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Contact UsDevelop the knowledge to pursue certification with 100% online medical billing and coding training through Metropolitan State University of Denver (ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï). You will study medical terminology, healthcare reimbursement, insurance processes, coding guidelines, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.
Training covers ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II coding and how these systems are used to document diagnoses, procedures, and healthcare services.
After completing this medical billing and coding course, you can choose a voucher for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam. You will also earn a Certificate of Completion.
Medical records specialists contribute to the healthcare system by organizing health information, applying standardized codes, and helping maintain the accurate documentation needed for billing and reimbursement.
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of medical records specialists to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. Approximately 14,000 openings are projected each year, on average, over the decade. The median annual wage for medical records specialists was $51,140 in May 2025. According to Indeed, the average salary of a medical biller in Colorado is $61,211 per year.
Healthcare also represents a significant part of the Denver-area workforce. According to May 2025 BLS data, healthcare practitioners and technical occupations accounted for 5.2% of employment in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metropolitan area, while healthcare support occupations accounted for another 3.5%. Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations in the region earned a mean hourly wage of $52.65, compared with $52.26 nationally.
What is medical billing and coding? What does a medical biller and coder do?
Medical billing and coding connects patient care documentation with the administrative and reimbursement processes that keep healthcare organizations operating. Medical coders translate diagnoses, procedures, and services into standardized codes, while medical billers use coded information to prepare and process insurance claims.
Professionals may perform both functions or concentrate primarily on billing or coding, depending on the employer and position.
Where do medical billers and coders work?
Medical records specialists work in settings such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, administrative and support services, and professional, scientific, and technical services.
How do I become a medical coder without experience?
Formal training can help you develop the foundational knowledge needed to pursue an entry-level medical coding role. This course covers medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, healthcare reimbursement, regulatory requirements, and major coding systems, including ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II.
After completing the training, you can choose to pursue the CPC, CCA, or CBCS certification based on your professional goals.
Does this course prepare me for medical billing and coding certification?
Yes. The course prepares you for three certification options: the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by AAPC, the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by AHIMA, and the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered by NHA.
After successfully completing the course, you will receive a voucher for the certification exam you select, along with applicable study materials.
Can I test out of medical terminology if I already have experience?
Yes. The course includes two optional test-out exams for students who already have medical terminology knowledge. A score of 80% or higher demonstrates the required mastery and allows you to bypass the applicable content and graded assessments.
Students receiving third-party funding may not be eligible for the test-out option and should confirm their requirements before attempting an exam.
There are no prerequisites to take this course.
Upon successful course completion, you can select a voucher for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by AAPC, the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by AHIMA, or the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered by NHA. You will also earn a Certificate of Completion after successfully completing the course.
This course prepares you for three professional certification options: the CPC credential offered by AAPC, the CCA credential offered by AHIMA, and the CBCS credential offered by NHA.
Each certification provides a different pathway for demonstrating medical billing and coding knowledge. The CPC focuses on professional medical coding, the CCA demonstrates coding competency across healthcare settings, and the CBCS covers essential medical billing and coding skills.
Nancy Smith
Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.
LaTisha Cottingham
LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently, she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a Long-Term Care establishment that is based out of Alabama. Previously she was employed as the lead instructor for the Allied Health Department for a local career institute. LaTisha’s field of expertise is in the area of physician-based inpatient coding and Emergency Department coding. The certifications that she holds are as follows: a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). In preparation for ICD-10-CM, LaTisha received her ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer Certification from American Health Information Association (AHIMA), where she is currently a member. LaTisha is also a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA) where she is a test proctor.
Carline Dalgleish
Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems, a master’s degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and owns her own consulting firm.
Lydia S. Stewart
Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN, currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, 15 of those years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews. Lydia is a member of the Louisiana Medical Auditor Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Bunny Reeves
Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island’s St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Sharon L. Blackford
Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.
Stacey O’Brien
Stacey O’Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O’Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.
April Adams
April Adams, M.S., RHIA, CDIP, CPC-I, CPB, CPMA, has worked in the healthcare field since 2011, transitioning from a high school biology and chemistry teacher to a specialist in medical coding and auditing. She focuses on HCC, clinical documentation improvement (CDI), and DRGs and has taught health information management (HIM) courses, including medical terminology, law and ethics, coding, and revenue cycle management since 2018.
April possesses a master’s in health information management with a specialization in data analytics. She also serves on the board of the Dallas-Fort Worth Health Information Management Association and holds multiple industry certifications.
Medical Terminology Instructors
Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See the master course page for a full list of these instructors.
Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.
This course is 100% online. Start any time.
You do not need to submit an application to ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï to take this course. The course is not eligible for financial aid.
For questions regarding registration, contact Brandy Schooler at 303-615-1234 or [email protected].
Phone: 303-615-1234
Office Location:
Jordan Student Success Building
3rd Floor – #330
Auraria Campus
Mailing Address:
ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï
Innovative and Lifelong Learning
P.O. Box 173362
Campus Box 6
Denver, CO 80217-3362