Medical Billing Coding Certification Requirements in North Carolina

Getting your medical billing and coding certification is an excellent way to enter the medical industry. Medical coding and billing specialists oversee the financial reimbursement process between a patient's insurance company and healthcare providers. In particular, coding professionals must properly communicate relevant information about a patient's care through specialized shorthand codes drawn from a standardized database. While North Carolina, or any other state, does not require medical coding certification, a certification credential can lead to higher pay and increased job opportunities.

Education Leading to Certification

• Taking training courses in medical billing and coding is one of the best ways to become a medical coding professional because most types of certification require knowledge that can only be obtained through a training program. Furthermore, most employers require formalized training for medical billing and coding positions. There are dozens of medical coding and billing training programs throughout the state of North Carolina. For example, North Carolina State University has a medical billing program as part of its Office of Professional Development. There are numerous accredited organizations such as the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) that offer online training programs. A typical training program may include coursework in medical coding databases and the different federal and state regulations over health insurance companies. To work in North Carolina, the billing specialist needs to learn the North Carolina state regulations over government health care programs and private insurance companies.

Certifications Available

• A number of credentialing organizations offer certification exams. The program at North Carolina State University, for example, allows students to take the National Healthcareer Association's Certified Medical Biller and Coder. Another organization that offers a certifying exam is the American Medical Billing Association (AMBA). The Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist exam is an overview of the entire field of medical billing and coding and tests students on their knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy and technology utilized in the field. Test-takers must have knowledge of CPT-4 Coding and ICD-9-CM Coding to satisfactorily pass the exam.

Post Certification Requirements

• Once a student successfully completes the examination, he or she receives a certification credential in medical billing and coding. The policy for renewing a medical billing certification depends on the certifying organization. For example, if the student received certification from the AMBA, then he or she needs to take 15 continuing education units at an AMBA-accredited institution each year in order to renew certification.