Coding Specialist (CS) Program (XHIM-510) Information

The Coding Specialist program has been revised to meet the needs of our students and employers. Please read through the information below and the new details.

Students entering the online Coding Specialist program must first have taken the following prerequisite courses within the last 12 months in order to enter the Coding Specialist program:
Prerequisites required: (prerequisite courses are not Scholarship eligible)

• Medical Terminology, Xahs 522, 6 weeks, $75
• Pathopharmacology, Xahs 508, 6 weeks,  $75
• Healthcare Data, Xhim 514, 5 weeks, $75

The prerequisite courses are an important foundation for all accurate coding. Having a high level of competence in them helps interpret patient records and physician notes in order to accurately code. The prerequisite courses above are not Scholarship eligible, they have been discounted and must be paid by the student as they take each one. 

Requirements:

• Students must have daily access to a computer with high-speed internet access, a webcam, and microphone, Microsoft Office Suite, or equivalent, Adobe Flash Player and Acrobat Reader. Using a phone or any mobile device to complete a course is not recommended or reliable.

Medical Coders work in hospitals, and physician offices and read patient records containing medical terminology, medical procedures, diagnosis, and insurance information. This is a complex learning program.

• Coders must understand the basic sciences, medical terminology, disease processes, 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, and expertise to master, similar to a foreign language.
• To decide if medical coding is right for you please view these short videos from coding experts; 
  •  http://youtu.be/qlXKdUV_eRE  This video is a must-see! What's the difference between billing and coding? See this: https://youtu.be/tWBXte0RN8w  

1. This online program is intense and courses are concentrated on medical information about procedures and diseases that coders must understand fluently.
2.  Students will learn a great deal of information in a short period of time. When one coding course ends the next course starts within 2 days.
3.  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 end date.

*Once prerequisites are met, students can apply for the Coding Specialist program tuition Scholarship. If you are a SC resident complete the application and Registration will contact you to process:

• SC residents can apply for the State Scholarship 1-2 months before the start date (start dates are in January or August) which pays for the tuition, students must purchase all books, and coding manuals, the approximate total is $505. See this link: https://www.tridenttech.edu/ce/funding/workforce-pathways-scholarship.htm 

The Coding Specialist program starts 2 times per year, in Spring (Jan) and Fall (Aug). 

• The curriculum teaches toward two national certifications:
  • 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

If you are a coder working in the field and only need one or two courses you may register and enroll in just the courses you need online. To register for one or two coding courses only, select the course, add it to the cart, and checkout. If you have questions please email: judy.martin@tridenttech.edu 

Materials-book costs:

1. Students will need to purchase a 12-month digital access code from Cengage Unlimited for online e-textbooks and resources, approximately $190. If students purchased this for the three prerequisite courses they will use the same 12-month access code for the coding specialist program. 
2. Students must have current year AMA coding manuals, required for Part 2 of the program, approximately $505 over 8 months. See below about online books, see the TTC Bookstore, bldg 950, for current coding manuals. 

Cengage Unlimited is a digital subscription service designed to save students money. With a Cengage Unlimited 12-month subscription, you will have access to the Cengage online materials you’ll be using for all of your courses. When you activate your online course in the D2L learning platform, you can rent a hardcopy textbook for just $8. Print rentals can be redeemed only within Cengage Unlimited at the start of each class and are shipped directly to students.

If the prerequisites have been met, follow this
Fall 2023 schedule:

Mod 1	ICD10-CM Coding,  45hrs	8/14-9/29/23, #17371
Mod 2	ICD10-PCS Coding,  45hrs	10/2-11/17/23, #17372
Mod 3	CPT 1 Coding,  45hrs	11/20/23-1/26/24,     #17449
Mod 4	Understd Health Insurance,  45 hrs	1/29-3/15/24, #17450
Mod 5	CPT 2 Coding & Review , 53 hrs                               233 total	3/18-5/5/24/23,  #17451

Students starting with the prerequisites will follow this order:

Prerequisites:		Fall 2023
Medical terminology  45hrs, 6wks	XAHS 522	8/14-9/22/23,            #17368
PathoPharm  45hrs, 6wks	XAHS  508	9/25-11/3/23,     #17369
HCData Content & E.H.R., 5wks	XHIM 514	11/6-12/8/23,            #17370
	Apply for Part 2 Scholarship two months prior to start date:
	Part 2 Modules	Spring 2024
	ICD10-CM Coding,  45hrs	1/8-2/23/24
	ICD10-PCS Coding,  45hrs	2/26-4/12
	CPT 1 Coding,  45hrs	4/15-5/31
	Understd Health Insurance,  45 hrs	6/3-7/12
	CPT 2 Coding, & Review, 53 hrs	7/15-8/30/24