Is it difficult to learn coding on your own?

Hello again,

I am looking into online schools that teach medical coding or billing. My goal is to work from home one day. I have been attending Alfred State college online for the Coding and Reiembursement program. It is alright, but I really do not want to waste time on alot of fluff classes. I just want to get down to the coding material and the other classes that apply to this field. I have looked into AHIMA and AAPC programs that they offer through them. Both are about $2000.00. Has anyone ever taken classes through them? I am a very good worker and stay on task, so online learning has never been a problem for me. How hard is learning medical coding on your own though? This field seems so intense that it seems pretty hard to be able to learn this all on your own. Is it really done? Thanks for some info...

Yes, you can learn it yourself. I completed my training at adult school and it is mostly self-study, no lecture. The good thing is it is cheap and I got CCS within 8 months. But I decided to attend college to study health information technology after I earned CCS because I barely know about DRG, encoder. Self-study does not cover everything.

I took anatomy and physiology class online with AHIMA, but I didn't take coding basic course. By the way, just FYI, you cannot start coding basic unless you passed anatomy and physiology first. This is a required course for AHIMA coding basic program.

I'm thinking about going into medical coding. Can anybody tell me the pay rate? All the jobs I look at do not give pay scale.

Frieda in Hazlet, New Jersey said: I'm thinking about going into medical coding. Can anybody tell me the pay rate? All the jobs I look at do not give pay scale.

www.indeed.com/salary/medical-coder.html

Messed up my previos comment, sorry for the link text, here is the proper link to learn medical coding in just 30 weeks.

www.rossmedicaleducation.com

James , did you find a job after graduating?

Lavi in Sterling Heights, Michigan said: James , did you find a job after graduating?

Coding not difficult. Lot of mine was self-taught. But you do need on the job experience to show employers you are educated enough to managed the medical records and you understand the RACS, HACS, ICD9, CPT, HCPCS, JACHO,MEDICARE, AHA-coding clinic, STATE/FEDERAL guidelines in order to be successful at coding. I don't recommend this job unless your able to take accuracy, understanding, compassion, and able to be in compliance with HIPPA/PHI regulations. Check out UCLA story on an employee broke confidentiality of celebrities. THat makes u think twice on this job, but it also help u be a better person and keeping things confidential no matter what the enquirer tries 2 pay u! haha

Frieda in Hazlet, New Jersey said: I'm thinking about going into medical coding. Can anybody tell me the pay rate? All the jobs I look at do not give pay scale.

Hi,

I am currently enrolled in a HIT program and was recently told that unless we become certified we can expect to earn once we complete our program $10-12 an hour. Once we become certified we have the potential to earn more but that requires us to receive more education. You would think paying a lot of money to attend career college we would be certified, "not". I wished the school would have communicated that before I committed myself.

Good Luck!

lacrew in Oakland, California said: Hi,

I am currently enrolled in a HIT program and was recently told that unless we become certified we can expect to earn once we complete our program $10-12 an hour. Once we become certified we have the potential to earn more but that requires us to receive more education. You would think paying a lot of money to attend career college we would be certified, "not". I wished the school would have communicated that before I committed myself.

Good Luck!

Why would you think just taking classes would make you certified?
you have to take a test with a HIM organization to become certified.

Also, something else they probably didn't communicate with you is that unless you have experience, you are probably going to run into problems finding a job. Most employers are looking for experienced and certified employees. If you find that to be the case when you graduate, try volunteering in a HIM dept, to get experience.

You are correct! An instructor from another class has been very helpful in sharing her experiences and even brought a mock certified test to share with my class. I am thankful for her doing this becaues we now know what we should know when we take our exam to become certified.
It was my fault, to think once I completed this program upon exiting I would be certified, especially since I am paying alot of money. There's a lot to learn in the medical field and some instuctors don't share enough information. I am learning and will have to ask questions!