Certificate in Medical Coding

Rutgers’ Top Medical Coding Program Offered Online

Our Medical Coding Certificate program prepares students with the skills to classify and code medical data from inpatient, outpatient, and physician office records.

Medical coding a skill in high demand in all health care settings. Coded data is also critical to medical research, medical and allied health education, vital statistics, or planning and monitoring public health. The current shortage of qualified coders has resulted in many perks on the job that may including flexible hours, sign-on bonuses, and the potential to work from home. In addition, consulting and travel opportunities are abundant.
Program HighlightsAdmission CriteriaTuition & FeesCurriculumHIM Education OptionsDepartment Home

Program Highlights

The medical coding certificate program requires 21 credits, 7 courses which are offered in specific sequence over a period of 1 year and 4 months, part-time.  All course work is completed 100% online. The program only starts in the Fall. Courses completed as part of the medical coding certificate are transferable into the BSHIM program.

Goals

  • To prepare competent coding professionals for employment in all types of health care facilities.
  • To prepare students to meet the needs of the industry which has a workforce shortage in this area of expertise.
  • To educate students in the content areas essential for attaining the credential of Certified Coding Specialist or Certified Coding Associate offered by AHIMA.
  • To provide a specialty certification for students currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program.

Program Objectives

At the conclusion of the program the student will be able to:

  • Evaluate medical documentation to determine codable diagnoses and procedures in accordance with established coding guidelines.
  • Apply appropriate codes from ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, ICD-9-CM, and CPT-4 coding schemes to various health encounter scenarios in medical documents using coding manuals and encoder software.
  • Evaluate reimbursement methodologies for correctness of assignment.
  • Perform analysis of reimbursement methodologies through case mix analysis.
  • Audit coded data to determine accuracy and correct deficiencies.

Medical coders may work in acute or ambulatory care settings, health insurance companies, or other health data abstracting, reporting and analysis functions that require medical coding knowledge. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical records technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030 (BLS, 2021).

Questions?

To learn more, email Program Director Dasantila Sherifi, Ph.D. at  him@shp.rutgers.edu

Admissions Criteria

Requirements

  • Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and be computer literate as many courses in the program are online.
  • Applicants must have completed Anatomy and Physiology I & II with a grade of C or better prior to the start of program courses.

Students who complete the coding certificate courses often continue on toward a bachelor of science in Health Information Management. All courses in the certificate program count toward the BS HIM degree. To see more information on the bachelor’s degree click here.

 

Tuition & Fees

SHP Tuition and Fees

For Tuition and Fees, please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees.
(Scroll down to 2024-2025 Rutgers Health Tuition and Fee Rates and click on School of Health Professions)

Curriculum

In our fully online, 21-credit Medical Coding Certificate Program, students learn to classify medical data from inpatient, outpatient, and physician office records. The ability to effectively and efficiently code data is critical to medical research, medical and health education, and planning and monitoring public health.

Students will study medical terminology, disease pathology, International Classification of Disease (ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and reimbursement systems in the United States.

Our program faculty have extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient coding. This provides valuable practical knowledge for the classroom setting.

Students who complete the coding certificate courses can continue on and achieve a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management. All courses in the certificate program count toward the BS HIM degree.

PREREQUISITE: Anatomy & Physiology I & II (8 credits) must be completed prior to the start of Fall classes. Proof of completion or in progress required with application.

1st Fall semester

BINF 3010 Medical Terminology (3)
Word formation, derivations, and meanings of medical terms related to medical specialties, health services, and health related fields with applications in the transcription of medical reports.

BINF 3411 Disease Pathology I (3)
An in-depth study of disease processes which affect the human body with applications to the operation of a medical information system. Part I of II.

 

1st Spring Semester

BINF 3412 Disease Pathology II (3)
Continuation of Disease Pathology I with emphasis on diseases of individual organs. Part II of II.

BINF 3311 Introduction to Coding (3)
This course provides an overview of classification systems used in health care systems including the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and the Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).

 

Summer Semester

BINF 3301 Classification & Reimbursement Systems (3)
This course provides in depth coverage of reimbursement methodologies used throughout the healthcare industry as well as preparing the student to assess compliance with regulatory guidelines. Also including is an overview of classification systems such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and the Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and clinical terminologies as they apply to these systems.

BINF 4216 Coding with the International Classification of Diseases – Part I (3)
A course designed to increase the depth of knowledge in coding systems with practical applications in International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

BINF 4217 Coding with the International Classification of Diseases – Part II (1)
A course designed to increase the depth of knowledge in coding systems with practical applications in International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

 

2nd Fall Semester

BINF 4216 Coding with the International Classification of Diseases – Part I (3)
A course designed to increase the depth of knowledge in coding systems with practical applications in International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

BINF 4217 Coding with the International Classification of Diseases – Part II (1)
A course designed to increase the depth of knowledge in coding systems with practical applications in International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

HIM Education Options

Area of Comparison MSHIM BSHIM Certificate in HIM Medical Coding Certificate
Degree Master of Science in HIM Bachelor of Science in HIM Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in HIM Academic Certificate in Medical Coding
Accreditation Status CAHIIM accreditation in process; in Candidacy Status Accredited by CAHIIM Accredited by CAHIIM  
Eligibility to sit for the RHIA exam Yes Yes Yes N/A
Certifications that may be pursued with this education RHIA, CHDA, CHPS RHIA, CCA, CCS, CCS-P, CHDA, CHPS RHIA, CHDA, CHPS CCA, CCS, CCS-P
Starting point Fall Fall Fall Fall
Number of Credits 36 61 49 21
Program length- FT 2 years 2 years (includes 1 summer) 2 years (includes 1 summer; 1 year FT; 1 year PT) N/A
Program length- PT 3 years 3 years 3 years (includes 2 summers) 1.4 years
Course offering 100% Online Online (except for PPE) Online (except for PPE) 100% Online
Professional Practice Experience (PPE) None 75 hours during the last semester (Spring) 75 hours during the last semester (Spring) None
Admissions requirements
  1. Application with application fee
  2. A bachelor’s degree
  3. College-level statistics
  4. Min GPA 3.0
  5. Personal statement
  6. 2 letters of recommendation
  7. CV or Resume
  8. Computer literacy
  1. Application with application fee
  2. Minimum 59 credits* in specific general education courses (typically satisfied by an AA or AS degree)
  3. Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits*)
  4. College-level math (3 credits*)
  5. College-level statistics (3 credits*)
  6. Computer literacy
  1. Application with application fee
  2. A bachelor’s degree
  3. Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits*)
  4. College-level math (3 credits*)
  5. College-level statistics (3 credits*)
  6. Computer literacy
  1. Application with application fee
  2. A high school diploma or GED
  3. Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits*)
  4. Computer literacy

* Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.