Medical billing and coding courses teach you how to turn healthcare services into codes and claims. Billers and coders are part of the revenue cycle that gets providers paid, and many programs are fully online and self-paced.
This guide compares six online programs by format, length, price and the exam each one prepares you for. It also explains the difference between a course certificate and a professional certification, which is easy to confuse.
Use the free builder below the course list to create your own billing and coding study plan: choose your goal and learning style, then edit the plan and print or copy it.
6 Online Medical Billing and Coding Courses
Details change often, so confirm price, access period and exam inclusions with each school before you enrol.
| Program | Format | Prepares for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. AAPC CPC | Self-paced or live | CPC | $2,799 to $4,499 |
| 2. AAPC CPC + CPB | Self-paced or live | CPC, CPB | $3,999 to $5,999 |
| 3. AHIMA | Self-paced | CCA, CCS education | From $299 a course |
| 4. Penn Foster Billing and Coding | Self-paced | CBCS | $1,569 |
| 5. Penn Foster Coding Pro | Self-paced | CPC | $2,199 |
| 6. U.S. Career Institute | Self-paced | CBCS or CPC-A | $1,869 |
Prices are published list or paid-in-full figures and promotions change. Programs differ in what they include, so compare the details below. Exam fees may be included or separate.
Quick jump: AAPC CPCAAPC CPC + CPBAHIMAPenn Foster B&CPenn Foster CodingU.S. Career Institute
1. AAPC: CPC Exam Preparation Course
- Prepares for: The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam from AAPC
- Format: Self-paced (4 to 8 months on average, 6 months of access), instructor-led (16 weeks, weekly live sessions) or Job-Ready (32 weeks)
- Price: Self-paced $2,799, instructor-led $3,499, Job-Ready $4,499 or from $199 a month. AAPC showed these as 50% promotions that were listed to end October 30
- Includes: One year of AAPC membership, unlimited CPC exam vouchers, three 50-question practice tests and a Practicode virtual internship (self-paced and instructor-led). Job-Ready adds career coaching and an externship for qualified graduates
- Prerequisite: A medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology course or equivalent experience, except in Job-Ready
Best for: people who want to focus on coding and want the exam voucher built into the price.
2. AAPC: CPC and CPB Combined Training
- Prepares for: The CPC (coding) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) exams from AAPC
- Format: Self-paced, instructor-led (32 weeks: 16 for CPB and 16 for CPC) or Job-Ready (48 weeks)
- Price: Self-paced $3,999, instructor-led $5,399, Job-Ready $5,999 or from $203 a month, shown as 50% promotions that were listed to end October 30
- Includes: Two years of AAPC membership, unlimited exam attempts for both exams, practice tests, a Codify code look-up subscription and a Practicode virtual internship
Best for: people who want both the coding and the billing credentials and are comfortable with the highest price on this page.
3. AHIMA: Medical Coding and Reimbursement Courses
- Format: 13 self-paced online courses, sold as a bundle or one at a time
- Time limit: 12 months to finish the courses and earn the certificate
- Passing score: At least 70%
- Price: Individual courses start at $299. The page does not list a bundle price
- Certification: The bundle earns an AHIMA certificate, which is not a professional certification. AHIMA says the courses align with the education recommendations for the CCA and the education requirements for the CCS and CCS-P, and that education is only one way to qualify for those exams
Best for: people who want a flexible, course-by-course path from AHIMA and may transfer credits to a participating academic program.
4. Penn Foster: Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma
- Prepares for: The Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam from NHA
- Format: Online and self-paced with no fixed start dates, about 10 months on the fast track and 14 on the average track
- Price: $1,569 list price. The page showed promotional pay-in-full pricing with an end date, and monthly plans of $59 a month. Confirm the current price
- Includes: A CBCS exam voucher (listed at $115), 3 digital and 3 physical textbooks and instructor support
- Accreditation: Penn Foster College is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Best for: beginners who want a broad entry-level program at a lower price, with the exam fee included.
5. Penn Foster: Medical Coding Professional Career Diploma
- Prepares for: The AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam
- Format: Self-paced, with up to 18 months to finish
- Price: $2,199 paid in full or $2,599 with monthly auto pay
- Includes: A CPC exam voucher for two attempts (listed at $499), CPC practice tests, an AAPC student membership and the Practicode course
Best for: people who want a coding-only path with the CPC voucher and Practicode included.
6. U.S. Career Institute: Medical Coding and Billing Certificate
- Prepares for: The CBCS exam from NHA or the CPC-A exam from AAPC
- Format: Fully online and self-paced, 39 lessons and 39 quizzes. The school says 5 to 12 months, part-time
- Price: $1,869 paid in full, or $79 a month totaling $2,269 including a one-time $29 application charge
- Includes: Coding manuals (ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS), instructor and tutoring access, and resume and interview support. Graduates who pay in full may be reimbursed up to $425 toward an exam fee, study guide and practice test, with a receipt. AAPC membership is not covered
- Credential: A U.S. Career Institute Certificate of Completion
Best for: beginners who want a lower-cost certificate with flexible pacing. The school’s pass-rate figures differ between its own pages, so they are left out here.
Free Billing and Coding Study Plan Builder
Step 1. What is your career goal?
Step 2. How do you like to learn?
Step 3. Tap the steps to keep in your plan. Untick any you have done.
Step 4. Click any text in the plan and type to make it yours.
Fill in your own program, dates and hours. Certification rules and fees change, so confirm them with the credentialing body.
My Billing and Coding Study Plan
[Your Full Name] | Target exam date: [month, year] | [Email]
Goal
Goal: medical coding. I am preparing for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam from AAPC. If I pass before I have the required work experience, I earn the CPC-A (apprentice) status, and I will ask my program how it helps me remove it.
Goal: medical billing and coding. I am preparing for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). I will confirm the exam’s current requirements and fee on the NHA site.
Goal: both sides of the revenue cycle. I am preparing for the CPC (coding) and the Certified Professional Biller (CPB) exams from AAPC. I will confirm current requirements and fees on aapc.com.
Study format
Study format: self-paced. I will set weekly study hours and a target finish date: [date]. I will track my access period and extension fees.
Study format: instructor-led, with live weekly sessions. I will block the session times in my calendar: [days and times].
Study format: an all-inclusive career program with job-search support. I will ask in writing what is included: exam voucher, books, membership, externship.
My steps
- Confirm I know medical terminology and anatomy, or take a short course first
- Choose a program and ask in writing what the tuition includes
- Check the exam requirements and fee on the credentialing body’s site
- Finish the lessons and quizzes on a weekly schedule
- Take timed practice exams and review every miss
- Schedule the certification exam
Program I chose
[Program name] | [Provider] | [Tuition and what it includes] | [Access period]
Weekly study schedule
[Day and time]: [lesson or practice test]
[Day and time]: [lesson or practice test]
[Day and time]: [lesson or practice test]
To save: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the plan prints. To copy part of it, select the text and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
What Billing and Coding Courses Teach
- Medical terminology and anatomy: the language and body systems behind every code.
- Code sets: ICD-10-CM for diagnoses, CPT for procedures and HCPCS for supplies and services.
- Billing and claims: submitting claims, posting payments, handling denials and appeals, and patient follow-up.
- Electronic records: how coders find the details they need in a patient chart.
- Exam practice: timed practice tests that mirror the certification exam.
Course Certificate vs Professional Certification
| Course certificate | Professional certification | |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | The school or provider | A credentialing body such as AAPC, NHA or AHIMA |
| How you earn it | Complete the course | Meet the requirements and pass the exam |
| Shows employers | You finished training | You passed a recognized exam |
A course certificate and a professional certification are different credentials. Many programs prepare you for an exam but do not include the credential itself. Ask whether the exam fee is covered and how many attempts you get.
Job Outlook for Billers and Coders
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups coders with medical records specialists. It reports a May 2025 median pay of $51,140, a typical entry requirement of a postsecondary nondegree award, and projected growth of 8% from 2025 to 2035. It also says employers may prefer candidates with certification. A course does not guarantee a job or a salary.
How to Choose a Billing and Coding Course
- Pick your credential first. CPC and CPB come from AAPC, CBCS from NHA and CCA or CCS from AHIMA. Your program should prepare you for the one you want.
- Compare the total cost. Add books, exam vouchers, membership and extension fees.
- Check the schedule. Self-paced programs suit busy people, while live sessions add structure.
- Look at the support. Ask about instructors, tutoring and career help.
- Read the refund terms before you pay.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a certificate equals certification.
- Comparing sticker prices only. One program may include the exam voucher and another may not.
- Trusting promotions. Prices and end dates change, so confirm the current offer.
- Skipping terminology and anatomy. Coding depends on them.
- Skipping timed practice exams.
- Typos in your application or resume. Proofread twice, or use our free proofreading service.
Billing and Coding Course Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready to enrol when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I learn medical billing and coding entirely online?
Yes. All six programs on this page are online, and most are self-paced. Some also offer live instructor-led sessions. Certification exams are separate, and each credentialing body sets its own testing options, so check AAPC, NHA or AHIMA for the current format.
Does finishing a course make me certified?
No. A course certificate shows you completed training. A professional certification such as the CPC, CPB or CBCS comes from a credentialing body after you pass its exam. AHIMA says this plainly about its own certificate, which is separate from its professional certifications.
Which is better, CPC or CBCS?
Neither is automatically better. The CPC from AAPC focuses on coding for physician services. The CBCS from NHA covers billing and coding together. Look at job postings in your area and ask employers which they prefer.
What is a CPC-A?
CPC-A is the apprentice status for someone who passes the CPC exam before meeting AAPC’s experience requirement. AAPC and Penn Foster say that a Practicode virtual internship or an externship can count toward removing it. Confirm the current rules at aapc.com.
How long do these programs take?
It depends on your pace. Penn Foster lists about 10 to 14 months for Billing and Coding and up to 18 months of access for Medical Coding Professional. U.S. Career Institute says 5 to 12 months. AAPC’s CPC instructor-led course runs 16 weeks, and AHIMA gives you 12 months to finish the bundle.
How much do these courses cost?
Published prices range from $299 for a single AHIMA course to about $5,999 for AAPC’s all-inclusive CPC and CPB program. Promotions change often, so compare what each price includes, such as books, exam vouchers and membership.
Do I need medical terminology first?
AAPC says its self-paced and instructor-led CPC students need a course in medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology, or equivalent experience. Its Job-Ready program includes that prerequisite. Penn Foster and U.S. Career Institute include terminology and anatomy in their own lessons.
How much do medical billers and coders earn?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median pay of $51,140 for medical records specialists, a group that includes coders. It projects 8% growth from 2025 to 2035. Pay varies by employer, location, credential and experience, and no course guarantees a job.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. Penn Foster, U.S. Career Institute and AAPC list monthly payment options. Ask for the total cost under a payment plan, because it can be higher than paying in full.
What should I ask a school before I enrol?
Ask what the tuition covers (books, exam voucher, membership), how many exam attempts are included, how long you have access, and how refunds work. Ask for the answers in writing.
Conclusion
The right program depends on your goal, your budget and how you like to learn. Choose the credential first, compare what each tuition includes, and confirm the details in writing. Then use the builder above to turn your choice into a weekly plan.
Related Reading
- Medical assistant programs
- Online medical terminology courses
- Medical billing and coding job description
- Medical billing specialist certifications
- Medical billing and coding resume objectives
- Medical billing and coding cover letter, no experience
Sources: AAPC, CPC exam preparation course; AAPC, CPC and CPB preparation; AHIMA, Medical Coding and Reimbursement courses; Penn Foster, Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma; Penn Foster, Medical Coding Professional Career Diploma; U.S. Career Institute, Medical Coding and Billing; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical Records Specialists. Prices and promotions change; confirm with each provider.