Professional Certificate in Medical Coding

Join the Growing Medical Field as a Medical Coder

Medical coding is an integral part of the healthcare field because it is directly responsible for the financial health of a medical hospital, clinic, or private practice. Medical coding specialists are responsible for accurately coding the procedures and services performed to obtain the highest possible reimbursement for the facility.

National University’s online medical coding program teaches the skills needed to become a certified medical coder. In this six-module online program, you’ll learn the principles of diagnosis and procedure medical coding and prepare to take the AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) CPC-A, CPC-P examination. Medical employers and insurance payors seek certification from AAPC to ensure medical coders have extensive knowledge of coding procedures, guidelines, and conventions.

NU’s career-focused curriculum consists of self-paced modules, which you can start any time. There are no prerequisites, but it’s recommended that students without previous medical experience complete the program in its entirety. The Professional Certificate in Medical Coding fee is $2,995 and the program can be completed within 6 months.

National University Professional Certificates do not qualify for federal financial aid

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this industry-current certificate program, you’ll have the knowledge and experience to:

• Define the fundamental medical terms and word formations using prefixes, suffixes, and root components of medical terms.
• Identify fundamental medical abbreviations and meanings.
• Identify common medical terms used in medical coding.
• Identify common terms for medical settings, medications, and specialties.
• Identify common medical procedures, exams, treatments, and practices.
• Describe HIPAA requirements as they pertain to Patient Health Information and Electronic Health Information.
• Identify the human body systems, organs, location of organs, and their functions.
• Understand the physiological functions of body system organs.
• Understand anatomical and physiological terminology.
• Understand the proper use of the ICD-10-CM coding manual.
• Understand the proper use of the Guidelines, Tabular List, and Conventions.
• Understand the proper methods of establishing the correct code or codes.
• Understand how to correctly locate the codes for conditions, illnesses, diseases, symptoms, external causes, fractures, neoplasms, and mental health conditions.
• Understand the proper use of medical information and documentation procedures for establishing a medical diagnosis code.
• Understand the correct utilization of the HCPCS Level II Expert Manual.
• Identify correct DME, Medicare/Medicaid/Medication, Medical and Surgical procedure codes.
  • Identify correct modifiers for coding and billing. Learn how to use the Tabular Index of the HCPCS Level II Manual as a quick reference for coding.
  • Understand AAPC Certification Exam strategies.
• Successfully complete two practice medical coding exams.

Learning Modules

This professional medical coding certificate program consists of 6 self-paced modules. Courses are 100% online, and you can start any time after registration is completed. There are no prerequisites.

• Medical Terminology – Introduction to the fundamentals of medical terminology
• Anatomy and Physiology – Focus on the human body, body systems, and body organs
• ICD-10-CM Medical Coding – Focus on coding principles, guidelines, and conventions to code medical diagnoses using the ICD-10-CM Coding Manual
• CPT Classification Systems – Focus on learning the correct use of the CPT coding manual
• HCPCS/Medicare Requirements/HIPAA Basics – Focus on the use of the HCPCS Level II Coding Manual
• Coding Certification Review – Focus on practice exams and preparation for the AACP Medical Coding Certification Exam

Frequently Asked Questions