According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most employers prefer coders who have at least an associate degree. Coders can also earn bachelor's and master's degrees. To qualify for entrance into a certified medical coding curriculum, students might need to complete college-level anatomy and physiology classes with average grades of C or better.
To qualify for certification as a medical coder, students must complete an associate degree or 41 hours of college credits. Some students can complete the 41-hour curriculum in 15 to 18 months.
According to the American Health Information Management Association, required courses include computer basics in health care; health-care delivery systems; medical terminology; international classification of diseases; health-care data, content and structure; pathophysiology and pharmacology; current procedure terminology outpatient coding; international classification of diseases-clinical modification coding and medical office procedures.
In 2011, the coding basics course offered by AHIMA costs $2,000, or $225 per class. Students must also pay an annual $35 AHIMA membership fee. Books cost about $800 for the group of coding basics classes. Tuition and fees for other educational institutions vary nationwide.
The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education accredits educational institutions, their outreach campuses and online resources that offer medical coding classes. Credits from accredited institutions can typically transfer to another accredited institution.
Numerous universities, colleges and online resources provide accredited medical coder courses. CAHIIM provides an online tool for locating colleges and universities that offer accredited associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs.
As the field of medicine evolves, medical coding professionals must stay current by taking continuing education classes. AHIMA and the American Association of Profession Codersprovide accredited continuing education courses for people already working in the profession.