If you have office experience but want to earn more money, you might want to check out some Virginia billing and coding schools.
You can earn a certification that teaches you to process medical claims and invoices.
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Licensing Requirements To Become a Virginia Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
The State of Virginia does not require medical billers and coders to have a license.
The only licensing requirement applies to third-party businesses, which usually need a commercial license in most U.S. locations.
If you want employers in Virginia to trust you, however, you should seek certification from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
People who seek certification from this credentialing body often choose the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or the Certified Professional Biller (CPB).
The AAPC also provides the Certified Inpatient (CIC) or Certified Outpatient (COC) and several other options.
The AAPC has the largest membership of all billing and coding associations.
However, it is not the only one.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) also provides certification options.
Students usually start with the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P).
AHIMA also provides advanced healthcare administration certificates and HIPAA privacy or medical ethics classes.
Your college coursework will lead you to earn a billing and coding certificate recognized by Virginia healthcare centers if you choose the right program.
The classes you take should include the exam content you want to take to help you study for it and pass it.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Virginia
1. Lord Fairfax Community College
On AAPC’s approved list of schools. After taking the Medical Billing and Coding Certificate training, you should be equipped for AAPC certification and an entry-level position classifying patient records in a healthcare environment.
It is wise to explore your options and contact either the AAPC or the college to make sure your training covers the content found on the certification exam you plan to take.
2. Bryant & Stratton College
The AAPC has this on its list of approved training centers.
The online Medical Billing and Coding Diploma may interest you.
It prepares you for office work in a variety of medical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or assisted living centers.
You will receive training that prepares you to take the CCA exam offered by AHIMA.
3. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
NOVA provides coding and patient bill classification training for work in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Possible certification options include the CCA, CCS, or CCS-P offered by AHIMA.
You can continue your training beyond the certificate level at this school and achieve a Health Information Management associate degree.
Aside from learning required alphanumeric coding abbreviations, you also will receive critical training in business management and information technology.
In addition, your coursework provides you with an understanding of how the human body works and its components, which will help recall the codes required to classify diagnoses and treatment records.
4. Virginia Western Community College
Virginia Western’s Health Records Coding certificate training prepares you for the AAPC’s CPC credentialing exam.
This coursework includes an introduction to physiology and anatomy, and you learn necessary medical terms.
Legal aspects are covered, including making sure you keep patient confidentiality.
Your training will also include the health records coding systems you will use on your job.
5. Central Virginia Community College (CVCC)
CVCC offers a Medical Coding CSC program that includes an ICD-9-CM Health Records Coding class.
Signing up for this coursework also allows you to take the Advanced Coding and Reimbursement course, which introduces you to several facets of healthcare billing.
It also prepares you for handling insurance claims and the patients who make them.
In addition, this training program provides you with foundations in medical terms and a background in the parts of the body and how they work.
Contact the school directly to find out what professional certifications this coursework would prepare you for.
It is not specified on the informational page.
Billing and Coding Schools in Virginia – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Virginia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Lord Fairfax Community College | 6480 College St, Warrenton, VA 20187 |
| Bryant & Stratton College | 110 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14203 |
| North Virginia Community College (NOVA) | 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003 |
| Virginia Western Community College | 3094 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 |
| Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) | 3506 Wards Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502 |
Salary
A medical coder in Virginia can make about $51,068 per year as reported by April 2022.
The typical earnings range from $44,299 to $59,883.
You might earn less than this before you are certified, however.
After at least a few years of additional certification and experience, you could make $67,908 per year or more.
Besides Virginia Beach or Suffolk, other places you might want to look for jobs include Arlington, Columbia, or Gainesville.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $39,300 |
| Norfolk | $38,700 |
| Chesapeake | $38,700 |
| Richmond | $41,000 |
| Newport News | $38,500 |
| Hampton | $38,500 |
| Alexandria | $45,800 |
| Portsmouth | $38,700 |
| Roanoke | $38,000 |
| Lynchburg | $37,900 |
Regional Salary in Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 40 | $41,050 | $19.74 | $57,140 | $30,290 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 200 | $54,530 | $26.22 | $67,220 | $40,140 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 70 | $43,580 | $20.95 | $53,340 | $34,080 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 90 | $44,620 | $21.45 | $57,700 | $33,740 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,130 | $54,000 | $25.96 | $69,740 | $38,750 |
| Roanoke, VA | 240 | $50,650 | $24.35 | $75,240 | $34,000 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro, VA | 80 | $49,660 | $23.88 | $69,350 | $35,230 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 840 | $50,570 | $24.31 | $70,470 | $35,800 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 80 | $44,910 | $21.59 | $57,120 | $33,830 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a degree to be a Virginia biller and coder?
You can land a medical billing and coding job with just a high school diploma and postsecondary certificate.
However, you can earn higher salaries if you achieve an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
What medical billing and coding certification should I earn first in VA?
It depends on your career goals.
If you want to just work as a biller but not as a coder, you could try for the CPB offered by AAPC.
If you would rather just concentrate on coding, you could work toward the CPC.
Most students find it beneficial to take courses that prepare them for both the CPB and CPC– or whatever the AHIMA equivalents of those certificates would be.
After that, they might take on positions that require both certificates, but it may not always be necessary to have both.
What classes should I take to be a VA biller or coder?
You would want to start with courses approved by the AAPC or AHIMA.
Any training in CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 coding sets, for example, would benefit you.
It is also important to contact the school you plan to attend and the association you want to certify with before you invest in your tuition and exam fees.
How much do Virginia certification exams cost?
Costs of exams vary from association to association.
You also might pay more if it includes study materials.
They may start out at about $250 for each certification, but you may receive vouchers with your tuition from some schools.
