Medical Billing

# How Important Is Board Certification For Medical Billing Specialists

- January 13, 2025
- Posted by Kristen Edwards

11 Mar

Board Certification is not an absolute condition for persons to work as medical billers or coders. However, most employers choose those who show certificates to ensure the candidate has the most advanced professional competence and knowledge of the subject.

The coding process represents a complex, consistent procedure that requires top-notch precision. If you are ready to pursue a medical billing and coding career, certification is the way to go, as the market is becoming increasingly competitive.

Medical billing and coding have many benefits, so they offer many job opportunities and are very satisfactory career fields. Training courses usually last less than one year, and you have to undergo a medical credentialing process for verification. This article will teach us about the various certification programs available and their importance.

## Certification Requirements for Medical Billing and Coding

The medical accounting process differentiates between medical billing and medical coding, two separate procedures. A medical coder’s primary function is interpreting patient care and accurately ascribing correct diagnosis and procedure codes. They then enter the data into the hospital computer system with the help of coding software. Conversely, medical coders use the codes to submit patients’ medical claims to insurance companies and post payments to accounts.

Being certified in one field or the other may have different regulations. In most cases, a medical biller must graduate from an accredited program or program recognized by the certifying body. They must also pass the medical billing certification examination. Some educational expertise will be checked through the medical credentialing process if the applicant has genuine medical billing experience.

You may also want to know the associated fee to obtain a medical billing certification. Medical billing credential costs vary according to the type of course and the developmental organizations. The test taker must pay $399 or $325 if applying for the AAPC student rate. The total amount for CBCS is $117.

## Importance of medical coding and billing certification

### More job opportunities

In the ever-shifting employment market, recruiters want to hire employees with good and relevant credentials. Health insurance coding and billing certifications are not only for the employers a demonstration that you could fit into the healthcare team but also that you can make a positive contribution to the team from day one of your work.

### Increased Earning

As from the 2022 statistics, the earnings for medical billing specialists stood at $47,180. An entry-level billing and coding specialist is provided with low pay as opposed to the highest-paid 10% of all coders, who earned around $75,460 in May 2022. Moreover, a suitable combination of medical billing with coding specialization certificates may enable you to achieve more.

An analysis of 2021 data from AAPC states that medical coders with certification make an average of $55,923 annually. Meanwhile, the AAPC survey revealed that a certified biller and coder with two certifications makes an average of $64,890. This figure is higher than the salary of a certified billing and coding specialist with three certifications, which averages $70,608 on average.

### Building Trust with Clients and Employers

Receiving certificates in coding and billing implies to the client that his medical data are in the hands of a person who is strict in observance of ethical and polite standards. The front desk and back-office staff are the pillars of each medical office. Employers are highly impressed when they receive a certification for the employees as it reflects that they are true professionals and have invested their time and effort to prepare for the examinations.

### Flexible Schedule

The majority of medical coders and billers work Monday through Friday. However, some of the billing and coding jobs allow them to work on a flexible schedule. You need to ensure your tasks are completed within the required time frame. Having the flexibility to work as often and as little as you want as long as the job gets done is an outstanding advantage.

### Gaining More Industry Knowledge

If you’re either a beginner or on the way to developing your medical billing and coding career, investing in your knowledge is the most intelligent move that will pay off in the future. As you learn about billing, you’ll acquire knowledge of the field, which will help guide you in facing the frequently challenging healthcare billing environment. Moreover, this way, you can also provide quality services to your patients and see your overall job satisfaction improve. To enter the medical insurance and coding industry, you should understand the principles of medical credentialing and acquire the best practices. After fully understanding all these concepts, you can do marvelously well in your job positions, beating off the competition.

## Available medical billing and coding certifications

### Medical Billing Certifications

#### 1. Registered Medical Reimbursement Specialist (RMRS)

- Provided by the AMBA (American Medical Billing Association) and granted by the CBAMBA (Certifying Board of the American Medical Billing Association).
- Prerequisite: A detailed understanding of CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS standards.
- Launched in 2000, and has worked with clinics and hospitals to meet medical billing needs for many years—one of the most recognized billing certifications.

#### 2. Certified Professional Biller (CPB)

- Billers must complete an online training course and an exam to test their knowledge and skills.
- Presented by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC).
- Prerequisite: Having a clear and robust understanding of medical claims billing and CPT, ICD-10, or HCPCS codes.

### Medical Coding Certifications

#### 1. Certified Coding Associate (CCA)

- Being offered by the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association).
- Prerequisites: are also accepted for six months of on-the-job training at a healthcare organization, an AHIMA-accredited coding five certificate, or another formal coding training program.

#### 2. Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

- The AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) provides access to healthcare information and management solutions to healthcare professionals.
- Prerequisite: Minimum of 3 years of relevant physician-based or outpatient coding experience applying the codes to various records. Completing the course space in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology or demonstrating at least an elementary level of knowledge in these areas.

#### 3. Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)

- Offered by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC).
- Prerequisite: Two years of medical coding experience or comparable.
- Healthy Living is a medication used for ambulatory services, dialysis centers, radiology centers for outpatients, outpatient clinics, therapeutic facilities, outpatient cancer centers, and hospital emergency rooms.

#### 4. Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)

- This post-secondary certificate program involves several computer-based courses like accounts payable, accounts receivable, managerial assistance, and the like.
- Offered by the AAPC.
- Prerequisite: Deep expertise in ICD-10, ICD-9, CPT, HCPCS, anatomy, and medical terminology. This is reserved for personally advanced studies.

## Conclusion – Board Certification For Medical Billing

The board certification for medical billing specialists represents a premium in several aspects. On top of that, it undoubtedly improves job security by showing the employer that you are the right person for the team with the required skills to contribute effectively to the healthcare team. Furthermore, it will increase income for such professionals, giving the certified professional a higher salary. Passing the board exam also grants legitimacy to clients and employers, demonstrating an ethical and responsible approach to work. It also has the flexibility to work schedules that best fit the individual and gives exposure to potential employers.

Further, it allows the creation of sturdy medical billing and coding basics. It ensures that professionals can overcome the challenges in the healthcare billing and coding domain with certainty. In reality, board certification is the essential aspect determining how successful a medical billing and coding career will be.

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