Program Information
Medical billing professionals process and follow-up on claims submitted to health insurance companies for reimbursement of services performed by health care providers, such as physicians.
The Certificate of Technology in Medical Billing is designed to teach all aspects of billing and medical coding. Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to apply to take the national Certified Professional Coder (CPC) examination, administered by the American Association of Professional Coders.
Career Opportunities
Program graduates are qualified for entry-level positions such as medical claims specialists, billing specialists, and medical coders in physicians' offices, clinics, insurance companies, and other ambulatory care facilities.
Earning Potential
State median salary by job category:
Billing and Posting Clerk average salary: $42,5791
National average salary by job responsibility:
Coding/Billing: $54,8902
National average salary by credential:
Certified Professional Biller (CPB) average salary: $55,0782
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) average salary: $57,2012
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Source: https://texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2022
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Source: https://www.aapc.com, 2021
For more information, students may email HealthInformationManagement@sjcd.edu or call 281-459-7608.
Campuses
North Campus
San Jac Online
This Medical Billing program includes one clinical (practicum) course. Clinicals are unpaid experiences in which students are supervised by a billing professional at the health care facility. Clinicals are scheduled during the day shift according to the availability of the site supervisor. The program cannot guarantee a specific site, but every effort will be made to accommodate the student. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the clinical site. A criminal background check is required of all program students and must be submitted prior to enrollment in the clinical course. Documentation of immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella, completion of the Hepatitis B series and annual Tuberculosis screening are also required prior to enrollment in the clinical course. Drug screening may be required by the clinical site.
Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site.
Plan of Study
4HITT-MDBC
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| HITT 1305 | Medical Terminology I | 3 |
| HITT 1374 | Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| ITSC 1309 or BCIS 1305 | Integrated Software Applications I or Business Computer Applications | 3 |
| HITT 1313 | Coding and Insurance | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Term | ||
| HITT 1341 | Coding and Classification Systems | 3 |
| HITT 1342 | Ambulatory Coding | 3 |
| HITT 1311 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| HITT 1353 | Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Third Term | ||
| HITT 2145 | Billing Certification Exam Review | 1 |
| HITT 1166 | Practicum – Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician | 1 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Total Credits | 26 | |
External Field Experience: HITT 1166 Practicum – Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician
Note: Students must pass each HITT course listed in all Health Information Technology AAS degrees and Certificate of Technology plans with a grade of C to be eligible to receive either the degree or any of the certificates.