It is exciting to know what career you want to pursue–finding your passion is its own milestone!
However, it is important to consider specializations within the field.
Before investing your time in a medical billing and coding program, you may ask yourself whether the coursework offered is tailored to your personal career goals.
We have sussed out the details to help you decide what kind of program is right for you!
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4 Medical Billing and Coding Schools in Arizona
Pima Community College
Successful program completion earns an AAS in Health Information Technology.
Coursework covers medical coding and its specializations.
So you learn billing, coding, and other types of health information management.
The program requires completion of 66 credit hours and includes a final internship.
Additionally, it offers a Medical Records and Health Information Tech certificate program which may be taken separately as long as all prerequisite courses are met.
Another neat perk?
Real-world experience is available with the certificate program.
The Health Information Technology Professional Practice Experience (PPE) can be fulfilled as a work-study, or project-based credit.
Each degree here is conveniently offered on campus or entirely online.
Tuition costs are $261 per 3 semester credit hours (One class is typically 3 credit hours) but payment plans and financial aid are available.
Arizona Western College
Arizona Western offers a medical coding and billing certification program which is designed to help you prepare for the CPC certification exam from the American Academy of Professional Coders.
The course requires 28 credits to complete and may take six months to a year to finish, depending on how many credit hours you take per semester.
Tuition costs about $1,840 for 28 credit hours and upon completion, you will have the knowledge necessary to pursue certification.
Maricopa Community College
Maricopa Community College offers medical billing and coding certificate options that help you prepare to work in a variety of settings, like outpatient or ambulatory treatment centers and private practice physician clinics.
The Medical Coding, Hospital-certification program is accredited, giving you the foundation needed to seek certification through AHIMA.
The program requires completion of 44 credit hours to graduate.
Some classes do require prerequisite courses, so be sure to check the school’s course catalog.
Pima Medical Institute
The school offers online or in-person medical coding programs with some hybrid options.
Completion takes around 9 months.
Of course, completion times can vary depending on the course load taken per semester.
Five prerequisite courses are required beforehand.
Refer to the course catalog directly on their website to make sure you have the correct classes under your belt as some may be able to transfer from prior institutions.
Tuition, according to the school’s estimations, for a student living at home without financial assistance costs roughly $14, 397, including books and fees.
Pima offers classes both on campus and online.
Medical Billing and Coding Schools in Arizona – Summary Table
Top 4 Schools in Arizona
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Pima Community College | 2202 W Anklam Rd, Tucson, AZ 85709 |
| Arizona Western College | 2020 S Ave 8 E, Yuma, AZ 85365 |
| Maricopa Community College | 2411 W 14th St, Tempe, AZ 85281 |
| Pima Medical Institute | 2121 N Craycroft Rd Building 1, Tucson, AZ 85712 |
Salary
Medical billers and coders working in the state of Arizona make an average salary of $50,490 as of February 2022.
The salary ranges between $43,796 and $59,207 and can be more or less depending on years of experience or whether or not the employee is certified.
Overall, medical billing and coding is a stable and fulfilling career path.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Arizona
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | $40,500 |
| Tucson | $38,500 |
| Mesa | $40,500 |
| Glendale | $40,500 |
| Scottsdale | $40,500 |
| Chandler | $40,500 |
| Tempe | $40,500 |
| Gilbert | $40,500 |
| Peoria | $40,400 |
| Yuma | $42,100 |
Regional Salary in Arizona
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 100 | $49,920 | $24 | $64,390 | $36,080 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 100 | $41,760 | $20.08 | $56,140 | $30,220 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 2,720 | $45,820 | $22.03 | $63,040 | $31,170 |
| Prescott, AZ | 80 | $45,020 | $21.64 | $62,000 | $30,710 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 50 | $42,260 | $20.32 | $57,430 | $29,500 |
| Tucson, AZ | 610 | $44,290 | $21.3 | $58,850 | $31,070 |
| Yuma, AZ | 90 | $47,810 | $22.98 | $64,730 | $29,040 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be certified to work?
Certification is not required to become a medical coder and biller nor is it legally required to work in the field.
However, certification is recommended as it gives you a competitive edge with employers.
Additionally, employers may require it.
Do I need a degree?
A degree is not required to work in medical billing and coding.
However, many universities require a degree or diploma prior to enrolling, so not having at least an associate degree or high school diploma may limit your program options.
Furthermore, employers may prefer candidates with prior training.
How do I become certified?
The AAPC and AHIMA are the most popular avenues to seek medical billing and coding certification.
Both organizations are highly regarded by professionals in the field.
You may seek more than one, such as the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification.
There are slight differences between the organizations.
For instance, AHIMA is traditionally associated with inpatient work environments and AAPC with outpatient work.
However, both organizations have recently begun to include wider options.
Does certification expire?
Continuing education is needed to remain certified.
At least 36 hours of approved continuing education credits are required every two years for CPC recertifications–20 hours minimum each year, for CCS recertifications.
What is the job outlook for medical billing and coding in Arizona?
This occupation expects an average job growth, currently a 9% increase through 2030.
