Medical Coder
CERT2
Why study Medical Coder?
The Medical Coder program prepares students to become professional healthcare coders. They work in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, nursing homes, pharmacies, insurance companies, etc., preparing and coding bills and reimbursements for medical care. Using the latest technology and industry-established codes, professional coders indicate what treatments were received, what the diagnosis was, and the level of care that was given. Medical coding professionals are in very high demand due to increasing regulations in the healthcare industry, in addition to the rapidly aging population.
Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid). To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage.
Admission Requirements
The Medical Coder Certificate program is open to all students with a high school diploma/GED and the desire to succeed. The program accepts students six times a year. Generous financial aid packages are available for those that qualify including grants and scholarships.
Applications
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year.
Transcripts
To be considered “official,” transcripts must be sent to UC directly from any previously attended institutions. Most high schools and colleges use either Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse. Search for your previously attended institution(s) on these sites to see if you can order your transcripts electronically.
In Parchment, select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the transcript recipient. In National Student Clearinghouse, you can request the transcripts be sent directly to admissions (admissions@uc.edu). If you don’t see your school(s) listed on either of these sites, contact the school(s) directly.
To Submit by Mail:
Submit official transcripts for all schools attended (or GED scores) to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0091
To Submit Electronically:
Electronic submissions can be sent directly to admissions (admissions@uc.edu).
Transfer Credits
- Courses must be from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM).
- Courses must be comparable to those offered at UC Clermont (course objectives, etc.).
- General/core courses must have been completed with a “C” or better. Program-specific courses require a “B” or better.
Now Accepting Nationally-Accredited College Credits
UC’s online Medical Coder Certificate program will accept transfer credits from both regionally and nationally accredited institutions.
Course Credit for Credential Holders
Students with active industry credentials may be eligible for course credit. Please discuss with your Enrollment Advisor.
To succeed in medical coding, you should be well organized, have excellent communication skills, and be detail-oriented. You should also be comfortable sitting at a desk for long periods.
Recognizing that digital literacy is essential to be successful in this online program, UC Clermont recommends that incoming students own a computer or laptop that meets the minimum system requirements for the software used in the curriculum. This requirement will help ensure that all students have access to the college’s digital resources at home or on campus.
Join one of the fastest growing professions in the United States!
With a professional medical coding certificate, you can pursue a wide variety of careers in hospitals, physician’s offices, nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, law firms, public health/government departments and more.
Medical coding professionals use industry-established codes and the latest healthcare technology to help collect, manage and maintain medical and financial records. They also manage the coding of patient diagnoses and treatment(s), working with insurance companies to ensure claims are properly recorded and processed.
There is no better time than NOW to pursue a career in medical coding. The healthcare industry is undergoing unprecedented change and modernization, and a very large portion of the population is entering retirement age – so the demand for coders is growing rapidly!
Many students who have always wanted to work in healthcare are often deterred (understandably) by the financial investment required. The tuition, fees and amount of time (often unpaid) required for schooling, residency, specialized training, etc. is enough to scare anyone. One of the great advantages of working in medical coding is that you don’t need a degree. You can earn a highly-affordable, highly-marketable medical coding certificate entirely online!
Below is a snapshot from BLS, which reports job outlook and salaries based on national data. The career(s) listed below are just a sample of the employment opportunities in this industry/sector. Wages, salaries, titles, etc. will vary depending on years of experience, credentials, location, etc.
What can I do after I earn my Medical Coder Certificate?
All of our coding graduates are eligible for UC’s 100% Online Associates in Health Information Systems program (AAS HIS). In fact, coding graduates enter the AAS HIS program as a second year student since all of the coding credits transfer. This means you can earn your associates degree in just one year!
If you want to continue advancing your education (and career) after earning your associates, you can transfer all of your AAS HIS credits into UC’s 100% Online Bachelor’s in Health Information Management (HIM).
UC’s online AAS HIS graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential, and HIM graduates can sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA). Both of these credentials are well-respected and highly sought after in the healthcare industry!
Our online Cancer Registry Management Certificate Program is another great opportunity, and of VERY FEW online programs in the U.S. that is fully accredited by the National Cancer Registrars Association!
Employment Opportunities for Graduates
Employment for medical records and health information technicians is growing rapidly. Graduates can work in many different healthcare settings.
- Physician practices
- Nursing homes
- Home health agencies
- Mental health facilities
- Public health agencies
- Hospitals
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Law and insurance firms
- Health product vendors
Academic advising is an essential part of your educational experience.
We are committed to providing advice and assistance throughout your academic journey. You and your advisor work together to create an academic plan based on your goals.
Questions? Email us at clermont.advising@uc.edu or call 513-558-8317 to schedule an appointment.
UC Clermont students have access to free tutoring and academic support services through Learning Commons. The Learning Commons provides centralized academic support for all University of Cincinnati students by bringing together faculty, best practices in teaching and learning, and hundreds of outstanding peer educators to create flexible academic success programming. Free services available to UC Clermont students include academic coaching, group review sessions, success skills workshops, and tutoring in writing, math, science, and more. Services are available on campus or virtually. Visit the Learning Commons webpage for more information or schedule an appointment online.
Academic Coaching – Academic coaches help students get organized and learn to be efficient and effective with their study time during one-on-one sessions. Academic Coaches work with students on new strategies or exercises to try before the next meeting, and later meetings allow tailoring new approaches to develop the best study test-taking habits for unique goals and strengths. Schedule one-hour sessions as often as once per week.
Academic Writing Center (AWC) – The Academic Writing Center (AWC) offers tutoring for all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming to incorporating research. The AWC is not course-specific and can help with discipline-specific documents, as well as non-course-based writing. Schedule a one-on-one appointment with a trained writing tutor or submit a paper online for feedback within 48 hours.
Group Review Sessions (GRS) – Group Review Sessions (GRS) are small study groups, led by a peer leader, that meet to review content that is covered in course-supported lectures each week. Find the list of supported courses on the Learning Commons website.
Math & Science Support Center (MASS) – The MASS Center offers virtual study tables for many undergraduate mathematics and science courses. Study tables provide a collaborative learning space so that students can learn from their peers who have excelled (the table leader) as well as their fellow class members attending the study table. No appointment is necessary for these scheduled group study sessions. You can view the up-to-date study table schedule on the Learning Commons website.
Peer Tutoring – Peer tutoring sessions are one-on-one with a subject-specific tutor to answer questions and help you master content in more than 200 undergraduate courses, including subjects such as math, science, languages, and business. Schedule appointments up to 7 days in advance for a one-hour, 90-minute, or two-hour session. If you notice your desired course is not offered, please let us know.
Preparatory Composition – Students enrolled in UC Clermont Preparatory English (ENGL0099) courses have dedicated support from professional tutors. Information about these services and how to connect with the tutor is included in the course syllabus.
Success Skills Workshops – Success Skills Workshops are free one-hour sessions that focus on skills students need to be successful in college (study skills, note-taking, motivation, etc.). While there is no shortcut to success, the goal of the workshops is to empower students to identify and apply academic habits and soft skills through a deeper understanding and purpose of them. When students RSVP for a workshop, they will be able to register for the upcoming workshops one at a time and up to nine days before the workshop date.
Canvas Navigator Workshop – Designed to help students who are new to college and need help navigating their coursework online. The workshop shows students how to access their course materials, publisher homework, quizzes, textbooks, academic services like tutoring, and more. Students who attend this workshop can expect to gain clarity on what they need to do every week to stay on track with their coursework throughout the semester, which helps students stay motivated, leading to greater confidence and success in their courses.
Math Placement Test Workshop – Offered to prospective and current UC students who want to brush up on their math skills before taking the Math Placement Test. The free synchronous online workshop is led by a UC Clermont professional tutor. The three-week workshop series is offered monthly except in January. It is recommended that students sign up for all three weeks to get the maximum benefit from these workshops.
Math for Science Students Workshop – Designed for students enrolled in entry-level biology and chemistry courses, these workshops cover foundational math concepts that students need tosucceeds in their science courses. The synchronous online workshops are led by a UC Clermont tutor. The workshop repeats each week, starting the week before classes begin and continuing through week 3 of the semester.
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Our online courses are taught by faculty who have received extensive online training. UC Clermont College is a Quality Matters Institution Member. Colleges and universities can use QM Standards and tools to develop, evaluate, and improve the quality of online course design, create a culture of quality, and achieve course certification.
To graduate from UC Clermont, a student must:
- Complete all required coursework and program requirements.
- Obtain at least a 2.0 university grade point average.
- Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
- File a formal application for the degree by the posted semester of graduation deadline.
Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Technology & Health Information Systems
Application Deadlines
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Contact Information
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Program Code: 34CRT-MC-C2-.MC-DL