What Is an Entry Level Medical Coder and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

An entry-level medical coder works in the billing department of hospitals, doctor's offices, and other healthcare facilities. Entry-level medical coders transfer healthcare services and claims into universal medical codes for insurance reimbursement purposes. To become an entry-level medical coder, you must have excellent attention to detail and a solid base knowledge of medical terminology, procedure and visit authorizations, and insurance billing procedures. While not required, some employers prefer entry-level medical coders to have an associate degree in medical coding or the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential. When you first start in this entry-level position, your employer may have you shadow veteran medical coders to become proficient in the medical codes and be supervised when you first submit claims.

There are no formal education requirements to become an entry-level medical coder, though most have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Many employers provide on-the-job training and start medical coders as billing department assistants; as an assistant, you learn how to navigate through insurance claims procedures and the proper ways to translate medical services into billing codes. Some aspiring medical coders complete a medical coding certificate program or earn an associate degree in medical billing. These programs provide you with hands-on experience in medical billing software and teach you how to understand the different billing codes required to file claims. Certification is not required, but the Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) Organization provides certification credentials for those who want to become certified.

The most common places of employment for entry-level medical coders are doctor's offices and hospital, but there are many other options available for aspiring medical coders. Insurance companies hire medical coders to process claims and verify the accuracy of the application. Government healthcare agencies need medical coders to handle insurance claims of clients. Law firms that handle cases involving medical services may have a medical coder on staff to decipher medical records. Experienced medical coders may teach in post-secondary medical coding and billing programs. Some healthcare facilities outsource their billing to a medical coding agency. There are also opportunities for medical coders to work from home or another remote location outside of the office.