With the trend toward digital healthcare records, health information management professionals are in demand.
As a certified coding specialist (CCS), you would be responsible for classifying medical data in patient records.
While this career doesn't necessarily require a college degree, you will need some education after high school to adequately prepare.
Take your career even further with the CCS credential, offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
What Is a Certified Coding Specialist?
A certified coding specialist creates the coded data in medical records that's used for insurance billing and reimbursement.
Education and Training
Most certified coding specialists complete basic coursework to learn the ins and outs of coding specifically.
However, most of their training will be on-the-job as they become more familiar with the codes that are most commonly used.
After a while on the job, a CCS will have memorized most of the more common codes, enabling them to work more efficiently.
An eye for detail and good focus and concentration skills are essential if you want to be a good CCS.
Job Duties
A CCS spends their average workday in front of a computer, processing and maintaining patient files for a medical institution.
They typically have a variety of data entry and recordkeeping tasks, as well as doing a little clerical work.
Although CCSs work in healthcare and in patient records, they never have any direct contact with the patients themselves.
If you're interested in healthcare but don't think you have much of a bedside manner, this could be the career for you.
Work Environment
Most CCSs work in large hospitals, with another significant number working in private physician's offices.
The rest of the CCSs work in nursing and residential care facilities or other professional healthcare environments.
They work full time in hospitals and other facilities that are open around the clock. They may work nights and weekends.
Some CCSs work remotely from their own homes and connect with the hospital's computer network through their home computers.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall employment of medical records specialists will grow about 7% from 2021 to 2031.
This growth rate is about as fast as the average for all occupations throughout the country.
However, CCSs might be more in demand as healthcare institutions continue to transfer to exclusively electronic records.
States employing the most medical records specialists include California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York.
If you're interested in becoming a certified coding specialist, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Earn Your High School Diploma or the Equivalent
All coding specialists have at least a high school diploma or an equivalent diploma, such as a GED.
If you're already planning to be a coding specialist in high school, biology and anatomy courses can help prepare you for this career.
By learning some of the terminology, you'll be a step ahead when you start learning the codes needed for your job.
Understanding anatomical terms will also help you more accurately interpret medical charts and records.
Step 2: Complete Coding-Related Coursework
While you can technically teach yourself medical coding, most coding specialists prefer to take a course through a local community college.
These courses teach you the material you need to know in a structured way and you get feedback from the instructor on your progress.
Some of the associate degree programs are even designed specifically to prepare you for the CCS exam.
Along the way, you'll also learn additional medical terminology as well as how to use and interact with major software systems.
Step 3: Gain Experience in Coding
While AHIMA doesn't require coding specialists to have any experience before they take the CCS exam, most do.
The exam is difficult and time-based, so you're much more likely to pass it if you've already worked as a coding specialist for a couple of years.
As you become more familiar with the most common codes and functions, you become a faster and more efficient coder.
You'll also learn to make fewer mistakes as you become more familiar with the information and the way it's entered.
Step 4: Take a Prep Course
After you've been working as a coding specialist, you might decide that you want to take a prep course before you take the exam.
The CCS exam isn't easy — only around half of all people pass it on their first time.
AHIMA offers a flexible online course consisting of six short lessons that you can complete at your own pace.
The prep course costs $506, or $405 for AHIMA members ($379 for AHIMA premier members).
Step 5: Sit for the Exam
When you think you're ready, apply to take the CCS exam, paying $399 ($299 if you're an AHIMA member).
Submit your application online and make your payment with your credit card. When approved, you'll have a 120-day window to take the exam.
Exams are conducted at Pearson VUE testing centers nationwide. You'll get written instructions on what to bring on exam day.
The exam consists of 115 to 140 multiple-choice questions. You have four hours to complete it and score at least 300 to pass.
Learn About Becoming a Certified Coding Specialist Today
If you want to become a certified coding specialist (CCS), you must first take the certification exam offered by AHIMA.
