Medical Billing and Coding Classes: What You Take and Why (2026)
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Key takeaway: A typical medical billing and coding certificate is a stack of the same classes: terminology, anatomy, ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, the claim cycle, HIPAA, and exam prep. Online or on campus, that is the list. What changes is how many graded charts you code and which exam the stack maps to.
If you searched “classes near me,” start with this list, then schools in your state. A school can rename modules and still skip E/M practice, so ask for the week-by-week outline.
Typical certificate classes
| Class | What it is for | What “done” looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Medical terminology | Reading the note | You can break down word parts and not guess |
| Anatomy and physiology | Knowing which body system you are in | You can follow an operative note without panic |
| Pathophysiology / disease process | Why the diagnosis is specific | You stop coding “unspecified” out of habit |
| ICD-10-CM | Diagnosis codes for every setting | You use the guidelines, not only the index |
| CPT | Procedures and office visits | You can level an E/M and apply a modifier |
| HCPCS Level II | Supplies, drugs, some services | You know when CPT is the wrong book |
| Insurance and reimbursement | How payers think | You can read a remittance reason code |
| Claim forms and the revenue cycle | CMS-1500, UB-04, denials | You can follow a claim from drop to payment |
| HIPAA and compliance | Privacy and fraud basics | You know what you cannot say in a query |
| EHR / encoder lab | Tools of the job | You have used something besides a PDF |
| Exam prep | CPC, CCA, or CBCS as named | Timed, full-length practice, not a slide deck |
Lengths are typical published ranges; each school sets its own. Part-time stretches every row.
Associate-degree extras
Health information technology degrees typically add ICD-10-PCS, DRGs and APCs, health data standards, statistics, privacy law in more depth, and a professional practice experience. See HIT degree. Those extras are why CAHIIM accreditation matters for the RHIT.
Which ones people fail
Anatomy when it is crammed. CPT when the program never times you. E/M when it is “a week in module 6.” If you failed a science class years ago, ask whether anatomy is spread out and whether tutoring exists. You do not need to be a nurse. You need repetition.
Questions to ask about the class list
- Which exam does this sequence map to?
- How many graded charts in CPT and ICD-10-CM?
- Is E/M its own unit with practice cases?
- Is ICD-10-PCS included, and do I need it for the job I want?
- Is the practicum a class with a site, or a scavenger hunt?
Local and online classes should teach the same code sets
Compare outlines, not ZIP codes. A campus program can still skip timed E/M practice; an online program still leads to an on-site first job for most people. Then use how long it takes to put the outline on a calendar you can keep after bedtime.
Frequently asked questions
What classes are required for medical billing and coding?
What medical billing and coding classes can I take online?
Which class do people fail?
How many weeks is each class?
Do I need college algebra?
Are medical billing and coding classes near me different from online classes?
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