This fully online, six-course, 18 college-credit certificate program offered by Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions is designed for those who want to begin or enhance careers in medical billing and coding for in-patient and out-patient hospitals, as well as for clinics, medical offices, and health-insurance organizations. Students will learn principles of medical billing and coding related to the three main coding manuals: CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS.
Moreover, completion of Drexel's medical billing and coding certificate program will qualify individuals to sit for the following national certification exams:
- American Medical Billing Association (AMBA) CMRS exam and become a Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS)
- American Academy of Professional Coder's (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder's (CPC or CPC-H) board exam
- American Health Information Management Association's (CCS or CCS-P) board exam
In addition, completion of this online medical billing and coding program not only earns you a Drexel University certificate and prepares you to sit for the national certification exams in billing and coding but also earns you 18 college quarter credits (or 12 semester credits).
For those currently holding 90 transferable college quarter credits (or 60 transferable semester credits), the 18 quarter credits earned from the certificate program can be applied toward the 180 quarter credits (or 120 semester credits) required for the fully online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Services Administration degree.
Program Length
Depending on the number of courses you take per quarter, the certificate program can be completed within one year. At the same time, the program can prepare you to sit for the certification exams after successful completion of Parts II of any of the billing and coding courses. As a result, you can achieve national certification even before completing Drexel’s Medical Billing and Coding Certificate Program. Moreover, since the tuition for the program is based on the number of credits taken and not on the entire program, you are under no obligation to complete the entire program.
Completion of this certificate program allows you to enter a profession that stands at the crossroads of healthcare and technology. As a medical billing or coding professional, you are the expert on patient data that doctors, nurses, and other providers rely on to perform their jobs. By maintaining, collecting, and analyzing health information, your work makes an important contribution to the delivery of quality care. You are also the first line of defense against noncompliance and down-coding for any medical provider. You will help prevent legal difficulties and ensure that providers receive full reimbursement in a timely manner.
Key program features and benefits of the Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding program:
- Quality: Fully accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools — add the Drexel name to your resume.
- Flexible: Totally online - you never have to come to campus; you can complete it at your own pace.
- Career-oriented: Learn the three main billing and coding manuals - CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS; and prepare to sit for the national exams.
- Affordable: Special tuition for online students. Special tuition rates apply for employees of partnering corporations and members of partner professional associations.
Interested in learning more? View the curriculum for Drexel's Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding program or select one of the links on the upper left-hand side for additional information about the program.
For more information, get a printable version of the program brochure. (Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader software required. Click here for free download.)
If you have questions, please call 877-215-0009.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for all terms. Apply today! See admissions criteria for specific supplemental materials required.
