The AHIMA coding credentials are: Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), and Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P).

CCA

The CCA certification is an entry-level coding credential. Individuals with the CCA credential may work in any health care setting. In the hospital setting, CCAs may assign diagnosis and procedure codes for ancillary services such as lab and radiology services, emergency room services, and clinic visits. The CCA credential will demonstrate to an employer that, as a new coder, you have entry-level coding skills and are committed to the coding profession. The CCA could also assist you in getting started as a coder in outpatient clinics and physician offices; it does not mean that you specialize in the outpatient setting like the CCS-P credential.

To sit for the CCA exam, you need a US high school diploma or equivalent. You don’t need to show completion of the coding certificate program; however AHIMA recommends if you have not completed an AHIMA-approved coding course, you should have six months of coding experience in a healthcare setting. Yet the knowledge gained in the coding certificate program will be crucial to your passing the CCA exam.

CCS and CCS-P

The CCS credential is an advanced credential with expertise in the hospital setting coding inpatient and ambulatory surgery records. To sit for the CCS exam, you must have a US high school diploma or equivalent. AHIMA recommends that you have at least three years of coding experience in a hospital setting. This means you should have experience coding inpatient and ambulatory surgery records prior to sitting for the examination, as well as possess excellent skills in hospital coding systems. The CCS is an important credential to have – it is the gold standard of coding hospital inpatient and outpatient records.

The CCS-P credential is for coding practitioners with expertise in the physician office setting or outpatient clinics areas. To sit for the CCS-P exam, you must have a US high school diploma or equivalent. AHIMA recommends you have superior skills in physician-based coding with at least three years of coding experience. The CCS-P credential denotes an expert level, that is mastery and proficiency in applying the ICD-9-CM classification system for diagnosis coding and CPT / HCPCS II for procedure coding in the outpatient setting.

For the CCS and CCS-P credential exams, there is no requirement for formal training, but you must have the coding background and experience to be successful. However formal coding education is highly recommended so that you may gain the basic knowledge of coding, and to demonstrate to employers that you have formal training in the anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, reimbursement methodology, compliance, coding classifications, and health record documentation.

The SBCC Medical Coding Specialist Certificate Program alone is not intended to prepare you for successfully completing the CCS or CCS-P exam. However, if you have some coding experience and you complete the program, you may be successful in earning the CCS credential from AHIMA.