Professional Medical Coder Online Apprenticeship Program - MedCerts

Is Short-Term Online Career Training Right for You?

HI 5100A

Professional Medical Coder

Apprenticeship Program

NOTE: This program requires active employer participation, and thus is not available to all who seek it.

This program is recommended for anyone who is preparing for a career in medical coding for a physician's office and is vital in ones' preparation for either the CCS-P or CPC certification exam. Prior billing & coding or industry experience is recommended.

Watch our program sneak peek below!

Earn your CPC-A & CCS-P certifications in 52 Weeks!

Start
Anytime

100%
Online

Exam Fee
Included

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52  Weeks
Program Length
CPC-A,  
CCS-P 
Certifications
$38,004
Avg. Starting Salary*
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Issuing Authorities

This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: AR, LA, ND, NV, PA, RI, WI

Please review our State Restriction page to view what restrictions there may be in your state/region of residence or employment and ensure you are eligible for enrollment. These restrictions may not apply to students taking programs through an employer, academic or government-sponsored model - including MyCAA and Army, Air Force or Coast Guard Credentialing Assistance. To determine eligibility, please confirm with your sponsor or review our military spouse MyCAA-approved or Military Credentialing Assistance-approved programs.

Interested in Creating an Apprenticeship Program at Your Healthcare Organization?

As a registered apprenticeship intermediary with the Department of Labor, we handle the heavy lifting, certification training and apprenticeship paperwork.

Professional Coder Training Online

Healthcare Organization Costs

Employers can pay for the training, use tuition reimbursement funds, or utilize apprenticeship government funding to possibly cover both the training cost and wages.

Monthly Payment Options Starting At $262 Grants Available to Help With

Apprentice participants are promoted to full employees and regular pay rates when they complete their programs.

Training Costs $4,500 At Time of Student Enrollment

MedCerts handles all intermediary responsibilities, paperwork and administrative tasks so the organization doesn't have to.

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No Credit Check

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The pricing listed above for a monthly payment plan is an estimate for the cost of an 12-month payment plan including down payment. Final pricing is given at time of purchase and may vary from both pricing examples above.

*Students in Maryland are not eligible for MedCerts payment plans but may be eligible for other tuition options. Speak to an Education Consultant for further information.

The pricing listed above for a monthly payment plan is an estimate for the cost of an 12-month payment plan including down payment. Final pricing is given at time of purchase and may vary from both pricing examples above.

Questions on Apprenticeship?

As a registered DoL intermediary, we're ready to answer any and all questions you have.

What Does a Professional Coder Do?

As a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P), you have proven you know how to read a medical chart and assign the correct diagnosis (ICD-10), procedure codes (CPT and HCPCS) for a wide variety of clinical cases and services. You will also be qualified for other revenue cycle and reimbursement duties in doctor’s offices, clinics, ambulatory facilities, and other healthcare settings.

25,318
Entry Level Jobs in the US
Professional Coders will see available jobs grow 1.3% over the next ten years.
All available job and salary information is from Burning Glass Labor Insights and is updated annually to reflect industry changes.

What You’ll Learn
HI 5100A
Professional Coder

MedCerts online Professional Coder program provides comprehensive training that leads to in-demand coding certifications including the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential, and the Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P), both of which are the gold standard for medical coding in physician office settings.

Medical Coders holding professional-level certifications are critical to compliant and profitable medical practices and typically earn 20% more than non-certified coders. The primary objective of this program is to give the tools needed to successfully pass the CPC examination or the CCS-P examination. Those passing the CPC examination earn the credential CPC-A. when the CPC-A (apprentice) is ultimately combined with one (1) year of practical coding experience, the individual earns the full CPC designation.

Regardless of the choice of exam, students learn principles of medical coding related to the three main code books: CPT, ICD-10-CM Volumes 1 & 2, and HCPCS Level II. This program is recommended for anyone who is preparing for a career in medical coding for a physician’s office and is vital in one’s preparation for either the CCS-P or CPC certification examination.

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible for a MedCerts-sponsored 12-month membership to the AAPC or AHIMA, and a complimentary voucher for either the CPC or CCS-P examination. The Registered Apprenticeship program is comprised of MedCerts online training programs as well as 2000 hours of on-the-job training with a sponsoring employer. MedCerts Apprenticeship programs combine class training and “on-the-job training” to provide individuals the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned with an employer to quickly become a strong contributor in the workplace.

*Prior billing & coding or industry experience (Recommended)

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  1. Review patient records and assign numeric/alphanumeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure
  2. Possess in-depth knowledge of the CPT coding system and familiarity with the ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II coding systems
  3. Assign accurate medical codes for professional (physician) procedures, services, and diagnoses
  4. Adhere to medical coding guidelines, regulations, and compliance
Coder Apprentice

Enrollment Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or GED
  2. Web browser with internet connection
  3. Course registration & payment
  4. Prior billing & coding or industry experience (Recommended)
  5. Qualifying score on the Wonderlic SLE-Q test

MedCerts-Covered Materials*

  1. Expert-led video based training
  2. Textbook: CPC Bundle (Text and Coding Resources)
  3. Competency assessments
  4. National Certification exam fee

Student Services

  1. Dedicated Student Success Advisors
  2. Tailored support based on performance & behavior
  3. Exam preparation process
  4. 1 yr. post-program access to Career Center & Career Coaches

*The cost of all materials needed for this program are covered by MedCerts. They are not included in the tuition costs and the student is not liable for any costs or fees related to the above materials.

Required Courses
PS 1011

Professionalism in Allied Health

32 hours
Length
2 Weeks
Duration

This course will benefit anyone considering a career in allied health, as well as those already working in the field. Allied Health Professionals must be committed to the key attributes of professionalism and strive to reflect this within the delivery of patient-centered safe and effective care. “Professionalism” is a broad term that reflects many different skills and abilities. For an individual to exhibit professionalism, he/she must be armed with specific skills and abilities that do not always show up within certification requirements, or even within a career training curriculum. Soft skills are hard to measure and are typically less well-defined than hard skills. However, soft skills are what set many job candidates apart. Professionalism is not just what one knows, it is how one does their job, how one behaves and how one comes across as they interact with others.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with soft skills training that will provide the tools needed to demonstrate a higher level of professionalism on the job. Key components of the course focus on patient interaction, proper office behavior, medical ethics, diversity and cultural bias, emotional strength, professional appearance and communication. The course maintains a focus on the key attributes that are true markers of professionalism.

This course was created with input from healthcare professionals working in the field, healthcare employers that hire our graduates, professional educators and even former MedCerts students. The end result is a collection of modules that touch on the soft skills that are TRULY important in the real world of allied healthcare. In this course, students are engaged through scenario-based learning that allows for real interaction with virtual co-workers and patients. Additionally, game-based activities keep students engaged and entertained throughout their learning journey.

    • Gain an understanding of the expectations of an allied healthcare professional in the workplace
    • Develop and exercise emotional intelligence, self-management and interpersonal skills
    • Build and improve internal and external communication skills with all exchanges
    • Enhance the patient care experience with successful interactions and patient satisfaction
    • Maintain solution-oriented conversations, manage conflict and build self-confidence
HI 1014A

Apprenticeship Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology

96 hours
Length
15 Weeks
Duration

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the language of medicine, through the study of prefixes, suffixes, root words, abbreviation, and pronunciation of words. The curriculum also includes an anatomy and physiology app that enables students to explore, visualize, interact, and experience the anatomy of the human body in 3D and augmented reality (AR). Students will examine the organization of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, hematic, lymphatic and immune, and cardiovascular systems in the human body. They will become familiar with the medical terms that relate to the respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, and excretory systems. Students will also examine terms related to the sensory organs, with a concentration on the organs for hearing, sight, and smell. This immersive experience will trigger thought processes and enhance learning outcomes in their Anatomy and Physiology program. The app has about 50 simulations across different topics.

    • Recognize the structure and function of the 11 body systems and their organs
    • Understand the medical language that is used to describe those systems
    • Analyze and understand medical terms by breaking down their word components
    • Appreciate the major diseases and conditions related to the human body
    • Apply your knowledge within the healthcare setting
HI 1051A

Apprenticeship Medical Coding

224 hours
Length
35 Weeks
Duration

Medical Coding is a comprehensive course that provides the opportunity to gain expertise in reviewing documentation and assigning medical codes for diagnoses, procedures, and services performed by physicians and other qualified healthcare providers in the office or facility setting. Using CPT, ICD, and HCPCS manuals as resources, codes will be assigned across a wide range of services, including evaluation and management, anesthesia, surgery, radiology, pathology, and medicine. This course will cover coding guidelines, regulations, compliance, and reimbursement to include medical necessity, insurance payers and claims, correct coding, and charges related to code assignment. The Medical Coding textbook contains access to a coding software that allows for coding practice even AFTER the completion of the course. The software allows for hands-on demonstration of learned coding skills.

Students are exposed to a variety of eLearning elements that allow for hands-on interaction with the screen for an engaging learning experience. In addition to video-based instruction and simulation, a variety of other learning methods are utilized for engagement, entertainment, and inspiration throughout training.

    • Appreciate the contribution of anatomy and medical terminology in the role of outpatient medical coding
    • Understand the use of medical documentation, medical records, and healthcare information for coding accuracy
    • Utilize characteristics of ICD-10-CM and follow appropriate medical coding conventions and guidelines to select codes for diagnoses, signs, and symptoms
    • Demonstrate the ability to code services, procedures, and supplies using CPT/HCPCS codes following documentation guidelines by applying coding terminology
    • Gain an understanding of the standards of ethical coding, legal compliance and HIPAA as applicable to medical record abstracting to achieve coding quality for accurate reimbursement
Code Course Duration
PS 1011 2 Weeks
HI 1014A 15 Weeks
HI 1051A 35 Weeks
Total Program Duration 52 Weeks

Professional Coder

Job Opportunities

Professional Fee Coder

$28,000 – $56,000*
Estimated Salary
Entry Level

Professional Medical Coder

$28,000 – $56,000*
Estimated Salary
Career Potential

Surgical Coder

$29,000 – $71,000*
Estimated Salary

Disclaimers

  1. This program requires active employer participation, and thus is not available to all who seek it.
  2. This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: Arkansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin
  3. While MedCerts training and related target certifications may be accepted and/or approved by your state of residency, employers reserve the right to dictate prerequisite education, experience, or certification/licensure requirements for their positions. We strongly advise students to research target job posts from area employers and relevant state requirements, barriers, or restrictions prior to enrollment to ensure eligibility upon graduation.