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  1. Programs
  3. Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

Certification

Become a contributor for free to openly demonstrate student outcomes, industry alignment & eligibility criteria.

The Certified Coding Specialist certification is designed for individuals skilled in classifying medical data from medical records. CCS professionals demonstrate a practitioner’s tested skills in data quality and accuracy as well as mastery of coding proficiency.

Cost

The cost of the CCS exam is $299 for AHIMA members and $399 for non-members.Show moreShow less

Format

Hybrid

Eligibility Calculator

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Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

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Program Details

Detailed information about this program

The Certified Coding Specialist certification is designed for individuals skilled in classifying medical data from medical records. CCS professionals demonstrate a practitioner’s tested skills in data quality and accuracy as well as mastery of coding proficiency. It is recommended, not required, to have at least one of the following: Complete courses in all the following topics: anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic coding, and procedural coding and medical services (CPT/HCPCS) plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR Hold the CCA® credential plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR Hold a coding credential from another certifying organization plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR Hold a CCS-P®, RHIT®, or RHIA® credential

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

Internship/Fieldwork/Practicum Requirements

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

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Locations

Where this program is offered

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Related Programs

Programs related to this one

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Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

  • Assign and sequence diagnosis and procedure codes based on provider documentation and official coding guidelines
  • Apply coding conventions, POA guidelines, and coding edits to ensure accurate code assignment across inpatient and outpatient settings
  • Demonstrate knowledge of reimbursement methodologies and identify major comorbid conditions to support accurate claims
  • Verify and validate health record documentation to ensure completeness and accuracy prior to code assignment
  • Resolve conflicting documentation within the health record to support accurate and compliant coding
  • Analyze health record documentation to identify query opportunities and ensure queries are compliant and non-leading
Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

  • Medical Records Specialists29-2072.00
  • Medical Transcriptionists31-9094.00
  • Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars29-9021.00
What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populated·from NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Certification)

  • Patient medical histories — review, compile, and reconcile across multiple encounters with reduced oversight in an outpatient health information department.
  • Diagnostic and procedural codes — assign to routine patient records using classification software and established coding guidelines in a clinical environment.
  • Medical record discrepancies — identify and escalate using critical thinking when reviewing documentation against physician notes in a hospital setting.
  • Voice recognition software output — edit and quality-check transcribed clinical notes to ensure accuracy within a health information workflow.
  • Billing and invoicing records — audit for completeness and coding consistency to reduce claim rejections in a managed care environment.
  • Release-of-information requests — process in compliance with HIPAA regulations and institutional policy with minimal supervisory review.
  • Reading comprehension of clinical documentation — apply to extract relevant diagnostic and treatment data from complex physician reports.
  • Database query software — execute intermediate searches to retrieve, sort, and compile patient data for departmental reporting purposes.
  • Transaction security and virus protection standards — follow established protocols to safeguard electronic health records against unauthorized access.
  • Interdepartmental communication — coordinate records-related inquiries with clinical and billing staff using desktop communications tools and professional written correspondence.

Some details on this page are auto-populated from public workforce data sources: O*NET (opens in new tab), BLS (opens in new tab), College Scorecard (opens in new tab), DOL Training Provider Results (opens in new tab), NSX (opens in new tab). Provided in partnership with LER.me Career Intelligence.

Student Outcomes

Performance metrics for this program

Completion Rate
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Placement Rate
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