Medical Coding Professional

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Online Medical Coding Training

Penn Foster Training Institute is not accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), or any other accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

With Penn Foster Training Institute’s online Medical Coding Training, you can prepare to take the next steps toward a new career as a certified professional medical coder. During this self-paced program, you’ll learn essential skills and knowledge that can help you prepare for gold-standard industry certification through the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam and accelerate your career in the field.

  • Helps prepare learners to sit for the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) CPC exam – the industry gold-standard certification. Learners receive a voucher to cover the cost of the exam – a $499 value.
  • This program is designed for learners who want to focus more on medical coding versus medical billing, with coursework aligned to the CPC exam.
  • Ensure you’re ready to take your certification exam with CPC practice tests, included in your program curriculum.
  • AAPC Practicode course cost is included in your tuition, a $299 value – meaning when you complete the course and pass the CPC exam, you skip Apprentice Status and are considered a fully certified coder!
  • Students receive a student membership to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) at no additional cost – a $210 value.
  • Students have up to 18 months to complete the program but depending on how much time you’re able to dedicate to your studies, it is possible to complete much faster.
  • This is a non-credit issuing course that focuses on career-specific training to prepare learners to gain the job-relevant skills employers in the industry are looking for.
Industry-Relevant
Online
Self Paced

Save up to $500 Ends 12/17/2024

Cost of Program

$2,099

$2,599 Save $500

or

$69/month, Start for as low as $20

1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

This Program is Right for You If:

  • You want to maximize your earning potential. Certified Professional Coders (CPC) are often among the highest-paid certified medical coders and billers.*
  • You want to skip the CPC apprenticeship phase without having to accrue two years of work experience. Our Medical Coding Professional Program includes the cost of the AAPC Practicode course you'll need to become fully credentialed as a CPC Medical Coder, without the wait.
  • You want to distinguish your resume. A full CPC credential is often recognized by employers as equal to several years of entry level work experience in the medical coding and billing field and can set you apart from other candidates.
medical professional on computer.
medical professional at computer.

What You Will Learn

  1. How to understand and apply ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS coding systems, including how to accurately apply the appropriate codes for outpatient and physician services.
  2. How electronic health records are used and regulated in healthcare.
  3. How to differentiate reimbursement systems for various programs, including private insurance and contracts, managed care, Medicare, Medicaid, Workers' Compensation, and other disability.
  4. How to employ both manual and electronic resources to accurately code and sequence information from patient health records using the ICD-10-CM classification system.
Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Medical Coding Professional Career Outcomes

The average salary for a Certified Professional Coder is $58,895/yr.*

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in this field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered in the Penn Foster Training Institute Program. Prospective students should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where they plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in this program.  See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information. This is particularly important for residents of California and Florida.

Medical Coding Professional Curriculum Details

Estimated completion time: 18 months


With Penn Foster Training Institute, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. You’ll have up to 18 full months to complete your Medical Coding Professional Training Program, on your own schedule. Learners who are able to dedicate more time to studying will be able to complete their program more quickly.


Designed to help learners prepare to sit for industry certification and accelerate their medical coding careers, our online Medical Coding Professional Training focuses on essential coding and healthcare knowledge aligned to the CPC exam. Your self-paced courses include:


  • Comprehensive Medical Terminology
  • Health Information Management
  • Outpatient Coding
  • Medical Billing

Show Full Curriculum

Medical Coding Professional Student Stories

Penn Foster Training Institute’s Medical Coding Professional Training courses can help prepare you for the first step in your new career. Our programs have helped recent graduates learn at their own pace, find new jobs, and advance in their current roles. Learn more about Penn Foster graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.
View Student Success Stories
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Jimena C.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2022

“I had a great experience with Penn Foster. Easy to do it online, at home, or anywhere. Communication with instructors was good and web portal easy to go through. Great experience!”

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Medical Coding Online Training Tuition

Take the first steps toward a new career with our online Medical Coding Professional Training Program. Simply choose from one of our low-cost payment plans below and get started today!

Option 1: Pay in full

Save up to $500 Ends 12/17/2024

Cost of Program1

$2,099

$2,599 Save $500

  • Best price. Best value.
  • Pay the full cost today
  • No monthly payments
Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Save up to $100 Ends 12/17/2024

Cost of Program1

$2,499

$2,599 Save $100

  • Pay $69 per month
  • Start for $20 down
  • All major credit and debit cards accepted
Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program1

$2,599

  • Pay $69 per month
  • Start for $39 down
  • Mail your payments
Enroll Now

Need more info or ready to enroll?

Looking for more information on transfer credits, military savings, or our refund policy? Find this information and more about tuition and enrollment here.

Tuition & Payment Options

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Our Proven Medical Coding Professional Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

  • Start anytime
  • No exam due dates
  • Self-paced

Interactive

  • Digital study guides
  • Presentations and animations
  • Simulations and videos

Connected

  • 24/7 access to online resources
  • Learning Resource Center
  • Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

  • Expert faculty
  • Dedicated student services
  • Robust learning resources

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Online Medical Coding Professional Training Course FAQs

How do I become a Certified Professional Coder?

To become a Certified Professional Coder, you’ll need to

  1. Earn your high school diploma.
  2. Get medical coding training.
  3. Sit and pass the CPC exam.
  4. Provide proof of completion of 80 contact hours of a medical coding preparation course and the AAPC Practicode course OR complete 2 years of documented work experience as a medical coding professional.

With our Medical Coding Professional Training, you’re able to skip over the work experience portion to become fully certified since our program is approved for the 80 contact hours needed and the cost of the AAPC Practicode course is covered by your tuition.

What is the CPC exam? 

Offered through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam is a test that measures medical coding proficiency. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. Most questions involve various coding scenarios to test your knowledge of the proper application of PT® procedure codes, HCPCS Level II supply codes, and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes.

This is a timed exam, so you have 4 hours to complete it and must get at least 70% of questions correct to pass the exam.

What is CPC-A apprentice status?

After passing the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification exam, most medical coders will remain credentialed at the CPC-A (apprentice) level until they have fulfilled a 2-year work experience requirement. To help you accelerate your new career as a certified professional coder we’ve included the cost of the AAPC Practicode course. Successful completion of the Penn Foster Medical Coding Professional program and the AAPC Practicode course meets the work experience requirement allowing you to obtain the full CPC certification credential when you pass the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification exam.

What happens if I fail the CPC exam?

If you fail the CPC exam, you are able to retake the test. As part of your tuition, Penn Foster will cover the cost of 2 exam attempts.

Where can I work as a Certified Professional Coder?

Certified Professional Coders can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:

  • Doctor’s offices
  • Hospitals
  • Insurance companies
  • Skilled nursing facilities

Depending on the organization you work for and your particular responsibilities, many coders can eventually work from home, making it a flexible career option for those who prefer remote work. In fact, 55% of medical records specialists work remotely!*

How much do certified medical coders make? 

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.*

As of 2023, the average salary for a certified medical coder was $58,895.*

What makes our healthcare professional training programs unique?

Penn Foster Training Institute's Professional Training Programs in Healthcare provide career-relevant training. Focused on providing industry- and career-specific skills, these programs offer the opportunity for you to take the next steps toward job readiness on the timeline that works best for your career. Unlike our degree and diploma programs, these programs are not accredited by the DEAC (Distance Education Accrediting Commission), but are aligned to industry-recognized certification and can serve as a valuable credential that shows prospective employers that you've gained the relevant skills needed to work as a medical coder.

Will completing an unaccredited program affect my ability to get a job in the field?

It should not. Today, more and more employers emphasize demonstrable skills when searching for qualified employees and not all career paths require you to have a degree. Our professional training programs are designed for those learners who want a quick, focused path toward potentially qualifying for entry-level positions in a new industry.