If you want a steady income but do not want to work too close to patients, you might want to learn how to become a Tennessee Billing and Coding Specialist.
It requires communication with people seeking treatment, but you do not have to administer medications or perform tests on them in this position.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Tennessee Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
You do not need a license from the State of Tennessee to be a medical biller and coder.
However, you should seek certification from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). National Health Association (NHA), or American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
When you see all the credentialing options available, you can find schools that provide you the education to help you earn as many billing and coding certificates as you please.
Beware, however, that some colleges require you to be at least 18 years old.
Most credentialing associations and learning institutions also require that you have a high school diploma or GED.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Tennessee
1. Chattanooga State College
Chattanooga State provides a 66-hour Health Information Management (HIM) Associate Degree Program.
This coursework will equip you to become an expert at gathering, analyzing, storing, and integrating health care data.
It provides you with the CPT and ICD-10-CM coding training you need.
However, this instruction moves beyond that to broaden your concept of working in a professional healthcare role.
You will learn a range of subjects, such as anatomy, pharmacology, and medical terminology.
Anatomy and physiology also come with this curriculum, plus you will receive in-depth information about ethical medical practices and the importance of patient privacy.
This associate degree program would interest you if you are starting out in an entry-level office position but want to advance to employment in healthcare management.
You will also receive billing and coding technology training.
2. Coding Professional Readiness LLC
This training center provides audit classes for less cost than a university or technical school.
Take individual courses for continuing education purposes to learn medical terminology and prepare for your Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam via AAPC.
You also can sign up for an anatomy class.
Some classes also include a practicum to help you gain the experience you need to stay employed.
Training may include exam studying materials and free codebooks and is usually taught live.
3. The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
UTC’s Medical Billing and Coding Academy meet AAPC, and it is perfect for students seeking to complete the one year of coding experience required before earning a CPC certification.
You can also gain hands-on experience by taking advantage of this school’s partnership with AAPC’s hands-on training program.
The certificate course here takes about 18 weeks and will provide you access to alphanumeric codes used to process insurance claims.
In addition, you will become equipped to handle patient and insurance disputes, which usually requires knowing how to retrieve medical records and interpret them.
4. Codes Unlimited Healthcare Academy (CUHA)
CUHA provides an accelerated preparatory Physician-Based Coding Training.
This coursework prepares students to pass the AAPC a physician-based coding certification.
The classes include information about insurance fraud prevention and healthcare provider compliance information.
You will even receive more understanding of HIPAA privacy laws required to honor patient diagnosis and treatment privacy.
If you enroll in this certificate program, you will also learn CPT, ICD, and HCPCS coding.
You will also receive related terminology information, which will help you remember the diagnosis and treatment classification abbreviations used for medical recordkeeping.
5. University of Tennessee Martin
This online course will teach you the necessary medical insurance classification and patient bill filing codes, including the CPT and ICD-10, and HCPCS classification abbreviations.
If you prefer to just work in billing and not coding, you will also receive information about handling all aspects of a patient’s financial records.
UT Martin provides a voucher for the AAPC CPC or the NHA CBCS exam.
Billing and Coding Schools in Tennessee – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Tennessee
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Chattanooga State College | 4501 Amnicola Highway Chattanooga, TN 37406 |
| Coding Professional Readiness LLC | P.O. Box 55 Culleoka, TN 38451 |
| University of Tennessee Chattanooga | 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403 |
| Codes Unlimited Healthcare Academy | PO Box 753056, Memphis, Tennessee, 38175 |
| University of Tennessee Martin | 554 University St, Martin, TN 38237 |
Salary
In April 2022, a report indicated that a Tennessee medical billing and coding specialist could make an average yearly salary of $39,475, with a typical range of $36,733-$43,165.
You could earn more if you acquire an associate degree or multiple specialized certificates.
Cities where you might find jobs include Johnson City, Memphis, Nashville, Franklin, or Chattanooga.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Tennessee
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Memphis | $38,100 |
| Nashville-Davidson | $38,200 |
| Knoxville | $37,700 |
| Chattanooga | $37,100 |
| Clarksville | $37,400 |
| Murfreesboro | $37,900 |
| Johnson City | $35,800 |
| Jackson | $37,800 |
| Kingsport | $35,900 |
| Franklin | $38,100 |
Regional Salary in Tennessee
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 320 | $68,020 | $32.7 | $97,700 | $34,400 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 130 | $51,720 | $24.87 | $77,050 | $34,030 |
| Jackson, TN | 90 | $53,630 | $25.78 | $75,230 | $33,980 |
| Johnson City, TN | 120 | $46,600 | $22.4 | $64,730 | $32,040 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 100 | $41,660 | $20.03 | $58,860 | $31,510 |
| Knoxville, TN | 330 | $48,870 | $23.5 | $74,240 | $33,450 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 850 | $61,220 | $29.43 | $83,030 | $37,390 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,290 | $57,220 | $27.51 | $78,260 | $37,940 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
Are TN billing and coding positions ongoing?
Yes, they are.
However, you have to update your skills at least once a year, which usually comes with a certificate renewal.
If you want to stay relevant, it is also wise to earn multiple certifications and beware of changing health and information technologies.
What certifications do I need to become a medical biller and coder in Tennessee?
It depends on your career goals, but most students start out with the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) provided by the AAPC.
Otherwise, you could work toward a Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) offered by the NHA.
A third option is the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
The certification exam you take depends on your training level.
How do I make sure I receive the correct training?
Make sure your school offers courses approved by the association you wish to use for earning your certificates.
Most accredited instruction will reveal what certificate bodies they have partnered with to bring you the education you need.
If you are not sure, contact both the school and the association you plan to use.
How much does certification cost?
Every association has its own price set for practice and study packets.
It is typically a few hundred dollars for each exam, which usually includes preparation materials and a practice test.
This does not include the tuition for an approved certificate or degree program.
However, some colleges provide a certification exam voucher for the first time.
