Why Do Certifications Matter for Medical Coders and Billers?

It’s a common question we receive at Medical Coding Academy. Will having a medical billing certification or medical coding certification actually help you get a job with a potential employer? While many colleges or universities would like you to believe that taking an 18-week course is the only way to guarantee employment, there’s really only one requirement for most employers have: the knowledge necessary to do your job.

Can you gain that knowledge at a college or university? It’s debatable and largely dependent on the quality of your instructor and the institution’s dedication to professional development. With a certification, on the other hand, you can’t pass the exam without having the knowledge to do so.

Why Medical Coding and Billing Certifications Matter

There’s a big difference between taking a medical coding course and actually passing a certification exam. For the former, all you need is money… and lots of it. These types of courses can cost up to $15,000 or more and the failure rate is extremely high. Medical billing and coding certifications, however, are much more affordable. You simply need to know the material covered in the exams to pass them. This material, by the way, is the same information you need to master if you want to be successful at your job. That’s why employers take notice if they see one person with a certification on their resume and another person without one.

Benefits of Medical Coding and Billing Certifications

In addition to providing you a competitive advantage while seeking employment, medical billing and coding certifications let you enjoy a variety of other benefits. Here are a few of them:

• They’re more cost-efficient than colleges or universities.
• They provide the fastest entry into the industry.
• It’s easier to prove your knowledge of medical coding and billing.
• Once you pass, you have specialized certification options.
• They give you flexibility in your employer choice and location (including many that offer work-from-home options).
• They dramatically increase your pay potential.

If you’re interested in a medical billing and coding certification, be sure to look into the online options we have available.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2019. It has since been revamped and updated for clarity and accuracy.