The Clinical Coding Certificate will prepare you for a career as a clinical coder, translating patients' medical diagnoses and procedures into codes for medical records.
Clinical coders, also known as medical coders, are skilled in classifying medical data by utilizing knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, disease processes and pharmacology. They can identify discrepancies and billing issues and ensure a certain quality of care for patients. Clinical coding is important to healthcare organizations because coding accuracy influences public health policy, impacts revenues and drives healthcare outcomes assessment.
Clinical coders often work in larger organizations, including hospitals and healthcare systems though they may also work in clinics, doctors' offices, in specialist research or with health insurance companies.
This program spans three or more semesters and will prepare you to sit for a coding credential exam from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). You may select the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or the Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Based (CCS-P) certification exam.
Learn More
ACCREDITATION
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.
PROGRAM APPROVAL STATEMENT
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.
Value for Students
The AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program designation:
- Identifies specialized programs that meet established coding educational standards
- Stimulates improvement of educational standards through faculty development opportunities, and by involving faculty and staff in program evaluation and planning
- Promotes a better understanding of the goals of professional coding education
- Provides reasonable assurance that practitioners possess the necessary job skills upon entry into the profession
Program approval effective January of 2021 - January of 2024 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.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
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.