Steps to become a medical coder
Becoming a medical coder takes four steps: a high school diploma, coding training, a national credential and continuing education to keep it.[ooh_coder][ahima_cca] BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award (a certificate) as the typical entry-level education for medical records specialists, the occupation that includes coders.[ooh_coder][sum_coder]
- Finish high school. AHIMA's entry credential, the CCA, requires a high school diploma.[ahima_cca]
- Learn to code. AHIMA recommends, but does not require, at least one of: 6 months of experience applying codes, an AHIMA-approved coding program, or other training that covers anatomy and physiology, medical terminology and basic ICD and CPT coding.[ahima_cca]
- Pass a credential exam. Entry level: AHIMA's CCA. More advanced: AHIMA's CCS. AAPC's CPC is the other widely requested coding credential.
- Keep the credential. AHIMA credentials run on a 2-year cycle with continuing education units and a recertification fee.[ahima_cca][ahima_ccs]
Medical coding certification compared
Medical coding certification from AHIMA costs $199 to $399 depending on the exam and membership, and the entry-level CCA is the harder exam to pass on the first try: 62% of first-time takers passed in 2025, against 84% for the CCS.[ahima_cca][ahima_ccs]
| CCA (Certified Coding Associate) | CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee, AHIMA member | $199 | $299 |
| Exam fee, non-member | $299 | $399 |
| 2025 first-time pass rate | 62% | 84% |
| Certified holders, Dec 31, 2025 | 7,753 | 36,925 |
| Recertification | 2-year cycle, CEUs and fee | 2-year cycle, CEUs and fee |
AAPC publishes the price and membership terms for the CPC on its own site; we could not verify them from a primary page that allows automated access, so we do not quote a figure. Check the current AAPC price before you compare it with AHIMA's.
How long does it take to become a medical coder?
How long it takes to become a medical coder depends on the route: AHIMA lets you sit for the CCA with only a high school diploma, so the minimum is the time you need to prepare, while its recommendation of 6 months of coding experience or a coding program sets a more realistic floor.[ahima_cca] BLS classifies the typical training as a certificate-level award, shorter than an associate degree.[ooh_coder] For comparison, medical assistants, who often handle front-office records work, earn a $45,690 median against $51,140 for coders.[onet_ma][onet_coder] Their path is on how to become a medical assistant.
Does coding training pay off?
A coding program pays off when the raise over your current job covers its price; the calculator below shows how fast. The default first salary is the national 25th percentile for medical records specialists, $43,490, and the default program cost is an example, so enter your own.[onet_coder]
Defaults assume you keep your current job while studying part time. Enter your program's published cost.
School payback · 2026 tax on the raise
0.7 years after graduation
Break-even about 17 months after the first class · 10-year gain after costs $56,182
| Tuition, fees, books, exams | $4,000 |
|---|---|
| Pay given up while in school | $0 |
| Loan interest | $0 |
| Total cost | $4,000 |
| Raise after tax, per year | $6,018 |
After-tax share of the raise: 80.3% (single filer, federal + FICA). Nominal dollars, no discounting.
Estimate, not a pay offer. Arithmetic on your inputs. Raise is taxed with 2026 federal income tax and FICA for a single filer.
Medical coder pay and outlook
Medical coders earn $51,140 at the median, from $37,000 at the 10th percentile to $81,150 at the 90th (BLS, May 2025), across 194,720 jobs.[onet_coder][oews_api] BLS projects 8% employment growth for medical records specialists from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.[ooh_coder] Pay by state and metro, and the AHIMA exam table, are on medical billing and coding salary; other short-training careers are ranked on the allied health careers overview.
Common mistakes
- Booking the CCA unprepared. With a 62% first-time pass rate and retakes at full price, preparation time is the cheapest part of the cost.[ahima_cca]
- Letting the credential lapse. AHIMA credentials need continuing education and a fee every 2 years.[ahima_cca]
- Assuming "billing" and "coding" pay the same. Coders are counted as medical records specialists; billing-only jobs may be classified elsewhere and pay less.[sum_coder]
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a medical coder?
It depends on your training. AHIMA requires only a high school diploma for the CCA exam but recommends 6 months of coding experience or a coding program first.
How much does medical coding certification cost?
AHIMA's CCA costs $199 for members and $299 for non-members; the CCS costs $299 or $399.
What is the difference between the CCA and the CCS?
The CCA is AHIMA's entry-level coding credential; the CCS is the more advanced one. In 2025, 62% of first-time CCA takers passed, against 84% for the CCS.
Do you need a degree to be a medical coder?
No. BLS lists a postsecondary certificate as the typical entry route, and the CCA requires a high school diploma.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical Records Specialists
- Summary Report for 29-2072.00 Medical Records Specialists (sample job titles)
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
- Local Wages: 29-2072.00 Medical Records Specialists (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 31-9092.00 Medical Assistants (state and metro percentiles)
- OEWS national employment and wage series, May 2025 (BLS Public Data API, series OEUN0000000000000
01 and 13) - Interest Rates for Federal Direct Loans First Disbursed Between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 (undergraduate 6.52%)