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medical billing and coding

 

Build In-Demand Healthcare Skills and Prepare for Certification

Cuesta College's online Medical Billing and Coding course provides the training to help you understand how healthcare organizations maintain accurate patient records, process insurance claims, and manage reimbursement.

This 370-hour course covers medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, healthcare regulations, and industry-standard coding systems, including ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II. You will also explore medical billing procedures, revenue cycle management, HIPAA compliance, and insurance requirements while gaining practical experience with coding software.

Upon successful completion, you can choose a medical billing and coding certification voucher for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) certification exam.

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Medical Billing and Coding Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical records specialists is projected to increase 8% nationally from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. Approximately 14,000 job openings are projected annually on average. 

The BLS notes that the median annual wage for medical records specialists was $51,140 in May 2025. California also offers opportunities for professionals pursuing medical billing careers. According to Indeed, medical billers in California earn an average of $24.34 per hour, based on salary information updated in October 2026.

Certification may provide additional professional advantages. The AAPC's 2025 Salary Survey found that certified respondents earned an average of $66,186 annually, compared with $61,022 for noncertified respondents, an 8.5% difference.

Healthcare also contributes to employment throughout California's Central Coast. According to May 2025 BLS data, healthcare support occupations represented 5.7% of employment in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metropolitan area, compared with 5.1% nationally. Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations accounted for another 5.3% of local employment, with a mean hourly wage of $63.95 across that broader occupational group.

Medical Billing and Coding FAQs

According to Indeed, a medical biller manages insurance claims and patient payments. Common duties include using filing codes to create invoices, submitting claims to insurance companies, sending invoices to patients, investigating denied claims and patient invoices, and managing patient payments.

Medical coders review patient records and assign standardized codes to diagnoses, procedures, and services. Medical billers use those codes to prepare and submit claims to insurance companies and other payers, track payments, and help resolve reimbursement issues.

Medical billing and coding professionals work in a variety of healthcare environments, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, physicians' offices, insurance companies, and specialty medical practices. Additional opportunities may be available with medical billing companies, healthcare consulting organizations, medical suppliers, government agencies, and healthcare technology businesses.

Some employers also offer remote or hybrid positions, although availability depends on the role, organization, and professional experience.

After successfully completing the course and passing the final exam, you will receive a certificate of completion.

You will also receive applicable study materials and an exam voucher for one of three industry certifications: CPC, CCA, or CBCS. You can select the certification pathway that best supports your professional interests and career goals.

Course Objectives

  • Develop an understanding of medical coding terminology and the structures and functions of the human body
  • Recognize common disorders, diagnoses, and medical procedures associated with major body systems
  • Explore healthcare laws, ethical standards, HIPAA regulations, and third-party insurance requirements
  • Become familiar with ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II coding systems
  • Learn to assign appropriate codes to medical diagnoses, procedures, and services
  • Build foundational knowledge of medical billing processes, coding practices, and medical terminology
  • Identify medical word components and understand their relationship to human anatomy and physiology
  • Gain practical experience using AAPC's Codify coding software
  • Prepare for the CPC, CCA, or CBCS certification exam

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Important Course and Certification Details

A high school diploma or equivalent is required to sit for national certification exams. Students are encouraged to meet this requirement before enrolling.

Upon successful completion of the course, you can choose a voucher for one of the following certification exams:

  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by AAPC
  • Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by AHIMA
  • Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered by NHA

Online certification exams administered by AAPC and NHA are available only to candidates located in the United States. AHIMA offers in-person certification testing in the United States and internationally.

Prepare for a Nationally Recognized Healthcare Credential

Professional certification can help demonstrate your knowledge of medical billing and coding practices to potential employers. This course prepares you for three recognized certification pathways, allowing you to select the credential that best aligns with your interests.

The CPC certification from AAPC emphasizes professional medical coding, while AHIMA's CCA credential demonstrates foundational coding knowledge across healthcare environments. NHA's CBCS certification focuses on the skills needed to perform medical billing and coding responsibilities.

Students pursuing the CPC certification also receive access to AAPC's Practicode Practicum, which offers practical coding exercises and can help satisfy experience requirements associated with the CPC-A apprentice designation.

Healthcare Instructors and Support

Instructor Bio
Nancy Smith Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.
LaTisha Cottingham LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently, she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a Long-Term Care establishment that is based out of Alabama. Previously she was employed as the lead instructor for the Allied Health Department for a local career institute. LaTisha's field of expertise is in the area of physician-based inpatient coding and Emergency Department coding. The certifications that she holds are as follows: a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). In preparation for ICD-10-CM, LaTisha received her ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer Certification from American Health Information Association (AHIMA), where she is currently a member. LaTisha is also a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA) where she is a test proctor.
Carline Dalgleish Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and owns her own consulting firm.
Lydia S. Stewart Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN, currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, 15 of those years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews. Lydia is a member of the Louisiana Medical Auditor Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Bunny Reeves Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island's St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Sharon L. Blackford Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a Master's degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.
Stacey O'Brien Stacey O'Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O'Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.
April Adams

April Adams, M.S., RHIA, CDIP, CPC-I, CPB, CPMA, has worked in the healthcare field since 2011, transitioning from a high school biology and chemistry teacher to a specialist in medical coding and auditing. She focuses on HCC, clinical documentation improvement (CDI), and DRGs and has taught health information management (HIM) courses, including medical terminology, law and ethics, coding, and revenue cycle management since 2018.

April possesses a master's in health information management with a specialization in data analytics. She also serves on the board of the Dallas-Fort Worth Health Information Management Association and holds multiple industry certifications.

 

Medical Terminology Instructors

Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. View the complete list of Medical Terminology Instructors.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with students in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Additional Resources

Registration and Enrollment Process 

This course is 100% online and self-paced. Start anytime!

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