Coding Specialist Certificate
Medical Billing & Coding Specialist Certificate Program
Available at these Campuses: Bridgeview
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Enhance your education and build a future with a college that knows what it means to prepare graduates for a lifelong career.
Medical coding classes offered through Northwestern College are geared toward the kind of career growth that lasts a lifetime. With industry-standard educational courses and instructors who have real-world knowledge of the coding profession, you get so much more than your medical coding certificate here—you get an experience.
Medical Coding Classes and Preparation
It doesn’t matter if you’re coming to us as a brand new student or building on an existing career in the billing and coding industry—every graduate who successfully completes the medical coding certificate program gets access to the same great resources.
- A foundation of learning in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and pathophysiology
- Preparation to work as a certified coding specialist in health data management
- Compliance with medical law and ethical standards as set out by national health service organizations
- Health informatics training that meets the core values as identified by the American Health Information Management Association
- Qualification to sit for the Certified Coding Specialist exam
Medical coding certification can go a long way in boosting your career, especially if you currently work for one of the many acute and ambulatory care settings in need of qualified professionals. And if you’re just beginning your career, don’t worry—medical billing and coding programs like ours have been providing area healthcare centers with entry-level job candidates for years.
The Northwestern College Difference
Northwestern College seeks to support students through all of their professional goals, and provides an educational environment you can look forward to.
Come see for yourself why our campus stands out among the medical billing and coding schools in the area. We’re excited to help you explore your career opportunities and to start planning for a future worth having.
Program Goals
Upon completion of the program, it is expected that students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and pathophysiology
- Specialize in physician-based settings such as physician offices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, or specialty centers
- Review patient records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure
- Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the CPT coding system and familiarity with the ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II coding systems
- Demonstrates proficiency in health information documentation, data integrity, and quality
Course Information
As a coding specialist student, you will enjoy classes such as:
Ambulatory Reimbursement
Introduction to insurance basics and principles as it pertains to the variety of payers; direct application of third-party and managed-care policies, procedures, and guidelines, including obtaining referrals and pre-certifications; and billing for services, including insurance claim forms and fee schedules.
Coding and Classification Systems
This course is a study of the official coding rules, guidelines, and classification systems for assigning valid diagnostic codes for ICD-10-CM. Students will abstract health information according to regulatory guidelines for acute hospital or professional coding.
Medical Terminology
This course is a technical approach to medical vocabulary studying word elements. Emphasis is placed on spelling, pronunciation, and word analysis. Study focuses on anatomical, diagnostic, operative, and symptomatic terms that apply to each body system and medical specialty.
Accreditations and Approvals
Northwestern College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 263-0456, www.hlcommission.org.
Northwestern College is approved for veterans training under the G.I. Bill for Veterans Educational Assistance.
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Making College Affordable
At Northwestern College, we help our students understand their college costs and how to pay for them. We also, understand that applying for financial aid can seem a little confusing and overwhelming, and want to make the process of applying for financial aid as easy as possible. That’s why our Financial Assistance Representatives are available to meet with you to help you understand financial aid and help you navigate through the application process.
Northwestern College participates in several different types of financial aid programs to enable our Financial Assistant Department to offer you the best possible combination of aid awards. We participate in both the Federal Student Aid Programs and Illinois State MAP Program, along with other miscellaneous financial aid programs from various sources (including Veterans Programs).
Most of our students receive some form of financial assistance. We work hard to help you find the money you need to finance your education, guiding you through the financial aid process and helping you explore different financial aid options. Grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study will assist you in paying for a college education. Read on to learn more about these opportunities.
Remember, you can always contact the Financial Assistant Department at any time and speak with one of our Financial Assistance Representatives if you have any questions regarding the financial aid process. We look forward to helping you!
Grants
Grants are need-based awards funded by the federal or state government. Grants are funds that do not require repayment. Learn More
Loans
For many students and parents, loans represents an important resource to help finance educational expenses. Northwestern College participates in the federal student loan program which allows students and their parents to borrow money to help meet their educational costs. A loan is a borrowed money that is expected to be paid back with interest. When you take out a student loan, you are making a legal obligation to repay the loan, so carefully consider the amount you borrow. Be a responsible borrower and borrow only what you need. Learn More
Scholarships/Tuition Discounts
Northwestern College offers a variety of scholarships to students. The internal scholarships and tuition discounts that we offer are sums of money that do not require repayment. See which ones you qualify for.
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Get Started Now
Ready to learn more about the possibilities that an NC education can provide? Click or call – we are here to help you begin your journey.
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