How Long Does It Take To Become A Medical Biller?

Undeniably true, the medical billing and coding field is one of the fastest growing industry in today’s market with opportunities for advancement, growth, and salary increase. We have created this page to answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) like “how long does it take to become a medical biller?”, “is it a good career choice?” and more that students may have about medical billing.

Q: How Long Does It Take To Become a Medical Biller?

The length of time it takes for your training depends on a number of factors, including if you are going to do online classes or actual classroom learning, whether or not you are looking for a certification or a degree, and if you want physician-based or facility-based. Each mode of learning has its own separate set of costs and timelines for course completion.

Many online certificate programs  like Certification Coaching Organization (CCO) in medical billing and coding can be completed in less than a year, but if you are looking for a degree, an associate degree program is two years, and a bachelor’s is four years, classroom or online. This timeline is based on attending the program full-time. Medical coding and billing certificate programs, which are independent of the AAPC and AHIMA, are meant to be short-term and prepare you to take the certification exam. These types of programs allow you to graduate, sit for your certification, and upon passing, enter the workforce relatively quickly.

If you choose to complete an independent certificate program (that is not affiliated with the AAPC or AHIMA), it will provide you with the basics of medical billing and coding and arm you with the skills you need to be successful. These courses can range from three months to 12 months — it just depends on the curriculum being used.

Online medical billing and coding courses offer more flexibility and you are often able to learn at your own pace, so you can either complete the course within the shortest duration, or if you need to take more time, you can learn at a slower pace. Traditional classroom settings are not as flexible and are more regimented and students will finish in the timeframe indicated by their degree plan. Here’s an overview of our medical billing online training course for example. Source: http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/qnas/how-long-does-it-take-to-complete-training-to-become-a-medical-biller-or-coder/

Learn more about our Medical Billing Course and why it is a good career path for you.

Is Medical Billing and Coding a Good Career Choice? – CCO Advice

Q: What are the Career Requirements for Medical Biller?

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May, 2014) (http://study.com/articles/How_to_Become_a_Medical_Billing_Clerk_Step-by-Step_Career_Guide.html)

Q: Are There Opportunities for Advancement in the Medical Billing Field?

Advancement opportunities within a healthcare organization include moving into management of personnel or patient accounts. Highly experienced medical billers with a strong work history are in enough demand that some start their own home businesses, giving them ultimate freedom over their schedules. To take advantage of every opportunity in this field, be sure to network with other experienced billers on medical billing forums. Becoming a member of professional associations, such as the AMBA, AAPC, or MAB, will allow you to keep in touch with people in your industry, and give you the inside track on new opportunities in the field. Source: http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-a-certified-medical-biller.html

If you would like to gain the necessary education to become a certified medical biller, we highly recommend that you check out our Medical Billing Training Course.

Q: Job Growth and Salary Information for Medical Billers?

The economic outlook for all types of billing and posting clerks is good, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (www.bls.gov). Growth in jobs from 2012-2022 is expected to be 18%, which is faster than average. In addition, the BLS goes on to state that the field of medical billing especially will see strong growth. This growth is due to a demand for more healthcare services, which will result in a need for more workers to handle billing. In 2012, there were an estimated 513,800 billing and posting clerks employed in the United States. Over the 2012-2022 decade, this number is expected to grow by 93,200 positions, with an estimated 607,000 people employed by 2022.

According to the BLS, the median wage for all billing and posting clerks was $34,410 in May 2014. The bottom 10% made $24,090 a year or less, while the top 10% made $48,860 or more a year. The BLS listed physicians’ offices and general hospitals as the top two employers of these professionals, and these employers paid clerks respective average wages of $34,980 and $35,460. Offices of other health practitioners paid a slightly lower average wage of $33,450.

The BLS also reported that California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania were the five states with the highest billing and posting clerk employment levels in May 2014. Average wages in these states ranged from $34,570 – $38,510. The highest average wages were found in the District of Columbia ($48,320), Alaska ($42,030), Connecticut ($41,530), Massachusetts ($40,330) and New Jersey ($39,380). Source: http://learn.org/articles/What_is_the_Economic_Outlook_for_a_Career_in_Medical_Billing.html

Learned something new? Feel free to send in your insights through our comment box below. We appreciate you!

Related Medical Billing Posts:

• What Does A Medical Biller Do? — Medical Billing FAQs
• Start Your Medical Billing Career Today!
• Online Medical Billing and Coding Course Training