Health Information Technology/Medical Coding, Short-Term Certificate

The Shelton State Community College Health Information Technology-Medical Coding Short-Term Certificate provides entry level workforce needs. The Medical Coding Short-Term Certificate can also be a tool for professional development and advancement for those already working in the healthcare industry. Students seeking a quick entry into the workforce will find it useful as well. The certificate can be the basis to lead to an associate or bachelor’s degree. Graduates can apply to take the exam to be certified as a Certified Coding Associate (CCA) through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). CCAs are skilled in classifying medical data from patient records in a hospital setting. These coding practitioners: review patients’ records and assign alphanumeric codes for diagnoses and procedures. They possess competency in the ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT coding systems. The knowledgeable base includes medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology.

Individuals that successfully complete the CCA certification examination exhibit entry level coding competency in any setting, including both hospitals and physician practices.

Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 13% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, 2018.