AHIMA Medical Coding and Reimbursement Online Courses and Certification Pathways

Health information (HI) professionals support patients by caring for their medical data and are responsible for the quality, integrity, security, and protection of patients’ health information.

AHIMA Medical Coding Education Overview

AHIMA Medical Coding and Reimbursement Online Courses provide career-focused education at an unparalleled value designed to help you prepare for AHIMA certification or earn an AHIMA Medical Coding and Reimbursement certificate. The AHIMA Medical Coding and Reimbursement courses offer you the flexibility to choose a learning path tailored to your professional goals. Use the knowledge you gain to prepare for AHIMA certification exams or apply academic credits toward a certificate or undergraduate degree program with a participating academic institution.

Value: You can get started with an individual course for as low as $299 or purchase the 13-course bundle for a discounted rate. Flexibility: Complete the course bundle or customize your learning program with individual courses. Stackable Achievements: The online courses offer a foundation you can build on to achieve your goals. Participating institutions will accept the courses you complete for academic transfer credit, so you can accelerate your journey and spend less while you earn a certificate or a degree.

The AHIMA Medical Coding and Reimbursement Certificate

The 13-course bundle is offered at a discounted rate to help working adults earn the AHIMA Medical Coding and Reimbursement certificate. The certificate signals medical coding knowledge and the content prepares you to become an AHIMA-certified professional while accelerating your path to an academic program. When you earn the Medical Coding and Reimbursement certificate, you will:

• Gain the knowledge you need to meet the education recommendations or requirements for AHIMA's CCA or CCS exam.
• Receive an AHIMA certificate upon completing the courses within 12 months with a score of at least 70%.
• Be eligible to apply transfer credits to participating academic programs*.

Learning Pathways Recommendations

If you're looking for a new career in the growing healthcare field, you could start your journey as a medical coder for less investment than alternative programs. Recommendation: Earn the AHIMA Medical Coding and Reimbursement certificate.

If you are new to medical coding but currently work as a healthcare professional, recommendation: Identify the specific knowledge areas you need to build on to expand your education. You may already have biomedical knowledge you can use to get a head start on your new health information career. In this case, the medical coding and health information management courses will serve as a natural progression to prepare you for your next role as a health information professional. If you choose to continue your education, you can apply transfer credits to participating academic programs*.

Preparation for AHIMA Certification Exams

If you are researching how to become an AHIMA-certified professional, recommendation: Choose the courses you need to meet the education recommendations or requirements. Our online courses are highly recommended for medical coding certification exam preparation. Education is one of several ways you can qualify to take an AHIMA certification exam. We've outlined specific courses to consider as you plan to earn a CCA®, CCS®, or CCS-P® credential.

Course Alignment for AHIMA Certification Exams (Self-Paced, Online)

Certification	Aligned Courses
Certified Coding Associate (CCA®)	Anatomy & Physiology Medical Terminology ICD-10-CM Coding for Beginners ICD-10-PCS Coding for Beginners CPT Coding for Beginners, Part 1 CPT Coding for Beginners, Part 2
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)	Anatomy & Physiology Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Medical Terminology Reimbursement Methodology ICD-10-CM Coding for Beginners ICD-10-PCS Coding for Beginners CPT Coding for Beginners, Part 1 CPT Coding for Beginners, Part 2
Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P®)	Anatomy & Physiology Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Medical Terminology Reimbursement Methodology ICD-10-CM Coding for Beginners ICD-10-PCS Coding for Beginners CPT Coding for Beginners, Part 1 CPT Coding for Beginners, Part 2

The Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®) Credential

The Certified Coding Specialist certification is designed for individuals skilled in classifying medical data from medical records. CCS professionals demonstrate a practitioner’s tested skills in data quality and accuracy as well as mastery of coding proficiency. The CCS certification is a natural progression for professionals experienced in coding inpatient and outpatient records, or those with a CCA. Coding specialists create coded data used by hospitals and medical providers to obtain reimbursement from insurance companies or government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Researchers and public health officials also use this data to monitor patterns and explore new interventions.

Achieving the CCS Certification: 3 Steps

Earning and maintaining your CCS Certification can be achieved in 3 steps:

1. Prepare for the exam: It is recommended, not required, to have at least one of the following:
   • Complete courses in all the following topics: anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic coding, and procedural coding and medical services (CPT/HCPCS) plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
   • Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR
   • Hold the CCA® credential plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
   • Hold a coding credential from another certifying organization plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
   • Hold a CCS-P ®, RHIT ®, or RHIA ® credential.

   Note on Resources: The CCS exam will be updating to the 2025 codebook list starting May 1st 2025. All exams delivered on or AFTER 5/1/2025 will be required to have the 2025 code books from the 2025 code book list to sit for the exam. Candidates who do not have the correct code books will not be allowed to test and will forfeit their exam fees.

2. Apply to take the CCS exam:
   • Read the Candidate Guide
   • Create a MyAHIMA account
   • Submit your application online and pay all fees
   • Schedule the exam with Pearson Vue within 120-days of eligibility.
3. Maintain your CCS credential: To maintain your CCS credential you will need to complete all the recertification requirements over the 2-year certification period, which include submitting the required amount of continuing education units (CEUs) and paying the recertification fee.

Alternative Educational Path: Penn Foster

The Online Medical Billing & Coding School | Penn Foster offers the Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma Program for those who want to work in an in-demand role in healthcare. Penn Foster’s Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma Program helps you prepare to sit for the Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The cost of the exam and the exam prep package are covered by Penn Foster for graduates of the program.

Program Goals and Outcomes include learning how to apply CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS coding guidelines to identify diagnoses, procedures, and patient medical records. You will also learn how to identify the procedures for patient record retrieval and reimbursement, and how to explain the role of a medical coder as a liaison between the health clinician and billing offices.

Medical Coder Salaries and Career Outlook

On average, certified medical billing and coding professionals can earn up to 17.7% more** than those who aren’t certified. Generally, the highest paid medical coders hold one or more of the following certifications: CDEO, CPC, or COC.** The average salary for medical billing and coding professionals is $47,180. Salary can vary based on several factors, including your experience, education, employer, and credentials.

Average Medical Billing and Coding Salary Data (USD)

Experience/Level	Salary
Average Salary	$47,180
Lowest 10% (2022)	$31,710
Highest 10% (2022)	$75,460
5-9 Years Experience**	$55,472