The first requirement is medical terminology training, or a solid background in medicine such as nursing. Formerly, it took two to four-year college programs to learn to code. However, training is now available through technical schools, correspondence courses, and concise online home study programs — including our 8-week online review.

While not legally mandated, providers who employ coders strongly prefer — and in most cases require — some assurance of the coder's background and capability. A recognized certification like the CPC® from AAPC or CCA from AHIMA is the most effective way to prove your competence to employers.

Medical transcriptionists type the reports that coders then review to determine the appropriate treatment and diagnostic codes. The two roles are closely linked — transcriptionists create the textual documentation that coders use as the basis for their coding work.

When a care provider performs a service, they dictate a report or note on the services provided. That document becomes part of the primary medical record. The coder reviews it to abstract and codify what was done — and those codes are then used by billers to submit claims to insurance companies for reimbursement.

Our expert medical coding courses prepare students to sit for AAPC's Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam and AHIMA's Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam. Both AAPC and AHIMA are nationally recognized professional certification organizations, and most employers seek their certifications. AHIMA also offers more advanced credentials like the CCS and CCS-P, which require one to two years of coding experience.

A trained and certified medical coder starts their day by reviewing the physician's notes from the previous day's batch of patients. They analyze each note to identify the diagnoses, procedures, and any medical supplies used, then translate all of that information into the appropriate standardized codes for billing and record-keeping purposes.

Some medical facilities hire coders who work from home instead of on-site offices. This form of outsourcing lets the healthcare institution pay for only what they need. Remote medical coders work away from the health institution they are coding for — making this an excellent career option for international professionals, particularly in the Philippines and India.

NOS stands for "Not Otherwise Specified." It refers to codes used when there is insufficient information in the patient's documentation to use a more specific code. In simple terms, NOS means the documentation of a patient encounter lacks enough detail, preventing the coder from assigning a code with higher specificity.

NCD stands for National Coverage Determination. In medical coding, the NCD defines the extent to which Medicare covers specific services and procedures. It is a legal requirement for all Medicare contractors to follow NCD guidelines when processing claims.

Virtually every provider involved in patient care requires coders — individual doctors, clinics, and hospitals. Beyond direct care, insurance companies, contract care providers, governmental agencies, law firms, third-party administrators, billing companies, and practice management companies all need qualified medical coders.