Medical Coding Specialist Certificate Program

The Medical Coding Specialist Certificate Program at HSIR is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as a Medical Coding Specialist by acquiring the working knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to understand medical terminology and accurately code procedures and diagnoses.

Students will learn to access health information, identify diagnoses, and assign appropriate medical codes to narrative descriptions of health diseases and procedures required for reimbursement, medical research, quality assurance, or risk management. Medical Coding Specialists can work in hospitals, clinics and physicians' offices to obtain accurate reimbursement for healthcare claims. Medical Coding Specialists can also work remotely in a contract job position, part-time job, or as a full-time job.

Upon completion of the program the student will be eligible to sit for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Coding certification examination.

Applicants are required to:

• High School Graduate or GED
• Minimum of 18 years of age at the time of enrollment
• Meet with an academic advisor
• If internal applicant; must be a full time employed with DHR, minimum 1 year
• Submit a completed non-refundable application fee for admission to the HSIR. The application fee is $100.
• Complete all school and program prerequisites by first day of entry semester
• Submit official transcripts from all institutions in which the student has enrolled
• BLS certification required by first day of entry semester
• Medical malpractice insurance required by first day of entry semester

NOTE: Please follow general admission requirements in addition to specific program requirements.

Students must meet and comply with all HSIR clinical standards including immunizations and background check as well as general admission requirements.

The length of time typically required to complete the Medical Coding Specialist Technician Certificate Program is approximately 48 weeks.