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What is a certified professional coder and how to become one
A certified professional coder is a specialized health care worker generally known as medical records and health information technician.
In this role, you will be liable for organizing and maintaining medical records for your employer and clients. After reviewing all pertinent patient information and assigning the proper codes for diagnosis, treatment, and billing, a coder acts as the go-to between billing offices and the health clinician.
As a certified coder, you should have a range of work environments to choose from. Private physicians' offices, insurance companies, hospitals, specialty clinics, and long-term care facilities all employ coders. Those who accumulate several years of experience can establish an independent business that offers coding services to hospitals, physicians, and insurers.
Avg. Salary $52,683
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 11%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.56%
Asian 8.30%
Black or African American 8.76%
Hispanic or Latino 14.85%
Unknown 4.54%
White 61.99%
Genderfemale 91.12%
male 8.88%
Age - 46American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 46Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Certified professional coder career paths
Key steps to become a certified professional coder
Explore certified professional coder education requirements
Start to develop specific certified professional coder skills
Skills Percentages CPC 20.19% Medical Terminology 8.95% AAPC 7.81% Patients 6.60% ICD-10-CM 5.16% Complete relevant certified professional coder training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New certified professional coders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a certified professional coder based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real certified professional coder resumes.Gain additional certified professional coder certifications
More About CertificationsCertified professional coder certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific certified professional coder certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for certified professional coders include Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).
Research certified professional coder duties and responsibilities
- Manage the outsourced transcription company.
- Apply ICD-10-CM, CPT-4 codes and modifiers in accordance with federal regulations.
- Validate DRG's for inpatient and inpatient RAC appeals as well as validating DRG changes.
- Assist with insurance verification and registration, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Prepare your certified professional coder resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified professional coder resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified professional coder resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable certified professional coder resume templates
Build a professional certified professional coder resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your certified professional coder resume.
Apply for certified professional coder jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a certified professional coder job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first certified professional coder job
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Average certified professional coder salary
The average certified professional coder salary in the United States is $52,683 per year or $25 per hour. Certified professional coder salaries range between $38,000 and $73,000 per year.
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Certified professional coder reviews
Keeping up with different medical coding
Cant think of anything that I dislike about medical coding
Updated January 8, 2025
