerated certificate program for medical billing. In merely eight months, students can acquire a Certificate of Completion in Medical Billing Assistance. The program is comprised of six months in the classroom, followed by an internship lasting two months. Although the curriculum is designed to move students into the workforce immediately, it compromises by allowing course credits to apply toward the institution's Associate of Science degree, even allowing transference to a four-year baccalaureate degree program. The entire program costs less than $2000, one of the best values.
Goodwin College
East Hartford, CTMore Info
Goodwin College has a Medical Billing and Coding Certificate program of two semesters. The content of the program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to advance in the field of medical billing and coding; graduates qualify to take the Certified Professional Coders exam through the American Academy of Professional Coders. Optionally, students may complete an internship for credit in the program.
Kishwaukee College
Malta, ILMore Info
Kishwaukee College offers a Medical Billing and Coding Certificate program as part of the Office Systems program. The curriculum is oriented toward administrative assistants in medical settings whose duties often include billing and coding. The certificate program can be completed in 11 months. The program has a 73% rate of on-time completion by graduates; of those graduates, 47% placed in related employment.
Lord Fairfax Community College
Middletown, VAMore Info
Lord Fairfax Community College offers the Medical Billing and Coding Certificate program. The curriculum is intended for career-minded individuals, both those seeking first-time employment and those advancing their current careers as medical billing assistants, medical coders, or medical insurance specialists. The program can be completed in one year on the standard, full-time schedule of three to four classes each semester.
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, CAMore Info
Los Angeles City College offers a Basic Certificate of Completion in Basic Medical Billing program. The curriculum is intended for medical administrative assistants needing to handle billing; it introduces records management, medical billing, and insurance preparation in California's health systems. The certificate program integrates well with the overarching Associate degree and Medical Office Assistant Certificate programs.
Mayfield College
Cathedral City, CAMore Info
Mayfield College offers a program for Medical Billing and Coding in the Front Office. The curriculum includes medical terminology, law and ethics, billing and coding systems, and insurance processing. In addition to class work, students must complete a local externship.