Requirements for a Certified Coding Specialist

Coding specialists play an important role in the billing and insurance processing of medical services. The dependency of the health care sector on coding specialists requires that candidates keep abreast of the latest health information technology. Certification for coding specialists is a must to continue being effective in this field. If you have taken the basic courses and have sufficient experience in coding, getting your certification in this field will not a problem.

Education

• When starting in the coding specialist field, most employers prefer an associate degree in a medical field, preferably in health information technology. Although coding specialists do not interact with patients in any way, courses like physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, and pathophysiology are useful because of the medical knowledge required to be proficient in coding. Other useful undergraduate courses are classes about coding systems, health care reimbursement, data analysis, and database security and management. With medicine so specialized, undergraduate courses are a requirement to be a certified coding specials.

Training

• Candidates for certified coding specialists should have a minimum of three years experience in a medical office working with medical codes. Experience in in-patient hospital care procedures or emergency and out-patient procedures benefits the most. Other experience in working in the offices of physician centers and clinics can help in being certified for a physicians based certified coding specialist. Coding specialists should have exceptional oral and written communication skills and a high proficiency with the computer software and technology used by the health care sector. Candidates with intensive job training will do much better on certification exams.

Certification

• Although many institutions have certified coding specialists programs available, always choose programs accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Most programs that result in certification will take nine months to two years for a quality program. If you fulfill the eligibility requirements of course work and job experience, you will qualify to take the certification exam. Further advanced specialty certification is available by such organizations like the Board of Medical Specialty Coding and the National Cancers Registrars Association.

Continuing Education

• To maintain certification, every two years coding specialists must prove they have continuing education units (CEU) before being re-certified. Taking formal courses, completing independent study activities, and taking quizzes over certain journals and books are all accepted for CEUs. Ongoing learning of new technology and clinical data management practices ensures that all certified coding specialists are continually up-to-date.