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Online Medical Billing and Coding Training

Prepare for an In-Demand Healthcare Career

Behind every medical diagnosis, treatment, and insurance claim is information that must be accurately documented and processed. Pierce College's online Medical Billing and Coding course introduces you to the specialized knowledge used to manage this information and support healthcare reimbursement.

Through flexible, self-paced training, you will explore medical terminology, health insurance, healthcare regulations, and the coding systems used to classify medical services. The curriculum covers ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II coding, along with HIPAA compliance, claims processing, and revenue cycle management.

Upon successful course completion, you can choose a voucher for one of three industry medical billing and coding certification exams: Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

Explore the Course

Medical Billing and Coding Career Outlook

As healthcare organizations continue to manage patient information, insurance claims, and reimbursement, medical records specialists provide important expertise in maintaining accurate documentation and applying standardized medical codes.

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 3% average for all occupations. Approximately 14,000 openings are expected each year, on average, over the decade. The median annual wage for medical records specialists was $51,140 in May 2025. According to Indeed, the average annual salary of a medical biller in Washington State is $73,392.

Professional certification, experience, and specialization may also affect earning potential. AAPC's 2025 Salary Survey found that noncertified respondents reported average annual earnings of $61,022, while certified respondents averaged $66,186, an 8.5% difference.

The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area also has an established healthcare workforce. According to May 2025 BLS data, healthcare practitioners and technical occupations accounted for 5.3% of regional employment, while healthcare support occupations represented another 4.9%. Healthcare practitioners and technical professionals earned a mean hourly wage of $66.37 locally, compared with $52.26 nationally.

Medical Billing and Coding FAQs

What is medical billing and coding? What does a medical biller and coder do?

Medical billing and coding professionals help organize healthcare information and convert medical services into the standardized codes and claims used for reimbursement. Medical coders interpret clinical documentation and assign appropriate codes to diagnoses, procedures, and treatments.

Medical billers use this information to prepare claims, review insurance details, and coordinate payment processing. While some positions focus exclusively on billing or coding, others combine both responsibilities.

Where do you work as a medical biller and coder?

Medical billing and coding professionals can work for hospitals, physicians' offices, insurance companies, medical supply businesses, specialty pharmacies, and organizations specializing in healthcare billing and coding.

Opportunities may also exist with consulting firms, government agencies, and healthcare technology companies. Some employers offer remote or hybrid arrangements, depending on the position, experience requirements, and organizational policies.

How do I become a medical coder without experience?

You can begin developing medical coding skills through formal training that covers healthcare terminology, coding systems, insurance procedures, and reimbursement practices.

Pierce College's online Medical Billing and Coding course introduces foundational concepts before progressing into more specialized coding applications. Upon completing the course, you can pursue the CPC, CCA, or CBCS certification to demonstrate your knowledge of medical billing and coding.

What happens when I complete the course?

After successfully passing the final exam, you will receive a certificate of completion from the school or organization through which you registered.

You will also receive applicable study materials and a voucher for your choice of the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam from AAPC, the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam from AHIMA, or the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam from NHA.

Course Objectives

  • Develop familiarity with medical terminology and the anatomy and functions of major body systems
  • Recognize common medical conditions and procedures associated with different body systems
  • Examine legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA and third-party insurance claim guidelines
  • Understand how ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II coding systems are used in healthcare
  • Practice assigning appropriate codes to diagnoses, medical services, and procedures across body systems
  • Establish a foundation in medical billing, coding practices, and healthcare terminology
  • Interpret medical word components and relate them to human anatomy and physiology
  • Gain practical exposure to Codify, an encoder application from AAPC
  • Prepare for the CPC, CCA, or CBCS certification exam based on your professional goals

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Prerequisites and Certification Options

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for national certification exams. For this reason, it is recommended that you meet this requirement before enrolling.

Upon successful course completion, you can select 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 offered by AAPC and NHA are available only to candidates located in the U.S. AHIMA offers its certification exam in person in the U.S. and internationally.

Professional Certification Pathways

This course provides preparation for three nationally recognized credentials, allowing you to select the certification that best matches your professional interests.

The CPC certification from AAPC emphasizes professional medical coding, the CCA credential from AHIMA demonstrates foundational coding competency across healthcare settings, and the CBCS certification from NHA validates knowledge of medical billing and coding procedures.

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

Instructors and Support

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.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners 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

This 370-hour course is 100% online and self-paced. You can begin your training at any time and have 12 months to complete the program.

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