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If you’re reading this article, you might be wondering what medical billing and coding even is. Medical billers and coders process patient data from things like diagnoses, tests, treatment records, and insurance information. They then take that information and ensure that medical professionals are paid appropriately, and patients are billed accordingly. To become a medical coding or billing professional, you must have a well-rounded understanding of the insurance and claims process, how to interpret testing and diagnoses, and how to handle billing.
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Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
Typically, medical coding and billing would be something you learn in a classroom setting, whether at a university or a paid course, so some might think you can’t learn the necessary skills at home. However, it is definitely possible to learn a lot about medical billing and coding on your own time, and the courses on the following list prove it. Using a methodology we developed to find the best free online courses, we’ve developed this list for those who are interested in pursuing a career in medical billing or coding. Have a look!
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Ranking 10 Free Online Courses for Medical Billing and Coding Training
1 . AI and Big Data in Global Health Improvement
Offered by Taipei Medical University via Future Learn
This course from Future Learn is not specifically aimed at medical coding and billing but looks more specifically at AI and big data within the medical field as a whole. This background is something that’s vital to your foundation if you want to become a medical coding and billing professional.
Future Learn is a massive open online course platform and educational website that offers a catalog of rotating classes depending on the universities and institutions they are partnered with. The class takes about four weeks to complete if you work at a pace of about 2 hours a week and is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Throughout the free online course, you will learn about how big data can improve the healthcare industry and healthcare communication. You will also learn how to improve and standardize healthcare by using data science and artificial intelligence. The course does not have any prerequisites and is designed for anyone interested in big data and artificial intelligence as it applies to the healthcare industry. The course is provided by Taipei Medical University, which has been a pioneering force in Taiwan’s healthcare industry for the better half of the last decade.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes (With $59 fee)
Time to Complete: Approximately 4 weeks
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Learn from a pioneering medical university
- No prerequisites required
Cons:
- Certificate of achievement does not come free with course
- Does not teach directly about healthcare coding and billing
2. Cybersecurity in Healthcare
Offered by Erasmus University Rotterdam via Coursera
Similar to the course above, this cybersecurity course does not directly study healthcare coding and billing, but can give you the kind of backgrond knowledge you need in IT in order to prepare you to succeed in the field. This free course is provided to Coursera by Erasmus University Rotterdam, which is a top-100 ranked research University based in the Netherlands.
Coursera partners with universities and institutions in order to bring free and paid courses and degree programs to students for them to learn online on their own time. There are no prerequisites required for this course and the information taught starts at the most basic level.
Hospitals need to be completely secure, and security is what this course aims to teach students to embrace. The free online course explores both social and technological aspects of cybersecurity that are used to keep hospitals safe, and you will learn about the challenges that go along with the increasingly digitized healthcare world. Modules will cover topics like hacking, cyber hygiene, data breaches, and human behavior. The course only takes 15 hours to complete, so it does not require a massive time commitment.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes
Time to Complete: Approximately 15 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Learn about both social and practical aspects of cybersecurity
- 15-hour course, not a large time commitment
Cons:
- Does not teach directly about healthcare coding and billing
3. What is Medical Coding and Billing?
Offered by Udemy
Udemy is an individually-constructed course network in the sense that it allows instructors to create and upload their own courses, deciding on the price and interest level for themselves. There are thousands of both paid and free courses on the site on a variety of different topics, both professional and creative. This medical coding and billing course takes only an hour to complete and has had nearly 4,000 students so far that have given the course a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.
This top free course for medical coding and billing is great for those who aren’t sure if they want to go into the medical coding and billing field, and need more information in general about the jobs they could have. It is provided by PPMC Academy, which is an institution founded in 2018 that aims to connect medical practice management with students for an affordable price. They also offer courses like front desk administration and practice management.
During this course, you will learn about the daily tasks of a medical coder, the tasks of a medical biller, diagnostic coding, procedural coding, the educational options you have, and how to gain work experience. This course is great for students looking for work-from-home opportunities, as it goes over the kind of tasks you can perform remotely.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 1 hour
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Perfect for those who are unfamiliar with medical coding and billing tasks
- 1-hour course, not a large time commitment
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
4. Basics of Medical Coding & Billing
Offered by Free Medical Billing Training
Free Medical Billing Training is a great resource for those who want to start learning about medical coding and billing but perhaps don’t have the money to invest in schooling or a paid course. The website offers a free, abbreviated version of their popular paid medical coding and billing course, which includes more than 50 video lessons. This abbreviated, free course offers 10 topics that cover a variety of important lessons about medical coding and billing, including things like resolving claim issues, introduction to medical coding, provider and patient setup, and health insurance plans.
While the lessons in this short course are all written, it is a great opportunity to get a taste of medical coding and billing and decide whether you want to pursue the field further. Additionally, if you enjoy the information provided in the short, introductory course, you always have the option of purchasing the full medical coding and billing fundamentals course to delve deeper into the topics covered. You can also create a free account on the site for a deeper free preview of the fundamentals course.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: As long as needed
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Offered by a website that focuses specifically on medical coding and billing
- Gives a solid introduction to important coding & billing topics
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
- Written information only, not an interactive course
5. Learn Medical Billing in One Hour
Offered by YouTube and Dr. Chrono
While you wouldn’t typically consider medical coding and billing something you could learn in an hour, this crash course from Dr. Chrono does a pretty good job. Dr. Chrono is a channel on YouTube with a variety of free, educational videos on medical coding and billing as well as other healthcare-related topics.
The channel is a conglomeration of people who are passionate about making the healthcare world a better place, and want to allow other people to learn from them. The channel currently has more than 1 million total views and offers solutions to all kinds of different problems within the healthcare field.
This specific video tackles the revenue management applications Apollo and Apollo+, teaching viewers how to use them and help to make their billing process more seamless. When you use the Apollo billing platform, staff is able to easily direct their billing tasks and make the medical payment process better for everyone. Dr. Chrono also offers students the opportunity to sign up on their site for free and gain access to their medical billing and medical records platform to learn more.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 1 hour
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Offered by a website that focuses specifically on medical coding and billing
- Dr. Chrono website offers more free resources for members
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
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6. Video Tutorials for Medical Coding & Billing
Offered by MB&CC: Medical Billing & Coding Certification
MB&CC offers five video lectures on their site entirely for free that cover the basics of the medical coding and billing field. MB&CC aims to teach students about the medical coding and billing field in general, as well as offering them options for schooling and giving them information about how to start their own medical coding and billing practice. In addition to the lectures, MB&CC offers students free downloadable materials like sample problems, additional vocabulary, Powerpoint presentations, and quizzes.
In section one of the lectures, you’ll be introduced to the subject of medical coding and billing as a whole and learn why you’d want to pursue it. In sections two and three, you’ll learn the basics of medical coding and billing. During section four, you’ll apply this new knowledge to some real-world problems.
In the final section, you will be taught about how to prepare for the American Association of Professional Coders Certified Professional Coder exam. Finally, as a conclusion, the lectures will discuss where you should go to school for medical coding and billing and how you can achieve your dream job.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: As long as necessary
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Offered by a website that focuses specifically on medical coding and billing
- Free downloadable resources available for students
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
7. Medical Coding ICD 10 CM
Offered by Udemy
As mentioned above, Udemy is a great educational resource as it allows instructors to upload their own courses according to their interest and education level. This half-hour course was created by Udaykumar Talloju, who is a certified inpatient coder and is more than qualified to teach you about medical coding.
While the course is very short, it contains a lot of important and valuable information about ICD 10 CM medical coding. If you want to take this free medical coding course, it is expected that you already have some kind of background in medicine or have graduated with a Life Science degree.
Throughout the course, you will learn about the basics of medical coding as it relates to ICD-10 CM, and you will also get examples that help you to interpret and contextualize that code. This class is especially great for those who are already registered nurses or work somewhere else in the healthcare field, as they will require less background on medical coding than those with no prior experience.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 34 minutes
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Gives solid crash course on medical coding with ICD-10 CM
Cons:
- Meant specifically for those with prior medical / life science experience
- No certificate of achievement
8. Introduction to Medical Coding
Offered by YouTube and Contempo Coding
YouTube is perhaps the internet’s largest video-sharing platform where users can upload as much free content as they desire. Therefore, the site contains a lot of free courses uploaded directly from instructors. Contempo Coding is a channel that has short, informative courses and lectures about medical coding and billing. While the instructors videos only go over the basics and fundamentals of the field, as well as how to get the best education, they are incredibly useful tools.
During this introductory video, Contempo Coding goes over everything you will need to become a medical coder, and what it actually means to be one. The instructor takes viewers through the certifications needed to become a certified medical coder, and how to get the best education to take you through that certification. She also takes viewers through the daily tasks of a medical coder and what your daily routine will look like as a medical coder. Contempo Coding has many videos on the subject of medical coding, so you can view more of her content as needed or desired.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 10 minutes, more videos available
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Videos offer different approaches and tips about medical coding
Cons:
- YouTube videos, not a structured course with assignments or tests
- No certificate of achievement
9. Foundations of Healthcare Systems Engineering
Offered by John Hopkins University via Coursera
While this course is not specifically targeted at those pursuing a career in medical coding and billing, it is very closely related to the field and will give you a better idea of how to do your job before starting other education. This course tackles healthcare systems and how they are interconnected, which is something you will absolutely need to know if you want to become a medical biller or coder or start your own practice.
Coursera offers a wide catalog of reputable courses and degree programs to kickstart your new career, and this foundational course will certainly put you on the right track.
This course takes only six hours to complete, and you will have the opportunity to earn a free shareable certificate upon finishing. This certificate can be shared with employers, added to your resume, or placed on a professional networking profile such as LinkedIn. By the end of the free online course, you will be able to properly identify and understand the various healthcare system types and know their characteristics.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes
Time to Complete: Approximately 6 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Provided by Johns Hopkins University
- Free shareable certificate upon completion
Cons:
- Focuses on engineering rather than coding or billing
10. Free Monthly Webinar
Hosted by Certification Coaching Org
Certification Coaching Organization is a website that offers students affordable education to prepare them for the types of certification tests they may have to encounter. One of these certifications is the one required for you to become a medical coder or biller, and the site offers everything you need to prepare for that.
While most of their course materials are locked behind a paywall, they do offer a free monthly webinar that offers quite a unique opportunity to learn more. Every month, the webinar allows students to ask whatever questions they have about coding and have them answered live.
Additionally, if the webinar isn’t exactly your speed, the site is currently having a sale of 35-percent off all of their course content. So, if you attend a webinar and think you might enjoy the site’s actual content, you can purchase it at a deeply discounted price.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: As long as needed
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Live webinar where you can ask your own questions
- Other course material is deeply discounted
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
- The course itself is not free, just the webinars
Frequently Asked Questions About Free Courses for Medical Billing and Coding Training
Medical coding and billing is something that is widely considered a career you need a lot of education for. While this is primarily true, there are a lot of avenues you can pursue on your own at home to prepare you for this field. On the list above, there are ten reputable and exciting courses on medical coding and billing for you to pursue on your own time.
While you will eventually have to pursue additional schooling and certification tests to become a licensed medical coder or biller, taking a course on your own is one of the most important steps you can take to get ahead in the field.
You likely have a lot of questions surrounding medical coding and billing, especially if you don’t have a background in the medical field. This is why we’ve created the following section, where we outline some of the most commonly asked questions about free courses for medical billing and coding training and answer them for you. Keep reading to learn more.
Who Should Take A Medical Coding and Billing Training Course?
While anyone can take a course for medical coding and billing, there are certainly some people who are better suited to it. If you are already a registered nurse and have some experience in the healthcare field, it probably won’t take you too long to pick up medical coding or billing. Since you already know how the intricate healthcare system works, you won’t need any additional medical background.
Additionally, if you’re someone who has already completed a Life Science degree, you have a lot of knowledge of anatomy and how the body works, meaning you will just need to learn how to code.
That’s not to say you can’t begin a career in medical billing or coding without a background in medicine. Many qualified coders and billers have no previous experience in the medical field.
What Will I Gain From A Medical Coding and Billing Course?
When you complete a medical coding course, you will be one step closer to becoming an independent medical coder or biller or working in a medical setting. Before you can do this, you will need to complete a certification and become official, which will likely require you to pursue an AACP CPC certification. While this can be costly and labor-intensive, taking a free course in the subject will at least prepare you for the kind of information you will learn later on.
Are Medical Coding and Billing Courses Difficult?
Medical coding and billing are very difficult subjects, especially if you haven’t ever taken a coding class before. While the courses might be initially considered “difficult”, it certainly does not mean they are unachievable.
Luckily for you, many of the courses on this list have live instructors following and overseeing them, meaning they are always going to be there if you need them. If you have a question or need help with a certain topic or unit, the instructor is going to want you to achieve and will help you complete the course.
How Long Do Medical Coding and Billing Courses Take?
Medical billing and coding classes vary significantly in length. For a brief overview, some courses only take a half hour or, sometimes, even less. Going over brief topics can be done quickly in the coding world, and there are often short courses that go over the fundamentals or explain what a medical coding or billing professional does.
Longer courses that go more in depth on the process of medical coding and billing can take multiple weeks or even several months to complete. The length of the course depends on the depth of the topics as well as your personal interest level.
Are Free Medical Coding and Billing Certification Courses Worth It?
Medical coding and billing courses, especially free ones, are 100-percent worth it. Since so much of medical billing and coding education can be costly and time-consuming, it can be refreshing to encounter a course that’s free as well as informative. Thankfully, every course and resource on the above list is entirely free, so you won’t have to worry about losing any money when you sign up for them. In fact, besides your time, you have nothing to lose by pursuing one of these courses, even if you don’t enjoy it. We are sure, however, that with any of the courses on the list above, your time will be well-spent.
Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
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