Medical coders must pass a credentialing exam.
The path to become a certified medical coder in Indiana is the same as it is within any other state. To become certified in medical coding, individuals must fulfill the obligatory course requirements necessary to earn their degree (minimum is an associate's degree) and complete a particular number of hours of supervised training. The specific criterion that must be met depends on the type of coding credential being sought. For example, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS).
Instructions
Choose a Program
1. Determine what credential you're seeking and look up its corresponding eligibility requirements. This is important, as all coders most pass the exam administered by the licensing body, and to sit for the exam you must meet its respected eligibility conditions.
2. Decide if you'd like to pursue your certification at a standard college in a classroom setting or online. Due to the popularity of this profession, a range of schools offer medical coding classes via the internet.
3. Explore the school and programs that offer medical coding to ensure they're either AHIMA approved coding certificate programs, or a like coding training program that's reputable and recognized.
4. Call the schools and speak to advisers about any questions you have regarding the program, their affiliations, credentials, admission process, curriculum, schedule, tuition and fees.
5. Fill out and submit your application for processing (all students applying for these programs must have their high school diploma or GED), so you can enroll.
Classes & Exam Requirements
6. Complete all mandatory classes, including anatomy and physiology, clinical classification and coding systems, data analysis, database security and management, health data requirements and standards, health information technology, health care reimbursement methods, quality improvement procedures and medical terminology.
7. Finish the number of clinical hours or complete the medical coding experience needed to sit for the exam.
8. Go to the website of the organization that offers the certification you're seeking and look at its policies for applying and registering for the exam.
9. Submit your application (note any fees or documents required) and locate where the exams are being administered and the time slots available (see Resources).
10. Review the candidate guide and recommended study materials to help you prepare for the exam.
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