Overview
In many instances, financial reimbursement to patients or medical professionals for healthcare services is tied to the use of standard numeric coding systems. The Coding Specialist Certificate prepares students for entry-level positions applying these codes to healthcare records in hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician group practices, billing companies, and insurance companies. Students learn to accurately determine code assignments using ICD and CPT coding systems.
Graduates of the certificate program may take an entry-level certification exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Successful completion of the exam earns the credential Certified Coding Associate (CCA).
Professional organizations that offer advanced certification recommend coding education along with experience in the field prior to pursuing certification. Individuals should evaluate their knowledge and experience prior to considering an advanced certification examination.
All of the courses in the certificate are offered online.
COC Program Information 2024-25 (click to download)
Related Programs
Health Information Management Technology (HIM)Contacts
Program Chair
Career Outlook
Graduates Are Prepared To
- Work in entry-level coding and billing positions in outpatient clinics, outpatient surgery centers, physician group practices, billing companies, and insurance companies
- Take the entry-level certification exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Successful completion of the exam earns the credential Certified Coding Associate (CCA).
Representative Job Titles For Graduates
- Coder
- Medical Biller
Graduate Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical coders will grow by 7 percent through 2031, about as fast as the average for all professions.
$48,312 median annual salary
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
Contacts
Program Chair
Curriculum
Effective 2024-2025 academic year
Coding Specialist Certificate (COC)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| HIM 100 | Introduction to Health Information Management | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| BIO 151 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| HIM 115 | Clinical Abstracting of Health Data | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| BIO 152 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| MCH 1XX Medical Terminology Elective (T) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||||
| HIM 130 | International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| HIM 135 | Pharmacology for Health Information Management | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| BIO 240 | Pathophysiology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester 4 | ||||
| HIM 215 | Advanced Medical Coding | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| HIM 226 | Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Semester 5 | ||||
| HIM 210 | Healthcare Reimbursement Methodologies | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HIM 227 | Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HIM 250 | Health Information Management Coding Lab | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Total Credits: | 33 | 7 | 36 | |
Electives
| First Year Experience Elective | ||
| FYE 100 | College Success Strategies: Overview | 1 |
| FYE 105 | College Success Strategies: Overview and Application | 2 |
| FYE 110 | College Success Strategies: Practice and Application | 3 |
| Medical Terminology Elective | ||
| MCH 104 | Comprehensive Medical Terminology | 3 |
| MCH 101 & MCH 102 |
Medical Terminology 1 and Medical Terminology 2 |
4 |