The American Health Information Management Association is an association of health information management professionals that has been around since 1928. It has more than 56,000 members, and its mission is to provide leadership, on-going education, and certification in managing information in healthcare professions. AHIMA can certify institutions to offer associate's degrees in medical billing and coding, so anyone seeking to enter that profession should look for AHIMA accreditation before applying to an institution.
The American Academy of Professional Coders offers accreditation to institutions for the Certified Professional Coders designation. A CPC has more extensive training in medical coding, and can earn up to 20 percent more than a non-credentialed coder. Becoming a CPC enables individuals to work for a large variety of healthcare providers.
Schools that offer associate's degrees in medical billing and coding can obtain regional accreditation as well. Several agencies can accredit a school, such as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Anyone looking to be a medical biller or coder in a specific area of the United States could attend an institution accredited by one of these regional associations, but should realize that the certification available through such a school may not be nationally recognized.