Medical Coding Specialist, Level 2 Certificate
Program Information
Medical coding professionals review health record documentation and convert medical diagnoses, procedures, services and equipment into medical codes that are required for billing and reimbursement.
The Certificate of Technology in Medical Coding is designed to teach all aspects of medical coding. Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to apply to take the national Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) examinations, administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) as well as the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) examination, administered by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Opportunities
Program graduates are qualified for entry-level medical coding specialist positions in all health care settings such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, and clinics.
Earning Potential
National average salary by credential:
Certified Coding Associate (CCA) average salary: $45,5001
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) average salary: $60,1601
National average salary by job level:
Coding Professional: $54,7301
- 1
Source: https://my.ahima.org/careermap, 2019
For more information, students may email HealthInformationManagement@sjcd.edu or call 281-459-7608.
Campuses
North Campus
San Jac Online
The Medical Coding Specialist program includes one clinical (practicum) course. Clinicals are unpaid experiences in which students are supervised by a coding 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 an 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
5HITT-MDC
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| HITT 1305 | Medical Terminology I | 3 |
| HITT 1301 | Health Data Content and Structure | 3 |
| ITSC 1309 or BCIS 1305 | Integrated Software Applications I or Business Computer Applications | 3 |
| BIOL 2404 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (lecture & lab) (or BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2101 and BIOL 2302 and BIOL 2102) | 4 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Second Term | ||
| HITT 2330 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology | 3 |
| 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 | 15 | |
| Summer Year One Term | ||
| HITT 2245 | Coding Certification Exam Review | 2 |
| HITT 2335 | Coding and Reimbursement Methodologies | 3 |
| HITT 1360 | Clinical-Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
External Learning Experience: HITT 1360 Clinical-Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician
National Certification Exam: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Associate (CCA) or Certified Professional Coder (CPC).
Note: Students must pass each HITT course listed in the Medical Coding Specialist Level 2 Certificate plan with a grade of C or higher to be eligible to receive the certificate.