Credit Certificate Program
This 30-credit certificate program prepares students for careers as clinical coders (medical coders). Clinical coders are skilled in classifying medical data utilizing knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and pharmacology. Clinical coding is important to healthcare organizations because coding accuracy influences public health policy, impacts revenues, and drives the assessment of healthcare outcomes.
PROGRAM APPROVAL STATEMENT
The Middlesex Community College Clinical Coding Certificate coding program is approved by the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professionals. This process allows academic institutions to be acknowledged as offering an approved coding certificate program.
Value for Students
The AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program designation:
- Identifies specialized programs that meet established coding educational standards
- Stimulates improvement of educational standards through faculty development opportunities, and by involving faculty and staff in program evaluation and planning
- Promotes a better understanding of the goals of professional coding education
- Provides reasonable assurance that practitioners possess the necessary job skills upon entry into the profession
Program approval effective January of 2021 – January of 2024 with annual interim approval during these years.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Graduates of the Clinical Coding certificate program are eligible to sit for AHIMA coding certification exams including:
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA®)
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)
- Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P®)
Students may also choose to seek additional coding certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
A coding credential provides proof of competency in the field and is often a requirement for clinical coding-related and healthcare revenue management positions.
More information about health information careers can be found in the AHIMA Career and Student Center at http://www.ahima.org/careers.
Note About Financial Aid
Federal regulations stipulate that a student may only receive financial aid for courses that count towards their degree/certificate. To comply with this regulation, MxCC must track the courses that a student is registered for that count towards their degree/certificate program. Courses identified as not meeting program requirements will not be included in the calculation of financial aid eligibility. Pre requisites will be covered. This procedure is now in effect. Eligibility ceases once a student attempts 90 credits for a typical 60 credit program.
Becoming Connecticut State Community College
STUDENTS: The Community Colleges are undergoing a merger with a plan to become Connecticut State Community College in fall 2023; please work closely with your advisor/program coordinator to select your courses accordingly. Click here for more details about this merger.
