Medical Coding (certificate)

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Special Admission Requirements - Rolling Admission

Official Title of Certificate: Medical Coding, Certificate

Award: Certificate

Code: CRT.IHE.MED-CODE

Total Credit Hours: 40-44

Learn more about the Medical Coding Certificate program

Purpose: To provide eligibility status to sit for the Certified Professional Coder Examination (CPC) offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders or the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association.

Range of Occupations

Certified Coding Specialists and Certified Professional Coders work in physicians’ offices, managed care organizations, ambulatory care centers or hospitals.

Additional Program Requirements

All Medical Coding students must receive a minimum grade of C in each medical coding course. Students who receive a final grade below a C in any medical coding course will be awarded a grade of F in that course.

Special Conditions

Health Manpower Shortage: This program of study may be designated a Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Reduction Program. This means that some residents of Maryland (see the Tuition, Fees and Payments section of this catalog) enrolled in this program of study by the first day of the term may be eligible for in-county tuition rates for courses required for program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that this program still maintains a Health Manpower Shortage Program status before enrolling. Please refer to the college’s Accounts Receivable Office to confirm this designation.

Anne Arundel Community College and/or the School of Health Sciences reserves the right to revise requirements for admission into the Health Sciences programs, the selection criteria and procedures, and the required courses for programs of study as deemed necessary without prior notification.

Entrance/Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

To view all entrance/admission details, please go to the Medical Coding Admission Requirements page.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

This program requires the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and possible drug screening. For complete details, see the Health Sciences section of this catalog.

Online Degrees and Credit Certificates

This program can be completed fully online. Some online courses may require proctored exams or on-campus assessments at a testing center.

Certificate Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a certificate, students must have demonstrated eligibility for ENG 101 or ENG 101A . Refer to Academic Regulations on Graduation Requirements .

Planning Tool: One-Year Sequence of Courses

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Program Requirements

Prerequisites

BIO 231 - Human Biology 1 4 credit hours AND
BIO 232 - Human Biology 2 4 credit hours
OR
BIO 233 - Anatomy and Physiology 1 4 credit hours AND
*BIO 101 (4 credits) is a prerequisite for BIO 233 .
BIO 234 - Anatomy and Physiology 2 4 credit hours
CTA 100 - Computing and Information Technology 3 credit hours
OR
CTP 103 - Theories and Applications of Digital Technology 3 credit hours
MDA 113 - Medical Terminology 3 credit hours

Total credit hours: 14-18

Term 1

MDC 101 - Introduction to Medical Coding 3 credit hours
MDC 103 - Introduction to ICD Coding 3 credit hours
MDC 105 - Introduction to CPT/HCPCS Coding 3 credit hours
MDA 114 - Diseases of the Human Body 3 credit hours

Total credit hours: 12

Term 2

MDA 112 - Pharmacology for Health Professions 3 credit hours
MDA 116 - Fundamentals of Health Care Delivery Systems 3 credit hours
MDC 201 - Advanced Medical Coding 3 credit hours
MDC 203 - Reimbursement Methodologies 3 credit hours
MDC 275 - Medical Coding Practicum 2 credit hours

Total credit hours: 14

Total credits: 40-44

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills related to reimbursement and medical coding.
2. Demonstrate professionalism in medical coding based on sound ethical values.
3. Apply CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS coding guidelines to identify diagnoses, procedures, and patient medical records.
4. Recognize laws and theories related to the practice of medical coding, including issues relating to ethics and confidentiality.
5. Obtain eligibility to sit for certification exams.
6. Demonstrate knowledge and skill required to practice the profession of medical coding with the recognition of diverse cultural and socioeconomic differences in a healthcare setting.

This program aligns with the college’s core competencies.

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