What is a certified coding specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a certified coding specialist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $24.91 an hour? That's $51,818 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 11% and produce 23,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreCertified Coding SpecialistUS Average
Salary
4.0

Avg. Salary $51,818

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.8

Growth Rate 11%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.28%

Asian 9.11%

Black or African American 8.16%

Hispanic or Latino 16.37%

Unknown 4.23%

White 60.85%

Gender

female 91.37%

male 8.63%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress Level
4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.0

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
8.6

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

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Certified Coding Specialist career paths

Key steps to become a certified coding specialist

  1. Explore certified coding specialist education requirements

    Most common certified coding specialist degrees

    Associate

    33.7 %

    Bachelor's

    25.9 %

    Certificate

    18.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific certified coding specialist skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Medical Terminology12.89%
    ICD-10-CM10.28%
    CPC8.91%
    CPT-45.60%
    AHIMA5.59%
  3. Complete relevant certified coding specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New certified coding specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a certified coding specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real certified coding specialist resumes.
  4. Gain additional certified coding specialist certifications

    Certified coding specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific certified coding specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for certified coding specialists include Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research certified coding specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the outsourced transcription company.
    • Comply with HIPAA privacy laws.
    • File appeals and reviews for deny claims.
    • Conduct prospective E/M audits for clinic and hospital services.
  6. Prepare your certified coding specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified coding specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified coding specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Certified Coding Specialist Resume templates

    Build a professional Certified Coding Specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Certified Coding Specialist resume.
    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
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    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
    Certified Coding Specialist Resume
  7. Apply for certified coding specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a certified coding specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Certified Coding Specialist Job

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Average certified coding specialist salary

The average Certified Coding Specialist salary in the United States is $51,818 per year or $25 per hour. Certified coding specialist salaries range between $37,000 and $71,000 per year.

Average Certified Coding Specialist Salary
$51,818 Yearly
$24.91 hourly

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Certified Coding Specialist reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

Cant think of anything that I dislike about medical coding


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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