Medical Coding Certificate
Due to the high demand for qualified personnel, the field of medical coding attracts people from backgrounds other than traditional healthcare. This certificate program is designed for people interested in the medical coding profession as well as students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in another field of study who may wish to enhance their primary degree program.
Students receive instruction from faculty with extensive expertise and will, upon completion of the program, possess the skills necessary to be successful in this area of the health information profession.
Certificate Requirements
Courses needed to achieve certificate: electives, core courses
How long does it take?
26 semester hours of certificate course work are required. The program begins in the fall semester and includes a final professional practice course in Health Information Administration which is taken in the Summer I session after completion of the course work.
Program Structure
Course work may be taken on a part-time or full-time basis. The student must be admitted to IUPUI and have knowledge of anatomy, physiology and informatics tools. The Admissions Committee will determine whether the applicant demonstrates adequate knowledge to enroll in the certificate program.
Curriculum Design
The certificate courses focus on pathophysiology, pharmacology, coding and reimbursement and basic concepts of health information. The professional practice component of the curriculum integrates lecture and laboratory courses with technical experiences in hospitals and other health care facilities.
Students have the option of completing the Medical Coding Certificate courses via distance education. This does not apply to prerequisite courses. Please contact our office for detailed information.
Benefits
Upon completion of the certificate program:
- Students are prepared to find employment in a hospital or physician’s office
- Students will be eligible for Certified Coding Associate (CCA) certification by the American Health Information Management Association
- College credit earned for the certificate can be applied toward the bachelor’s degree in HIA
Additional Costs
In addition to regular university tuition and fees, students should expect to pay a clinical fee for the professional practice experience.
Facilities
The Medical Coding Certificate Program is offered in the School of Informatics. The program offices are located in the Informatics and Communications Technology Complex; classes meet there as well. Professional practice is provided by health care facilities and agencies in Indiana and surrounding states.
