2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog

Medical Billing and Coding Certificate Course Map


Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your certificate by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets certificate requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete theMedical Billing and Coding Certificate, you are responsible for fulfilling all certificate requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

 

Action Item: Meet with advisor to create educational plan.

CIP Code: 51.0716


ctcLink Plan Code: MASBCC20


Total Credits 43


1. College Success


Take COLLG 110 or equivalent

  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

  • Note:

    • Successfully completing either COLLG 110 or COLLG 115 will fulfill the College Success requirement. 
    • A COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course. 

2. Medical Terminology I


  • Course Purpose: You are introduced to word forms, prefixes, suffixes, and root words. You will analyze medical terms through the knowledge of the Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. You will practice pronunciation and spelling of medical terms. You will learn how to utilize medical dictionary and other references, as well as the formation of nouns, adjectives, and plurals of medical words. Knowledge of medical terminology is beneficial to the medical office administrative assistant when communicating with patients and medical clinicians. This course is broken into two 5-credit courses that cover all the systems of the body.

3. Diagnosis Coding


Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Use your Success Network! Meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Medical Terminology II


  • Course purpose: Knowledge of medical terminology is beneficial   to the medical office administrative assistant when communicating with patients and medical clinicians. This course is broken into two 5-credit courses that cover all of the systems of the body.

5. Introduction to the Medical Office


  • Course purpose: You are introduced to topics that occur in a Medical Office setting. In this course you with learn about the history of healthcare systems, overview of types of healthcare facilities, roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals, importance of team work and process improvement, as well as strategies for exploring the job market.

6. CPT Coding


Action Item: Apply for Graduation


Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details.

7. Human Biology: Anatomy & Physiology


  • Course purpose: You will gain a comprehensive study of the human body, its structure and its function. A non-lab course appropriate for non-science majors. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology is beneficial to the medical office administrative assistant when communicating with patients and medical clinicians.

8. Advanced Coding and Reimbursement


9. Electronic Health Records


  • Course Purpose: You complete common work tasks and practice data entry while creating a variety of electronic medical records in both inpatient and outpatient settings using training software. You will gain understanding on existing and evolving government driven standards and regulations as they apply to the healthcare environment.  

Action Item: Complete AAPC CPC Exam


Sign up to complete the AAPC CPC exam

Total Credits 43


CIP Code: 51.0716


ctcLink Plan Code: MASBCC20