Medical Billing & Coding Career Pathway
Do you have students who prefer to help people behind the scenes? Are they enticed by the idea of working in an industry with explosive growth? They may want to consider becoming a medical biller and coder.
Medical billers and coders make sure that patient medical records are comprehensive and accurate. They give doctors the billing information to inform treatment options and ensure that billing and insurance reimbursement are accurate and efficient.
Medical billers and coders are able to make nearly $40,000 per year—without a college degree—and have great prospects for furthering their education.2 A medical billing and coding background coupled with a bachelor’s degree (usually in healthcare administration or business) can be a great springboard to a career as a medical coding expert, or as a manager in healthcare administration. These professionals average a starting salary of more than $60,000—and demand for their services is expected to grow a whopping 32 percent over the next decade.1
Demand for these professions is expectd to grom 32% over the next 10 years.
Gain real-world skills through project-based learning.
For students who choose this pathway, Stride Career Prep offers a rigorous, project-based learning curriculum that allows them to gain a broad understanding of healthcare and hospital operations, learn medical terminology and how it relates to medical billing and coding, and practice coding real de-identified medical records. It’s a hands-on curriculum packed with case studies and practical exercises.
Get ahead of the competition.
Our curriculum gives you the credentials necessary to embark on a career as a medical billing and coding specialist right after graduation—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees. The tuition-free program includes exam prep for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist exam, a highly regarded industry credential.
We also encourage students to jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo, the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working business professionals and entrepreneurs through Nepris.*
Our Billing and Coding Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes that Medical Billing and Coding Pathway students take, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Find a school near you that offers hospitality: food and beverage.
Stride Career Prep programs with the Medical Billing and Coding Pathway are available in our tuition-free K12-powered, fully accredited, public online schools in the following states:
Don’t see your state? Check out the tuition-based option here in Medical Assisting. There are also tuition-free options in related fields like the Medical Assisting!
Occupational Spotlight
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Medical and Health Services Manager
Medical and health services managers, often referred to as healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, oversee the provision of medical and health services. They may manage an entire facility (such as a hospital or nursing home), a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice. They are responsible for managing the facility’s finances, including billing and relations with insurance companies; ensuring the facility complies with all legal and regulatory requirements; and recruiting and supervising staff. They manage the “business side” of healthcare provision.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$61,589
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
133,200
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
32% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
Medical Records and Health Information Technician
Medical records and health information technicians organize and manage electronic and hardcopy health records. They use different classification systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, and to ensure patient medical histories are complete, accurate, and can be relied on to inform future care.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$37,454
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
29,000
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
8% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus a certification such as the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist certification
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to become a medical coder or medical records technician?
No, you do not need a college degree to work as a medical coder or billing assistant, sometimes referred to as a medical records and health information technician. Many healthcare employers require you to be certified, however, which means passing an exam like the Certified Coding and Billing Specialist Exam. That’s why we help our medical billing and coding students prepare for this test!
How can you prepare to become a medical coder or medical records technician? What classes should you take in high school?
You can prepare for a career as a medical coder or medical records technician while still in high school by taking courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and—if the high school offers this option—special classes in medical coding and health information management. One of the best things to do while in high school is to work or volunteer in a hospital, nursing care facility, doctor’s office, or other medical setting.
In our Medical Billing and Coding Pathway, students take classes in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, plus two semesters of medical coding and one semester of health information management. Exam prep for the Certified Coding and Billing Specialist Exam is part of our tuition-free program.
How much do medical coders earn on average?
The starting salary for medical coders (also known as medical records and health information technicians) averages over $37,0001 per year—not bad for a job that doesn’t require a college degree.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
