Get answers to the most common and important questions about enrolling in a medical billing and coding program at Career Step. Our FAQs section provides answers to help you make an informed decision about your education.

What is medical coding and billing?

Medical coding and billing is the process of translating the information from patient records—such as treatments, tests, procedures, and diagnoses—into the standardized codes used to bill patients and third-party payers like insurance companies and Medicare.

What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient medical coding and billing?

There are two distinct and important roles within medical coding:

• Inpatient coders work with the more complex records of patients who are admitted to the hospital as inpatients.
• Outpatient coders focus on coding the records of patients who are seen in physician offices or who are admitted to areas of the hospital that provide outpatient services (emergency rooms, same day surgery, hospital clinics, etc.).

With the Career Step training programs you can be prepared for both of these specialties and be eligible for positions in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, medical labs, insurance companies, and a variety of other healthcare facilities. For experienced professionals, there are also limited opportunities to work from home.

What is the job market for medical coders and billers?

The U.S. Department of Labor released a 2010-2011 report on the medical records and health information technology field, which encompasses both outpatient and inpatient medical coding and billing. The report predicts:

• A growing job market as industry employment is projected to grow by 20% from 2008 to 2018. In addition to these new jobs, there will also be open positions as people retire or leave the profession.
• A high demand for coding services, sustained by an aging population and the increasing number of tests, treatments, and procedures.

In addition to the industry's growth, a recent American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) study found that over half of coding employers had open positions in the previous year.

How much can I earn as a medical coding and billing professional?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report—encompassing both inpatient and outpatient medical coders and billers—states that the middle 50% of professionals in the field earn between $25,570 and $42,170 a year. However, it is important to remember that as you gain credentials and experience, your earning capacity increases. Industry organizations have published the following average salary information.

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
This recent survey reports the average coder salaries by credentials offered by AHIMA. Career Step graduates are eligible to sit for the CCA credential directly after graduation. CCA certified coders have a reported annual salary of $40,196.

American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
This recent survey looks specifically at outpatient coding and reports that entry-level, certified coders earn $34,551 annually, while those who have earned the CPC credential (which Career Step graduates are eligible to sit for directly after graduation) earn an average of $45,347 annually.

Do I have to be certified?

The Career Step courses are specifically designed to prepare students for national, entry-level coding certification exams, even though certification is not required as a prerequisite by all employers. The exams most commonly taken directly after graduation by Career Step graduates are the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Although graduating from a Career Step medical coding and billing training program does not automatically award you a coding credential, the courses are specifically designed to help you gain the foundation and skills you need to earn the appropriate credentials. In a recent Career Step survey, 90% of respondents who had taken a certification exam after graduation from Career Step's training programs reported passing the exam and earning their credential.

What are the advantages of training with Career Step?

Career Step has been providing quality healthcare documentation education for almost 20 years and offers comprehensive training programs that thoroughly prepare students for medical coding and billing careers. The online training format allows you to study at your own pace and on a schedule that fits your busy lifestyle. With AHIMA-approved Career Step training you know you're getting the right education; personal, ongoing support; and the resources and guidance you need to turn your education into a job.

What kind of skills and experience do I need to enter the Career Step program?

In order to be admitted, you must either a) have a high school diploma or a General Education Development Certificate (GED), or b) pass the Career Step competency test. The Career Step competency test cannot be used in lieu of a high school diploma or GED for the Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program. If you are under 18 years of age, consent and signature of a parent or guardian is required before admission. There are no specific skills or experience that are considered prerequisites for entry into the Career Step training program.

Is Career Step accredited?

Career Step is currently pursuing national accreditation, and the Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program is an AHIMA-Approved Coding Program.

How are the Career Step programs structured?

The Career Step programs are offered entirely online, providing 24/7 access to all material and allowing you to progress through the curriculum on your own schedule and at your own pace. The programs are broken into modules, or course subjects, and the first half is devoted to building your knowledge base while the second half is designed to help you gain the practical experience you need to smoothly transition into the workplace after graduation.

What type of student support does Career Step offer?

Career Step student support includes access to:

• Student Support Advisors have professional experience in the industry and are uniquely qualified to answer questions about both the curriculum and the industry. They provide timely answers to questions about the program material and offer a number of personal consultations throughout the training to help students master important concepts.
• Technical Support Advisors are knowledgeable, experienced, and available six days a week to help you work through any technical or computer issues encountered within the training program.
• Graduate Support Advisors help you transition to the workforce after graduation. Your Graduate Advisors will help prepare the best resume, develop solid interview skills, and teach you valuable job search techniques.

Though the course is entirely online, you'll never be on your own. Career Step's student support team will always be there to offer personal, ongoing support all the way through the training program.

How long does it take to finish the course?

The AHIMA-approved Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program is estimated at 640 completion hours, and the Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program includes 570 hours of curriculum. Since the programs are completely self-paced and the online training format allows you the flexibility to study as much or as little as your schedule allows, the time it takes you to complete the course will vary from other students. Some students are able to complete their training program in as little as four months (working on the course full-time, 8 hours a day 5 days a week) and others, who are more limited in the time they can devote to the course, take longer (for example, students who can devote about 20 hours a week may finish in about 8 months).

Every student who enrolls in a Career Step training program receives an initial 4-month period of enrollment—and we currently offer an additional 8 months at no extra charge! You'll have a full year to complete the program. If you need extra time to complete the course after your initial one-year enrollment, we have 4-month extensions available for purchase.

How do I find work after graduation?

Career Step offers personalized, post-graduation resources for your job search, including:

• Personal consultation with a Graduate Advisor
• New job opening notifications
• Personalized interview tutorials and training
• Individual resume and cover letter review, tips, and advice
• Access to Career Step's help hotline for a full year after graduation

These resources offer the personalized help you need after graduation to quickly and easily transition to the workplace. With this individualized help and attention, the majority of our graduates are hired within a few months of graduation.

How is Career Step preparing for the transition to ICD-10?

As the transition to ICD-10 is not until October 1, 2014, it is still too early to for the Career Step training program to educate students on this new code set. Employers are still using the ICD-9 code set, making it important for current graduates to be able to code with ICD-9. Once graduates are employed, their employer will be responsible for making sure they have the necessary education for the transition to ICD-10. As we move closer to the implementation date, Career Step will transition its training program to ICD-10.

What materials and computer specifications are required to complete the course?

Your enrollment includes everything you will need to train for a successful career in medical coding and billing. Your enrollment includes:

• Access to expert-created curriculum
• 8-volume text companion series of textbooks
• Unlimited student and technical support
• Complete library of industry standard codebooks
• Valuable graduate resources

Since the course is completely online, your computer will play an important role in your learning experience. We recommend the following minimum computer system specifications:

Hardware

• Active internet connection (High speed/Broadband connection recommended)
• 800 X 600 minimum resolution (1024 X 768 or higher recommended)
• Sound card and speakers (Earphones recommended)
• Available USB port

Software

• Adobe Flash Player (ver. 10 or higher)
• Windows Media Player (ver. 10 or higher) or Quicktime Player (ver. 7 or higher)
• PDF reader

Browser

• Internet Explorer 7.x/8.x
• Firefox 3.x *
• Safari 4.x or greater (Mac only)*
• Javascript and cookies must be enabled

Operating System

• Microsoft Windows (XP®, Vista®, 7 with latest service pack)
• Mac OS X (10.4.11 or greater)*

*The Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program includes a third party software tool that makes the training only compatible with Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer 7.x or 8.x.

Note: Mobile browsing devices are not currently supported. However, Career Step is investigating the implementation of mobile device support, and these specifications will be updated once a decision has been reached.

What payment options does Career Step offer?

We realize that one of the most important questions tied to education is how it will be paid for. Because this is such a big part of the decision of whether or not to go back to school, Career Step has designed several tuition assistance and payment options. Please visit our Tuition Assistance page for more information.

How soon will I receive my materials?

It takes 2 to 3 business days to process the application, depending on method of payment. Once the payment is processed you will be emailed your course login and password and can start training immediately. Additional course materials are shipped UPS Ground after the payment is processed. The average wait is about 7-10 days. Your coding reference materials will be sent after you reach a certain point in the training program to ensure that you receive the most up-to-date materials.