Is There a 4 Week Online Course for Medical Coding and Billing?
Some online medical coding and billing courses can be completed in just a matter of months, with a select few you can finish in a handful of weeks. Some students may wonder if there is a 4-week medical coding and billing course available online, and if so, would it be worth the money? In this guide, get answers to these questions and explore the best (and shortest) medical billing and coding programs available today.
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Featured Accelerated Medical Billing and Coding Programs Online
Colleges across the U.S. offer a wide range of partially- and fully-online medical billing and coding programs with varying program lengths. Students in these programs gain the medical billing and/or medical coding skills needed to earn certification and get hired.
When condensed into a shorter time frame, an accelerated online program allows for faster entry into the job market while still ensuring that students gain the necessary knowledge of digital platforms, coding systems, electronic health records (HER), and more.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates a 7% growth in medical billing and coding job openings in the field between 2024 and 2034.
We’ve spotlighted below three of today’s fastest medical billing and coding programs available online. See if one of these is right for you.
MedicalBillingCourse.com
MedicalBillingCourse.com offers an online Certified Medical Billing Professional Certificate program that can be completed in as few as four weeks. This program, however, prepares students for roles as medical billers only and does not include training as a medical coder.
Through its basic, practical curriculum, students are taught the day-to-day operations of medical billing practice. Utilizing live simulation software, students gain hands-on billing experience directly applicable to real-world scenarios.
Course participants are each assigned a course instructor and have access to a 24/7 student support forum.
Graduates are enabled to pursue medical billing certification from organizations like the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Duration: Four weeks
Mode: Fully online
Cost: $699.95 (basic course option)
Admissions Requirements: High school diploma or GED
Curriculum:
- Introduction to Medical Billing
- Understanding Medical Office Forms
- Medical Insurance Coverage
- Medical Billing Codes & Modifiers
- CMS 1500 Form Breakdown
- Life Cycle of a Medical Insurance Claim
- Working with Practice/Medical Software
- Understanding HIPAA
Rasmussen University
Rasmussen University’s Medical Billing and Coding Certificate program allows full-time students to complete their studies in their entirety in nine months.
Through interactive classes and the use of redacted patient records, students tackle virtual labs, practical case studies, and real-world coding and billing situations to prepare them for effective billing/coding practice.
Credits earned in this program can be transferred into an associate or bachelor’s degree program at Rasmussen.
This program is not available to residents of all states, so be sure to check with Rasmussen’s admissions department to confirm your state’s availability.
Duration: Nine months
Mode: Fully online
Cost: $14,092
Admissions Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent.
Curriculum:
- Coding Foundations
- Health Information Law and Ethics
- Medical Billing and Coding Practicum
MedCert
MedCert’s 14-week Medical Billing Specialist Program offers 100% online technical training that leads to eligibility for Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) certification.
Topics covered include medical terminology, insurance benefits, and healthcare law. Additionally, students acquire practical knowledge and skills for administrative work in a medical setting.
Support services include access to success and career advisors, and in-depth certification exam preparation.
Duration: 14 weeks
Mode: Fully online
Cost: $2,500
Admissions Requirements: High school diploma or GED
Curriculum:
- Professionalism in Allied Health
- Insurance and Billing, and Coding Essentials
- Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology
Can You Train for Medical Billing & Coding in Just 4-6 Weeks? (Video)
This quick explainer video discusses what accelerated medical biller/coder programs can and can’t prepare you for. It’s a helpful reality check on timelines, expectations, and the next steps to take in becoming and medical biller/coder.
FAQs About 4-Week Online Medical Billing/Coding Programs
With so many online medical billing and coding program options available, you’re bound to have plenty of questions. Below are answers to four questions frequently asked by prospective billing/coding students.
Is there a 4-week online course for medical coding and billing?
Yes. There are currently at least two available four-week online courses in the medical billing/coding field:
- MedicalBillingCourse.com (medical billing only)
- PhlebotomyCareerTraining.com. (medical billing and coding)
These courses offer students a quick and affordable way to prepare for a career in medical billing and coding. However, it’s important to note that they may be considerably limited in scope when compared to traditional programs.
What are the shortest medical billing and coding courses beyond four weeks?
Four-week courses are the shortest available. Examples of slightly longer courses include:
- IMBC’s Medical Insurance Billing and Coding (Diploma) (6 weeks)
- SNHU’s Online Medical Billing and Coding Class (8 weeks)
Generally speaking, shorter programs are pared down to just the basics of medical billing and/or coding, while longer programs include more thorough instruction.
Can you really learn medical coding in a month?
That depends on your specific academic and career goals. A four-week medical billing/coding course provides the bare-bones knowledge needed to prepare students to take their certification exam.
Programs with more traditional lengths, however, offer greater depth and breadth of knowledge, skills, and resources, likely making their graduates more attractive to employers and placing them in the front of the line for better, higher-paying jobs.
Are 4-week medical billing/coding programs recommended?
In most cases, no. Choosing a longer, more comprehensive program will leave you better prepared for medical billing and coding certification examinations and provide you with a stronger foundation to launch your new career.
Success as a medical biller and/or coder requires a thorough understanding of healthcare terminology, insurance codes, and more. Gaining that understanding in just four weeks is difficult, at best.
The bottom line here, then, is to consider your options carefully before signing on to any medical billing and coding course, regardless of length.
