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Coding specialists use numbered codes to document diagnoses, procedures, and treatments in medical records for insurance reimbursements. Certification is required for most jobs, with AHIMA and AAPC offering various coding specialist certifications in different areas of expertise. Membership and continuing education are required for certification maintenance.
A coding specialist is a subspecialty of the career known as a medical records technician or health information technician. These employees work with medical records to identify and document specific diagnoses, procedures and treatments using numbered codes to expedite insurance company reimbursements. At the same time, coding experts were trained on the job after completing their high school diploma. Now, most of the newly advertised jobs require a coding specialist certification in addition to an associate’s degree as a health records technician. Regardless of a current coder’s educational background, however, an exam-based coding specialist certification is available from one or both of the two major specialty certification organizations.
Individuals in the US who have completed a two-year degree program in health information can test certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Successful certification as a RHIT indicates that an individual has been trained in the basics of coding in addition to other aspects of reviewing medical records. For those specifically seeking a coding specialist certification, AHIMA offers three, the first considered by the organization to be the minimum standard for entry into the field: a Certified Coding Associate (CCA), a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) and a Certified Specialist in coding and medical (CCS-P). Despite the associate degree prerequisite for an RHIT certification, AHIMA offers a coding specialist certification to anyone who has the minimum educational preparation of a high school diploma. Upon successful completion of an AHIMA-sponsored written specialty exam, a coder can earn a CCA, CCS, or CCS-P coding specialist certification.
The American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) is another major accrediting organization for this career. The AAPC offers coding specialist certification in the general field, as well as a variety of subspecialty certifications. Like AHIMA, AAPC requires a minimum of a high school diploma to take the certification exams, although an associate’s degree is encouraged. Specialist coding certification areas include Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Hospital/Outpatient Coder (CPC-H), Certified Professional Payer Coder (CPC-P7), and Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC) ). Specialized certification in expert coding is also offered in the following areas:
Ambulatory Surgical Center (CASCC);
Anesthesia and Pain Control (CANPC);
Emergency Department (CEDC);
General Surgery (CGSC);
Obstetric Gynecology (COBGC);
Pediatrics (CPEDC) and 14 other areas.
All certifications from both accrediting bodies require an application for membership, a membership fee, a test fee, and successful completion of the written certification exam. Membership is supported by annual or semi-annual fees and continuing education.
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