Medical billing and coding supports healthcare organizations by converting information documented in patient records into standardized codes and by using coded and administrative information to prepare and manage insurance claims. The work generally requires accuracy, knowledge of medical terminology and coding rules, comfort with computer systems, and careful protection of patient information.
For Massachusetts students interested in this field, Campus offers the online Medical Billing and Coding Specialist certificate program. The current Campus Catalog lists 37 quarter credits, online delivery, and an expected length of 8–10 instructional months, or 33–44 instructional weeks. Actual completion time may vary based on attendance, academic progress, scheduling, leaves, transfer credit, and other individual circumstances.[1]
The program supports preparation for the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) examination. Completing the Campus program awards the Campus certificate; it does not automatically award the separate CMRS credential or any other third-party certification. Program availability and admission eligibility must also be confirmed under current institutional and state requirements and are not established solely by living in Massachusetts.
| Program Detail | Current Catalog Information |
|---|---|
| Credential | Certificate |
| Credits | 37 quarter credits |
| Delivery | Online |
| Expected Length | 8–10 instructional months / 33–44 instructional weeks |
| Certification Preperation | Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) |
| Licensure Listed | None |
What is Medical Billing and Coding?
Medical coding and medical billing are related functions, but they are not identical. Some employers assign them to separate employees, while smaller organizations may combine portions of the work into one position. Duties and job titles vary by employer.
Medical coders review clinical documentation and assign diagnosis, procedure, service, and supply codes that are supported by the record and applicable coding guidance. Coders must use the level of specificity supported by the documentation and should not infer a diagnosis, service, or other detail that is not documented.
Medical billers use coded and administrative information to prepare claims, review claim edits, submit claims through approved systems, monitor claim status, address rejected or denied claims, post payments, and perform other revenue-cycle tasks. Claim “scrubbing” refers to reviewing a claim for missing information, formatting problems, inconsistent data, and other issues before submission.
Accurate coding is important, but the presence of a valid code does not guarantee that an insurer will cover or pay for an item or service. Coverage rules, documentation, medical necessity, payer policies, patient eligibility, and timely filing requirements may all affect claim processing and reimbursement.[6]
Because this work involves patient records and other sensitive information, medical billing and coding professionals must also follow employer policies and applicable privacy, security, and confidentiality requirements.
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Why Should You Become a Medical Coder and Biller?
Medical billing and coding may appeal to people who enjoy detailed, computer-based administrative work and who are interested in healthcare without providing direct clinical care. The work may involve reviewing records, applying coding guidance, solving claim problems, communicating with clinical or insurance staff, and managing multiple deadlines.
Medical records specialists work in settings such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, administrative support services, and professional or technical organizations. Positions may be on-site, hybrid, or remote depending on the employer, job duties, experience requirements, information-security controls, and location. Neither the occupation nor completion of a training program guarantees a remote arrangement.[2]
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education for medical records specialists. Employers may prefer or require certification for some positions, and individual hiring requirements may also include prior healthcare, billing, coding, customer-service, or administrative experience.[2]
A program’s published length can help students compare training options, but a shorter program does not guarantee faster employment. Career fit and hiring prospects depend on the individual’s preparation, exam results, experience, employer expectations, local labor-market conditions, and other factors.
What Do You Need to Learn as a Medical Coder and Biller?
Medical billing and coding education typically combines healthcare knowledge, coding methodology, claims processing, technology, and professional practice. Important areas may include:
- Medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology;
- How to read and maintain medical records and identify documentation that supports code selection;
- Diagnosis, procedure, service, and supply coding rules and conventions;
- Claims preparation, claim edits, reimbursement workflows, and the difference between rejections and denials;
- Electronic health records and practice-management or billing software;
- Privacy, confidentiality, compliance, and ethical handling of health information;
- Communication, organization, attention to detail, and professional problem-solving.
Four code sets are especially important to understand:
ICD-10-CM: The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification is used in the United States to classify diagnoses and medical conditions. The World Health Organization owns and publishes the underlying ICD-10 classification, while the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics is responsible for the U.S. clinical modification, ICD-10-CM.[4]
CPT®: The Current Procedural Terminology code set describes medical services and procedures. The CPT Editorial Panel, appointed by the American Medical Association’s Board of Trustees, maintains and updates the code set.[5]
HCPCS Level II: The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Level II is maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is used primarily to identify products, supplies, and services not included in CPT®, such as certain ambulance services, drugs, devices, and durable medical equipment.[6]
ICD-10-PCS: The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System is maintained by CMS and is used to report procedures performed in U.S. hospital inpatient settings.[7]
Trademark note: CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
Job Outlook and Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate national occupation called “medical billers and coders.” The closest commonly used BLS benchmark is Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072), a broader category that includes workers who compile, process, maintain, and code patient health information.[2]
BLS projects employment of medical records specialists to grow 7% from 2024 through 2034, with approximately 14,200 openings each year on average. Those openings include both projected occupational growth and the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.[2]
The table below uses May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the same BLS occupation in Massachusetts and nationwide. These figures describe workers across the occupation and at different experience levels. They are not starting-wage estimates, job offers, or outcomes for Campus students or graduates.[3]
Salary and Wage for Medical Billers and Coders
| Wage Measure | Massachusetts (2025) | United States (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $60,350 | $51,140 |
| Mean annual wage | $61,560 | $56,790 |
| Median hourly wage | $29.02 | $24.59 |
| Mean hourly wage | $29.60 | $27.30 |
How to read the table: The median is the midpoint: half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean is the arithmetic average. Actual wages vary based on duties, employer, experience, credentials, schedule, and location within Massachusetts.
Pursue Your Medical Billing and Coding Training With Campus
Campus’s online Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program provides focused training in medical office administration, insurance billing, coding, medical records, and front-office responsibilities. The current curriculum includes medical terminology with anatomy and physiology, medical front-office procedures, medical billing and coding coursework, career preparation, and the use of practice-management and electronic health-record systems.[1]
The program is a 37-quarter-credit certificate with an expected length of 8–10 instructional months, or 33–44 instructional weeks. The Catalog lists no licensure requirement for the program. It supports preparation for the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist examination. Exam vouchers are provided only to students who satisfy the current requirements of Campus’s Test Pass Assurance program.[1]
The CMRS examination and credential are administered by the American Medical Billing Association, an independent third party. The certification provider controls its eligibility rules, examination content, fees, scoring, award decisions, and renewal requirements. Campus does not guarantee that a student will qualify for, pass, or earn the certification.[8]
Massachusetts program-availability notice: Program availability and admission eligibility may vary based on current state authorization, institutional requirements, and individual circumstances. Prospective Massachusetts students should confirm current availability with Campus Admissions before applying or making enrollment decisions.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA® and other applicable requirements. Awards vary based on need, program, enrollment status, prior aid history, available funding, and applicable federal, state, and institutional rules. Campus does not guarantee financial aid eligibility, award amounts, or loan approval.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about medical billing and coding education, occupations, wage data, and educational pathways. It is not a guarantee of program availability, admission, completion, certification, employment, job placement, work arrangement, salary, or career advancement. Employer requirements and career outcomes vary based on education, experience, credentials, exam performance, location, labor-market conditions, and individual circumstances.
BLS wage and outlook information applies to the broader Medical Records Specialists occupation and is not specific to medical billing and coding graduates or to Campus students. Specific coding rules, payer requirements, software systems, and certification requirements may change. Prospective students should review the current Campus Catalog, program disclosures, and third-party certification-provider requirements before making enrollment or certification decisions.
Sources
- Campus 2026–27 Catalog: Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Records Specialists
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Tables
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics: ICD-10-CM
- American Medical Association: CPT® Code Set Overview
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Overview of Coding and Classification Systems
- American Medical Billing Association: CMRS Certification Information