Key Takeaways
- Medical coding and billing certifications usually involve passing a multiple-choice exam.
- Certified medical coding and billing professionals generally earn higher annual salaries than their peers who don’t hold certifications.
- You don’t need any prior medical experience to learn medical billing and coding, though being familiar with relevant topics such as medical terminology and human anatomy can be helpful before you enroll in a medical billing or coding course.
If you’re interested in the healthcare field but don’t think medical school is the route for you, consider pursuing a medical billing or coding certification.
Medical records specialists such as medical coders and billers ensure that healthcare organizations run smoothly by applying standardized codes to clinical information as well as helping collect patient data and process health insurance claims.
You can become a medical biller or coder with a high school diploma or GED and the right professional certification. Read on to learn more.
What Do Medical Billing and Coding Professionals Do?
Medical coders and billers often perform separate job functions in many healthcare settings, though in other settings—especially smaller medical offices—one person may perform both roles.
Medical coders use physicians’ notes, lab results and other clinical documentation to apply standardized medical codes used throughout the healthcare industry. These codes chronicle a quick summary of medical services provided and help streamline insurance claims.
Medical billing involves using these codes to submit and follow up on claims with insurance companies. These professionals carry out front-end and back-end responsibilities, including collecting patient information, verifying insurance coverage, deducting copays and payments and monitoring claims.
Salary and Job Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups medical billing and coding professionals under the overarching category of medical records specialists. According to the BLS, as of May 2024, medical records specialists earned a median annual wage of $50,250, which was roughly the same as the median annual salary for all occupations ($49,500) that month.
Between 2023 and 2033, the BLS projects 9% job growth for medical records specialists, which is more than twice the projected growth rate for all occupations (4%) during that same period.
To expand your earning potential in the field, you may consider pursuing medical billing and coding certification. According to a 2025 survey from AAPC—one of the field’s major credentialing organizations—professionals with the Certified Professional Biller credential earn an average annual salary of $60,316, while those with the Certified Professional Coder credential make an average of $64,495 annually.
Medical Billing and Coding Certification Options
Along with those offered by AAPC, you might also pursue relevant certifications through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Below are several certifications you can pursue. Make sure to choose the option that best aligns with your desired career and skills.
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)®
The AAPC advertises the CPC credential as the “gold standard” for medical coders. Candidates have four hours to pass a 100-question, multiple-choice exam either online or at a testing center. The AAPC offers a prerequisite course to prepare candidates for the exam, which costs $399 for one attempt or $499 for two. The course, Fundamentals of Medicine, is a 12-week program with synchronous classes, and it costs $1,695 for AAPC members and $2,459.95 for nonmembers.
To maintain certification, CPCs must be AAPC members and complete 36 continuing education units every two years.
Certified Professional Biller (CPB)®
The CPB credential from the AAPC demonstrates competency in all core aspects of medical billing. Candidates must correctly answer 70% of questions during a four-hour, 135-question, multiple-choice exam, which costs $399 for one attempt or $499 for two. The AAPC also offers an accompanying exam prep course, the self-paced version of which costs $1,495 and includes one year of AAPC membership.
Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)®
Risk adjustment coding helps ensure proper treatment and funding for high-risk patients. The CRC credential from the AAPC requires a mastery of ICD-10-CM codes, and candidates must pass a four-hour, 100-question, multiple-choice exam. One exam attempt costs $399, while two attempts cost $499. The AAPC offers a CRC online training course, which costs $1,495 for the self-paced version.
Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)®
CIC certification prepares coding professionals to work in inpatient hospital settings. The proctored exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and seven case studies accompanied by fill-in-the-blank sections. Like many other AAPC tests, the exam costs $399 for one attempt and $499 for two. The self-paced version of AAPC’s CIC preparation course costs $2,195.
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)®
The COC credential prepares medical coders to work in outpatient hospital settings, including clinics, emergency departments and cancer centers. The exam costs $399 and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have four hours to finish the test. The AAPC offers a self-paced COC prep course for $2,195.
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)®
The CCS credential is an AHIMA certification. The exam tests candidates on five domains—coding knowledge and skills, coding documentation, provider queries, regulatory compliance and information technologies—plus various medical scenarios. The exam consists of 107 questions, 97 of which are scored. Candidates must complete the exam within four hours. The test costs $299 for AHIMA members and $399 for nonmembers.
AHIMA recommends that anyone sitting for the CCS exam has completed at least two years of relevant coding experience, as well as coursework in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, medical terminology and other related subjects.
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)
The NHA administers the CBCS certification, which requires a high school diploma or GED and either completion of a medical coding and billing training program or relevant professional experience. The exam consists of 100 questions and costs $129, and the NHA provides an interactive study guide ($64) and a practice test ($49).
What to Know About Medical Billing and Coding Certifications
Requirements for each certification exam, and the available resources to help you prepare for the test, differ by credential. Consider your options for exam prep materials, as well as the costs involved and what each test entails.
Prerequisites and Preparation
Many of the study materials for medical billing and coding certification are designed for students to learn on their own time. The AAPC also offers some instructor-led preparation courses to help candidates prepare for and pass the organization’s certification exam of their choice.
Courses and exam prep materials aren’t always free, but they generally increase your chances at passing the exam and may provide resources to help you find a job.
Requirements
Each medical billing and coding certification listed here requires candidates to pass an exam. In most cases, that exam is multiple-choice, although some tests include case studies with fill-in-the-blank components. Students typically must complete certification exams within a set number of hours, either online or at an in-person testing center.
Once credentialed, many certifications require that you maintain membership in their organization and complete a certain number of continuing education units during a specified period to remain certified.
Cost
There are two main costs to consider when evaluating medical billing and coding certifications: the exams themselves and preparation courses/materials.
The price tag for a medical billing or coding certification exam varies by certification type and credentialing organization. For many of its certification exams, the AAPC generally charges $399 to take an exam once and $499 to take it twice.
AHIMA members can take the Certified Coding Specialist exam for $100 less than people who are not members of the organization, and the National Healthcareer Association charges $129 for its Certified Billing and Coding Specialist exam.
Exam prep courses and materials also vary in cost. Explore the materials available for the certification you want to find the best option for you; for example, you may prefer to take an instructor-led preparation course if you have that option, or you might want to take a practice exam to help you prepare for the real thing.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Medical Billing and Coding Certifications
What does a medical biller and coder do?
Medical coders translate clinical information into industry standard codes that provide a summary of medical services performed. Medical billers use these codes to submit insurance claims. Billers also collect patient information, handle copays and verify insurance coverage.
What is the salary for medical billing and coding jobs?
According to the BLS, medical records specialists earned a median annual wage of $50,250 as of May 2024. Salaries can vary based on employer and location.
How much experience in the medical field do you need before you can learn medical billing and coding?
You don’t need any prior medical experience to learn medical billing or coding. According to the BLS, postsecondary certification is often enough to pursue these jobs.
