Also called: Coding Specialist, CPC
Translates diagnoses and procedures into standard codes that insurance companies use to pay bills.
Reads a surgeon's operative report and assigns the exact codes for what was done, often from home. Getting it right means the hospital gets paid; getting it wrong can trigger audits.
BLS May 2024 (medical records specialists).
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. Certificate program (under a year) plus CPC or CCS certification.
Ways in: Certification, 2-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Medical Coding (certificate), Health Information Technology.
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI auto-coding already handles routine charts; coders shift to auditing and complex surgery cases, and entry-level openings shrink.
Classes: Biology, Health-science CTE, Computer applications.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-2072.
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