Professional Certificate in Medical Coding

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this industry-current certificate program, you’ll have the knowledge and experience to:

• Define the fundamental medical terms and word formations using prefixes, suffixes, and root components of medical terms.
• Identify fundamental medical abbreviations and meanings.
• Identify common medical terms used in medical coding.
• Identify common terms for medical settings, medications, and specialties.
• Identify common medical procedures, exams, treatments, and practices.
• Describe HIPAA requirements as they pertain to Patient Health Information and Electronic Health Information.
• Identify the human body systems, organs, location of organs, and their functions.
• Understand the physiological functions of body system organs.
• Understand anatomical and physiological terminology.
• Understand the proper use of the ICD-10-CM coding manual.
• Understand the proper use of the Guidelines, Tabular List, and Conventions.
• Understand the proper methods of establishing the correct code or codes.
• Understand how to correctly locate the codes for conditions, illnesses, diseases, symptoms, external causes, fractures, neoplasms, and mental health conditions.
• Understand the proper use of medical information and documentation procedures for establishing a medical diagnosis code.
• Understand the correct utilization of the HCPCS Level II Expert Manual.
• Identify correct DME, Medicare/Medicaid/Medication, Medical and Surgical procedure codes.
  • Identify correct modifiers for coding and billing. Learn how to use the Tabular Index of the HCPCS Level II Manual as a quick reference for coding.
  • Understand AAPC Certification Exam strategies.
• Successfully complete two practice medical coding exams.

Learning Modules

This professional medical coding certificate program consists of 6 self-paced modules. Courses are 100% online, and you can start any time after registration is completed. There are no prerequisites.

• Medical Terminology – Introduction to the fundamentals of medical terminology
• Anatomy and Physiology – Focus on the human body, body systems, and body organs
• ICD-10-CM Medical Coding – Focus on coding principles, guidelines, and conventions to code medical diagnoses using the ICD-10-CM Coding Manual
• CPT Classification Systems – Focus on learning the correct use of the CPT coding manual
• HCPCS/Medicare Requirements/HIPAA Basics – Focus on the use of the HCPCS Level II Coding Manual
• Coding Certification Review – Focus on practice exams and preparation for the AACP Medical Coding Certification Exam

Degree Pathway

The Medical Coding Professional Certificate serves as a valuable credential that complements your educational path, offering the potential to earn up to 2 courses of prior learning credit toward the Bachelors in Healthcare Administration. For more information about prior learning credit, email pace@nu.edu.