The Clinical Coding Certificate is recognized as an AHIMA PCAP-approved coding program. It is stackable with the Health Information Technology – Data Management associate degree at CT State Middlesex or a bachelor's degree in HIM from other colleges. The CCS or CCS-P certification represents expertise in coding that exceeds the level of coding covered by the HIM generalist credentials (Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)) or (Registered Health Information Technician Administrator (RHIA)). Many students combine the Clinical Coding certificate with the Health Information Technology – Data Management associate degree program.

The CT State Middlesex Clinical Coding Certificate coding program is approved by the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professionals. This process allows academic institutions to be acknowledged as offering an approved coding certificate program.

The AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program designation:

1. Identifies specialized programs that meet established coding educational standards
2. Stimulates improvement of educational standards through faculty development opportunities, and by involving faculty and staff in program evaluation and planning
3. Promotes a better understanding of the goals of professional coding education
4. Provides reasonable assurance that practitioners possess the necessary job skills upon entry into the profession

Program approval effective January 2024 - January 2027 with annual interim approval during these years.

Offered by the Middlesex campus of the CT State Community College only; AHIMA PCAP approval is limited to the Middletown location. The courses are offered fully online, allowing students to access the program from anywhere.

A coding credential provides proof of competency in the field and is often a requirement for clinical coding-related and healthcare revenue management positions. Graduates of the Clinical Coding Certificate are eligible to sit for AHIMA coding certification exams including:

• Certified Coding Associate (CCA^®)
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS^®)
• Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P^®)

Graduates may also choose to seek additional coding certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

More information about health information careers can be found in the AHIMA Career and Student Center at http://www.ahima.org/careers.

AHIMA completed a salary survey in 2019 and found the average salaries for credentialed coders were $53,790 for the CCA®, $77,790 for the CCS-P®, and $79,060 for the CCS® (AHIMA 2019 Salary Report).

AHIMA-certified coders often work in larger organizations, including hospitals and healthcare systems. Graduates of this program will have the skills to code encounters for professional or facility services. The highest salaries are in facility coding for inpatient services where the preferred credential is the AHIMA CCS.