You can find medical billing and coding jobs in doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities across the country. Medical billers and coders ensure insurance companies have the information they need to pay doctors and medical facilities for the procedures and services they provide.
Are you considering a job in medical billing and coding, but don’t know if it’s right for you? Get a feel for the field by taking medical billing and coding classes online for free. Online medical billing and coding courses can give you an overview of the field and its responsibilities to help you decide whether you want to become a medical coder.
This article highlights six ways to obtain free medical billing and coding training online and jumpstart your career path. Some of the courses listed in our guide are more extensive than others, but most cover the basic concepts you’ll need to know to work in the field. If you are unsure about launching a medical billing and coding career, one of these free courses can help you decide.
What Is an Online Medical Billing and Coding Program?
Comprehensive online medical billing and coding programs offer training for careers in medical billing and coding, often preparing learners for field-specific certifications.
Course materials typically include video lectures and other online training materials. Some classes run synchronously, using web conferencing to replicate the classroom experience, while others are asynchronous, allowing students to peruse materials and complete assignments at their own pace.
4 Free Medical Billing and Coding Courses Available Online
Completing a comprehensive medical billing and coding program online can qualify you for medical billing and coding jobs. Many comprehensive options require payment, but tuition varies by program.
In contrast, if you want to explore the basic tenets of this career path without paying the full cost of a medical billing and coding program, consider a free online course. Note, however, that these no-cost classes do not replace paid certification programs, which provide more extensive training and prepare you for professional certification exams.
Below, we explore several options for free medical billing and coding courses.
1. What Is Medical Coding and Billing?
Cost: Free
Time to completion: One hour
Overview of course: This course from Udemy and PPMC Academy introduces the basics of medical billing and coding, exploring topics such as diagnostic coding, procedural coding, and medical coder and biller tasks. It also covers other job duties such as processing claims and tracking and collecting payments. The free class also explains the required education and experience for medical biller and coder careers.
Introduction to Medical Coding Course (i2MC)
Cost: Free
Time to completion: Eight weeks
Overview of course: Absolute Medical Coding Institute (AMCI) offers a free, eight-week introductory course about medical coding. The class covers coding for diagnoses and procedures, including the major coding sets for outpatient, professional and facility coding.
After completing the i2MC course, you receive a 20% tuition discount for AMCI’s full medical coding class, which helps prepare you for two field-specific certification exams.
Basics of Medical Billing and Coding
Cost: Free
Time to completion: Four to five hours
Overview of course: This free course from Advance Learning and Alison explores classification and coding systems, electronic health records, coding techniques and practice management software.
Program training covers medical jargon and terminology, medical billing and coding procedures, legal compliance and auditing and how to work with medical insurance. The class also teaches you to identify the appropriate codes for various diagnoses, treatments and procedures.
Diploma in Medical Coding and Billing
Cost: Free
Time to completion: 15 to 20 hours
Overview of course: This course from Advance Learning and Alison offers an overview of many aspects of medical coding and billing. Class materials explore compliance and ethics issues, field-specific terminology and different coding systems. The course also examines health insurance companies, billing fraud, reimbursement methods and proper coding practices.
Though you receive a diploma upon completing this course, this credential does not equate to a professional certification in billing or coding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Free Online Medical Billing and Coding Courses
How can I learn medical billing and coding for free?
Multiple organizations offer free medical billing and coding courses online, including Udemy and PPMC Academy, Alison and Advance Learning, and Absolute Medical Coding Institute. If you want to start a career in this field, you usually need professional certification, which free courses do not prepare you for. But you can still find low-cost medical billing and coding certification courses online.
Can you learn medical billing and coding on your own?
Yes, it is possible to study medical billing and coding on your own through resources like free courses, books and videos. If you want to pursue this career path, consider taking a paid course to help prepare for professional certification, which can qualify you for more jobs.
What is the best medical and billing coding certification?
Organizations like the American Academy of Professional Coders and the American Health Information Management Association provide certification for medical billing and coding. Some certifications cover billing or coding only, while others cover both, so choose the certification that best aligns with your career goals.
Is medical billing and coding a good career to pursue?
Whether medical billing and coding is a good career for you depends on your goals and priorities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2022 median medical billing and coding salary was $47,180, slightly above the national median for all occupations, with an above-average job growth projection of 8% from 2022–32. Many workers find the field attractive due to its modest educational requirements and high rate of remote work—more than half of all medical billers and coders work from home, and most don’t need a bachelor’s degree.
Is medical coding and billing easy to get into?
Medical coding and billing has a lower bar to entry than many other professions, but establishing your career still requires study and hard work. To gain basic field knowledge, you can start by sampling free medical billing and coding classes online. If the work feels like a fit, pursuing further training such as a certificate or diploma, followed by professional certification, can help you qualify for entry-level medical billing and coding jobs. A bachelor’s or associate degree is not required but can boost your employability.
