2023 Best Online Medical Billing & Coding Certificate Programs

McLennan Community College (MCC) is a medium-sized, public institution. MCC offers an online Certificate of Completion in Health Information Technology Coding Specialist requiring 32 credit hours. This program is fully online but requires 112 hours of in-person clinical instruction at a clinical site. Some core classes for this certificate include Health Information Systems, Coding & Insurance, and Health Data Content & Structure. Once this two year program is completed, graduates may go on to work in hospitals, health agencies, medical clinics, and other health care settings.

At MCC, students use Brightspace to access their online coursework, which is fully online except for some in-person clinical hours.

Madison Area Technical College (MATC) is a medium-sized, public institution that offers both an online Technical Diploma in Medical Billing Specialist, requiring 28 credit hours, and an online Technical Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist that requires 35 credit hours. MATC’s programs focus on the business and technical side of health care. Faculty prepare graduates to work as outpatient coders, analysts, patient accounts specialists, and billing customer service representatives. Some core classes for these diplomas include Digital Literacy for Health care, Management of Coding Services, and Medical Administrative Procedures. These programs can be completed in two years with a full-time schedule.

At MATC, students use Blackboard to access their coursework, which is fully online and asynchronous. MATC has online-live seminars for students who want to talk directly to other students in their program.

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is a medium-sized, public institution. It offers an online Certificate of Achievement in Medical Coding Specialist requiring 38 credit hours. SBCC teaches students to apply biomedical knowledge to clinical code, analyze data to improve care, and apply organizational standards to data storage, retrieval, and security. This program can be completed in one to two years, including classes such as Legal Aspects of Health Care, CPT Procedural Coding, and Pharmacology for Allied Health. There is also an in-person, hands-on practicum that provides professional experience before graduates enter the workplace.

At SBCC, students use Canvas to access their coursework, which is asynchronous.

Fisher College (FC) is a small, private institution. FC offers an online Certificate in Medical Coding, which requires 37-39 credits. This program prepares graduates to work in hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, insurance, and more. Some core classes for this certificate include Healthcare Reimbursement Methodologies, Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, and Medical Terminology. This program prepares graduates to become Certified Coding Associates (CCA) and Certified Coding Specialists (CCS).

At FC, students use Blackboard to access their coursework, which is fully online and asynchronous.

Gwinnett Technical College (GTC) is a medium-sized, public institution. GTC offers an online Certificate in Medical Billing Clerk, which requires 20 credit hours. GTC’s program focuses on critical office and technology skills and teaches students to use a wide range of hardware, software, and services. Some core classes for this certificate include Medical Office Billing/Coding/Insurance, Records Management, and Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences. This program can be completed in two to three semesters with a full-time schedule, and graduates go on to work as administrative assistants, medical insurance coders, and MS office specialists.

At GTC, students use Blackboard to access their coursework, which is entirely online.

Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) is a public university with an online Diploma in Coding Specialist. This remote program requires 40 credit hours, which full-time students can complete in approximately two years. All students who apply are accepted into RCTC, with 32% graduating.

RCTC students use Brightspace as their primary learning management system, where they can complete courses 100% online. The curriculum for this program trains students in the skills needed to code, classify, and index various procedures and diagnoses while also covering the laws and policies that protect patient data. Among the required classes are Medical Terminology for Health Professions, CPT Coding, and Pharmacology. Upon completion of the program students will be eligible to take the Certified Professional Coder exam. Career opportunities may be available as medical secretaries, medical transcriptionists, and health information technicians.

RCTC also offers a Diploma in Healthcare Informatics that focuses more on securing and analyzing patient information.

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) is a small, public institution. SWTC offers an online Technical Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist, which requires 33-34 credit hours. This diploma program prepares students for employment as an outpatient coder, medical coding specialist, claims analyst, and more. Some core classes in this program are Health Revenue Management, Digital Literacy for Healthcare, and Medical Terminology. This program can be completed in one to two years with a full-time schedule.

At SWTC, students use Schoology to access their coursework, which is entirely online and asynchronous.

Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) is a small, private institution. PTC offers an online Certificate in Medical Coding requiring 57 credit hours. This program can be completed in one to two years with a full-time schedule. PTC’s certificate program provides students with experience in transforming written descriptions of medical data into alphanumeric designations. Some core classes in this program include Healthcare Delivery in the Medical Office, Diseases & Diagnostic Methods, and Foundations of Health Insurance. Graduates enter careers in the medical billing and coding field in settings such as hospitals, medical offices, and clinics.

At PTC, students use Blackboard to access their coursework, which is fully online and asynchronous.

Sullivan University (SU) is a medium-sized, private institution. It offers an online Certificate in Medical Coding that requires 36 credit hours and can be completed in nine months with a full-time schedule. Courses for this certificate include Advanced Medical Coding, Health Information Technology, and Pathophysiology with Pharmacology. SU graduates go on to work at doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals, insurance companies, and medical billing agencies.

At SU, students use Blackboard to access their online coursework, which is fully online.

Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) is a medium-sized, public institution that offers an online Technical Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist, which requires 31 credit hours and two semesters. In about a year, students can learn how to review medical documentation and translate it into an alphanumeric classification system. Some core classes in this program include Healthcare Revenue Management, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding, and Medical Terminology. Graduates of this program go on to work as hospital outpatient coders, charge master auditors, and insurance claims clerk, among other things.

At MPTC, students use Canvas to access their coursework which is entirely online and asynchronous.

Northcentral Technical College (NTC) is a medium-sized, public institution. NTC offers an online Technical Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist that requires 29 credit hours. Students can complete the online diploma in one to two years. NTC graduates work as coding specialists in health care facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, consulting firms, and governmental agencies. Some core classes in this program are Digital Literacy for Healthcare, Foundations of HIM, and Healthcare Revenue Management.

At NTC, students use Canvas to access their coursework, which is all online and asynchronous.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) is a public university that hosts an online Technical Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist. Graduation requirements state that students must complete 29 credit hours, which can be done in approximately two years on a full-time schedule. NWTC's acceptance rate is 100%, with 50% of students graduating.

Online students at NWTC use Blackboard to complete their coursework online in an asynchronous format. The curriculum teaches students the fundamentals of coding and billing along with diseases, anatomy, and other medical terminology used in professional settings. Required courses include Digital Literacy Healthcare, Healthcare Revenue Management, and Intermed Coding. The credits earned while earning this diploma can count toward an associate degree. Graduates may seek employment as medical coding specialists, coding analysts, and outpatient coders.

Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) is a public institution that features an online Technical Certificate of Credit in Medical Coding requiring 24 credit hours. The completion time for a program of this size is approximately one year for full-time students. CGTC accepts all applicants, with 46% of students graduating.

At CGTC, students use Blackboard as their learning management system, where courses are delivered entirely online and asynchronously. The core curriculum for this program teaches students the advanced skills needed to code in the medical field. Students receive additional training in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and physician's procedural coding. Here are a few examples of required courses: Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences, Document Production, and Medical Billing and Coding. This online certificate program allows students to pursue careers as medical coders.

Rasmussen University is a two-year institution that offers an online Medical Billing and Coding Certificate. With a total of ten classes, distance learners can complete this degree with 36 credit hours. Since there are eight start times throughout the school year, students can start sooner when they are ready to begin. Rasmussen’s site claims that students can finish in as few as nine months.

Through Rasmussen’s fully remote classwork and virtual labs, students of the medical billing and coding program earn valuable hands-on coding and billing skills that will help them in their careers. All of the credits earned from this accredited school can also be applied toward associate and bachelor’s degrees at Rasmussen if students want to continue their education beyond the certificate level. With this certificate alone, students can pursue roles as medical billers and coders, of course, but also patient services team members or patient registrars.

Seminole State College of Florida is a public university that offers an online Technical Certificate in Medical Information Coder/Biller. This online certificate requires 37 credit hours, which are generally completed in five semesters, or approximately two years while studying full time. Seminole State accepts 100% of applicants, while 43% of students successfully graduate.

Canvas is the main learning platform used by Seminole State students for their coursework, which students complete 100% online. This comprehensive online certificate program explores physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology while engaging students in the computer software used to manage health information on a professional level. Among the required credits are the following classes: Advanced Coding Applications, Medical Terminology, and Introduction to Health Information Management. An additional three credits are required for the practicum, where students work with actual patient records and train in resume building and professional networking. This experience may lead to jobs as medical billers, coders, and records technicians.

DeVry University is a private institution with an online Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding requiring the completion of 34 credit hours. Typically, students graduate in approximately two years while studying full time. DeVry accepts 46% of applicants, with 20% of students reaching graduation.

All online courses at DeVry are delivered through the Canvas learning management system. This allows students to study completely online and at their own pace. Students learn medical terminology, legal and regulatory procedures while using mock medical records to gain practical experience in coding and billing. Among the major requirements are courses such as Basic Medical Terminology, Health Information Processes with Lab, and Health Insurance and Reimbursement. Additionally, students must complete a coding practicum and review. Alumni with this certificate are qualified to become billing specialists, insurance claims specialists, and medical billers.

Reynolds Community College (RCC) is a public university offering an online Medical Records Coder (Health Information Management) Career Studies Certificate requiring 27 credit hours. Students studying on a full-time schedule can complete this program in approximately one year. The acceptance rate at RCC is 100%, and the graduation rate is 18%.

Students at RCC use the Canvas learning management system to access their coursework and accompanying material, which is delivered entirely online. The curriculum for this program offers students with the technical knowledge needed to be professional medical coders. Students also familiarize themselves with disease processes, pharmacology, human anatomy, and physiology. There are required courses, such as Medical Terminology, Introduction to Human Pathology, and Health Classification Systems. Graduates will be equipped for entry-level roles as medical coders.

RCC also offers an online Advanced Medical Coder (Health Information Management) Career Studies Certificate, which is suited for those seeking supervisory roles in the field of medical records management.

St. Petersburg College (SPC) is a public university offering an online Medical Coding and Revenue Management Certificate that requires 37 credit hours. Students can complete this program in approximately two years while studying full time. The acceptance rate at SPC is 100%, with 35% of students graduating.

At SPC, students use Brightspace for their remote courses, which they can complete 100% online and on a flexible study schedule. This certificate program prepares students for the Certified Coding Associate exam by helping them develop an understanding of the coding system used for medical diagnoses as well as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical disease processes. Required classes include Computer Applications, Introduction to Coding and Reimbursement Systems, and Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. The final term consists of practical experience and an exam review. Graduates may explore roles as medical records specialists, health information technologists, and medical registrars.

Carrington College is a private university with an online Certificate of Achievement in Medical Billing and Coding. This online certificate program requires 36 credit hours, which full-time students can complete in approximately two years. Students are accepted into Carrington at a rate of 100%, with 58% of students graduating.

Carrington students use a learning management system, where they can complete courses 100% online. The curriculum for this program teaches students how to prepare digital patient forms using medical software. Anatomy, medical terminology, medical records management, and regulatory standards are also explored. Students take five iterations of the core course Medical Billing and Coding Theory, along with separate application courses, before participating in an externship and career development seminar. Career opportunities may be available in entry-level roles as medical secretaries, medical records specialists, and administrative assistants.

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) is a public university offering an online Certificate in Medical Office Billing & Coding, which requires 18 credit hours. Students studying on a full-time schedule can complete this program in approximately one year. The acceptance rate at GTCC is 100% and the graduation rate is 22%.

Students at GTCC use the Canvas learning management system to access their core online courses, which are taught entirely online. Students are free to study part time or full time, depending on their personal schedules. The curriculum for this program prepares students to take the Certified Professional Coders Exam by teaching medical terminology, medical procedures and diagnoses, and the processes behind medical insurance and billing. There are required courses, such as Procedure Coding, Medical Coding Certification Preparation, and Medical Office Terms.

GTCC also offers a more comprehensive online Diploma in Medical Office Administration - Medical Billing and Coding, where students develop additional skills in office communication and office management. Graduates of either program may earn career opportunities as medical secretaries, data entry keyers, and administrative assistants.