Medical Coding for Beginners

The medical coding profession is a great option for those looking for a meaningful career path with potential for good pay, plenty of location flexibility, and minimal training or education requirements. All you need to take our certificate course for medical coding is a high school diploma or equivalent.

Medical coding professionals are needed everywhere in the country, and many now work remotely. People who are looking for a new career that won’t require spending years in school should look into this profession.

In this short guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about medical coding for beginners, including what the profession entails, why it’s an excellent option for people pursuing a career, and where to find an affordable course for medical coding that you can complete from anywhere!

What do Medical Coding Professionals Do?

Medical coding professionals, also called medical records specialists, are responsible for organizing and processing patient files. The “coding” part of the job title comes from the responsibility of assigning diagnosis and procedure codes, mainly for billing purposes but also for the purpose of patient care and health statistics.

Medical records specialists work behind the scenes in healthcare offices across the country as an integral part of America’s healthcare system. They review patient records, communicate with insurance companies, classify patient information with medical codes, and maintain the confidentiality of patient records.

As a medical coding professional, you will get to work alongside healthcare providers and provide critical services for patients in need. The job duties are varied, and every day could be different as a medical coding professional. Some of the work can be completed remotely, and remote work is increasingly common among medical coding professionals.

Why Should You Pursue a Career in Medical Coding?

Since you are wondering about medical coding for beginners, you probably want to know what makes the medical coding profession a great option for people looking for a career path.

Without medical coding professionals, America’s healthcare system could not function. Medical coding is a meaningful career where you can help people directly. The career also comes with some excellent perks, making it attractive for several reasons.

Easy Path to Employment

The first reason to pursue a career in medical coding is that there is a very minimal barrier to entry into this profession. In fact, you can easily obtain a medical coding certificate to put on your resume to apply for medical coding positions. Certificate courses for medical coding can be completed online and at your own pace. There are affordable options, and you could finish and start applying for jobs in a few months! Keep reading to learn more about our self-paced and affordable Medical Coding certificate course.

Good Pay

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual salary for medical records specialists in 2023 was $48,780. The highest ten percent of the profession made more than $77,810 in 2023. Pay can fluctuate based on the type of setting you work in. For example, people working in state, local, and private hospitals made more than $52,000 per year on average, while those working in physicians’ offices made less than $44,000.

Most people in this profession work full-time, and shifts can include nights or weekends in facilities that are open all the time, such as hospitals.

Location Flexibility and Ease of Employment

Medical coding professionals are in demand right now. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 8 percent by 2032, a faster rate than the national average. About 15,000 medical record specialist jobs are expected to be available in the U.S. each year. It is easier to get employed as a medical coding professional than it is for many other careers.

Since medical coding professionals work in just about every healthcare setting—from hospitals to private doctor’s offices to urgent care clinics—job openings can be found virtually anywhere in the country. Many employers allow medical coders to complete some, or all, of their tasks remotely, meaning even more flexibility in your schedule and location.

Learn Medical Coding for Beginners through Blackstone

Are you are looking for a school that offers medical coding for beginners? Blackstone Career Institute offers a Medical Coding certificate course for people looking to start or advance in the field of medical coding. The course can be completed remotely, on your own time and at your own pace, in three to six months on average. The cost of tuition is only $649, and a monthly payment plan is available.

The curriculum for Blackstone’s Medical Coding certificate course includes four units. First, Unit 1 will lay the foundation for completing the course successfully. Next, Unit 2 includes an introduction to computers, keyboarding, and other office technology. Unit 3 begins your education with practical applications of coding. Finally, Unit 4 completes the course with more practical applications of coding. All exams and study guides for the course are online.

If you’re looking to go further and obtain a certification in medical coding, check out our AAPC aligned Medical Billing and Coding Program that includes a voucher for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) exam. You can take this program with only a high school diploma or equivalent as well!

Written by Adam Wernham