Penn Foster Career School was accredited in 1956 by Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission. Penn Foster Career School offers a Medical Assistant Associate's degree program. Students learn law and ethics in medicine; medical terminology; anatomy, biology and physiology; medical coding; medical transcription; and clinical procedures. The medical assistant program requires a 200-hour externship at the end of Semester 4, for which Penn Foster provides direction to students in arranging for a qualified provider. Penn Foster Career School offers not only lower tuition rates than do brick-and-mortar colleges but also offers a monthly payment plan with zero percent financing.
Penn Foster Career School
925 Oak Street
Scranton, PA 18515
800-214-6230
pennfoster.edu
U.S. Career Institute was accredited in 2004 by the Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission. Students learn medical billing and coding related to the three main coding manuals: CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS. The medical coding program is divided into five instruction packs. "Instruction Pack 1" explores the health care profession, in general; medical terminology; and medical insurance. "Instruction Pack 2" explores ethics, anatomy, pathology and diagnostic coding. "Instruction Pack 3" focuses on ICD-9-CM coding. "Instruction Pack 4" focuses on CPT coding. "Instruction Pack 5" explores integrating ICD-9-CM and CPT Coding as well as introduces HCPCS Coding and when it is used. Each instruction pack comes with an open book examination. Students email, fax or mail in their answers to the open book exams. Each time a student completes an open book exam, the next instruction pack is sent to the student. In 2010, tuition and fees for the online medical coding certificate program was $ 1,279, which covered the cost of tuition, books, supplements, and learning aids. Not included in tuition are coding manuals, which are available at libraries. For convenience purposes, students may wish to purchase a copy of the ICD-9-CM and CPT coding manuals. The U.S. Career Institute offers payment plan options with zero-percent financing.
U.S. Career Institute
2001 Lowe Street
Fort Collins, CO 80525
866-250-6851
uscareerinstitute.com
Drexel University was accredited in 1927 by the Commission on Higher Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions offers a six-course, 18 college-credit certificate program in medical billing and coding. Students learn medical billing and coding related to the three main coding manuals: CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS. Graduates of the Medical billing and coding certificate program are eligible to sit for the American Medical Billing Association's Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) exam, the American Academy of Professional Coder's Certified Professional Coder's board exam and the American Health Information Management Association's board exam. Students may also apply the credits earned from the certificate program as electives toward the credits required for online Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration degree. Financial aid available to qualifying students includes scholarships, grants and student loans.
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-895-2000
drexel.edu