Medical coding is the process of converting diagnoses, services, and procedures into standardized alphanumeric codes used by medical coders and billers and other medical professionals for reimbursement, and tracking health data.
The fast track to an in-demand career.
- Medical coding is an “in-demand” profession in the King County area
- Our flexible program is offered both in classroom and online
- Bellevue College instructors have current professional coding experience
- Program can be completed in as few as two quarters
According to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for medical coders are expected to be very good. Changing government regulations and the growth of managed care have increased the amount of paperwork involved in filing insurance claims. Because of the scarcity of formal training programs, health care facilities are having difficulty attracting qualified workers. Technicians with a strong background in medical coding are in particularly high demand, and employment is expected to grow faster than the average through 2016.
Learn online or in class.
Bellevue College offers two ways to become a Medical Coding Specialist. You can learn either in the classroom or online. Choose whichever approach works best for you. Completion of the program helps prepare students to take the following professional credentialing exams:
Medical Coding Specialist Program
IN CLASSROOM
The classroom track consists of two courses. The program can be completed in two quarters.
Medical Coding: CPT Services and Procedures 48 hours
This course provides an intensive introduction to medical procedure and service (CPT) coding, including aspects of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and medical technology pertinent to accurate CPT code assignment. Prerequisite: Familiarity with medical terminology.*
Medical Coding: ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 54 hours
This course, which builds on the CPT coding course, provides an intensive introduction to medical diagnosis (ICD-9-CM) coding, including aspects of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and medical technology pertinent to accurate ICD-9-CM code assignment. Prerequisites: CPT Services and Procedures class or instructor approval, and familiarity with medical terminology.
Students may supplement their medical coding training with a course in medical billing. While not a requirement of the medical coding classroom program, many students find that training in medical billing is beneficial to their career. Getting Started in Medical Billing provides an overview of the profession and hands-on experience with billing software.
Medical Coding Specialist Program
ONLINE
Bellevue College offers a competency-based,
self-paced online program designed to provide the skills necessary to succeed on the job. The online approach develops medical coding and billing skills while allowing students to study and learn at home on their own schedule. The program includes training in CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS. Students have one year to complete the course.
Click here for a demo of the Medical Coding Specialist online training, and additional information about the program. Use login: bellevuemcb. Password: demo
*Meeting the prerequisite: Familiarity with medical terminology
Familiarity with medical terminology is required prior to beginning the classroom Medical Coding Specialist classes. If you need training in this area, Bellevue College offers two medical terminology course options:
Medical Terminology–In Classroom
Prepare for careers in medical fields such as billing, coding, transcription, and medical office reception by learning the basics of medical language. Practice key root words, suffixes, and prefixes that are the building blocks of a medical vocabulary as you learn about body systems, functions and diseases.
Medical Terminology–Online
A robust, online, interactive course based on learning the roots, prefixes, and suffixes that make up medical language. The course is self-paced. Students will have online access to this course for one year, and will be guided through exercises to increase comprehension.
