Medical Coding Specialist Part II

Program Description:
Medical Coders work in hospitals, and physician offices and read patient records containing medical terminology, medical procedures, disease diagnosis, and insurance information. This is a complex learning program, similar to learning a foreign language. There is a lot of reading and learning policies, regulations, and various health insurance programs, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Learning online is not for every student. All five coding courses run consecutively.
Of the TTC students that start the coding specialist program 73% of students are successful in completing it.

• Coders must understand the basic sciences well, medical terminology, disease processes, and the Health Insurance industry including Medicare and Medicaid in order to code accurately.
•  There are many rules for accurate coding and it takes a great deal of practice, research, an eye for detail, and expertise to master. Coding instructors often state that learning medical coding is similar to learning a foreign language.
•  http://youtu.be/qlXKdUV_eRE  This video is a must-see!
• The schedule is tightly scheduled to reduce the program length of time. Asynchronous learning allows students to learn on their own schedule, within a certain timeframe; the start date, and the end date. 
• The curriculum teaches towards two national certifications either one is recognized as the gold standard and required by employers nation-wide:
  • the AAPC credential CPC (Certified Professional Coder) www.aapc.com
  • the AHIMA credential CCA or CCS (Certified Coding Associate or Certified Coding Specialist) www.ahima.org

Requirements for Coding Part II:

• Students entering Part II are first required to have successfully completed Part 1, the 3 prerequisite courses taken recently, within the past 12 months; medical terminology, pathopharmacology, and Healthcare Data & EHR.
• Students must have daily access to a computer with high-speed internet access, a webcam, and microphone. Using a phone or any mobile device to complete a course is not recommended or reliable.
• Students must purchase the online e-books and current coding e-manuals. See below for approximate costs as they change yearly.

How to register for Coding Part II courses:

1. Students must provide documentation of the three prerequisite courses taken, (within the past 12 months). 
2. Applications for the tuition Scholarship, for SC residents only, are available 60 days before the course start date. Complete the application here: https://www.tridenttech.edu/ce/funding/workforce-pathways-scholarship.htm?_ga=2.203692880.1391223937.1728305573-831736795.1696424034&_gl=1*15n4i31*_ga*ODMxNzM2Nzk1LjE2OTY0MjQwMzQ.*_ga_HLTN9MCKZ3*MTcyODMxMjc4MC41NDUuMS4xNzI4MzE0NDcyLjAuMC4w  
3. If the student is a current registered nurse or licensed paramedic, the prerequisites in Part 1 are not needed, simply include a copy of a current RN or Paramedic license with the Scholarship application and identification. This is only available for currently licensed Registered Nurses and Paramedics. Scholarship applications close 2 weeks before the start date.
4. The 5 courses below must be taken in the order listed. Scholarships pay tuition only, students must purchase online e-books. 
5. NOTE: If a student fails one of the five courses in Part 2;
   • The Scholarship ends.
   • Failure to successfully complete a program while on Scholarship eliminates future Scholarship eligibility. 
   • The student must repeat the course at their own cost, in order to move forward in the program, and pay for any remaining courses that follow. 

Coding Specialist Part II Online e-book costs:

1. e-Textbooks:     Cengage Unlimited 12-month access subscription, students must purchase unless the access card used in Part 1 is still date current, check your expiration date. Available at the TTC Bookstore, $307., bldg 950, or $200 online at Cengage.com. Do not activate until the course start date.
2. e-Coding manuals:  Optum Encoder Pro 12-month subscription. Students must purchase the Encoder Pro 12-month subscription, used for the 2nd thru the 5th courses in Part II. This will take students through all 4 core coding courses in Part II, see  below. Encoder is available at the TTC Bookstore, $136, bldg 950. Do not activate until the course start date for ICD10-CM. Encoder Pro is needed starting with the 2nd COURSE.

Coding Specialist Part II schedule for Spring 2027:

Health Insurance xhim508>	1/11-2/25/27
I-10-CM coding xhim502>	3/1-4/15/27
I-10-PCS coding xhim503>	4/19-6/3/27
CPT 1 coding xhim509>	6/7-7/22/27
CPT 2 Coding Advd Part II & test prep,    xhim 510>	7/26-9/12/27