Coding Basics is a self-paced, 12-course program which will help you learn the skills you need to become a coding professional. Coding professionals abstract clinical data from health records and assign appropriate medical codes. These codes are used for reimbursement, planning, and research. Comprehensive training in inpatient and outpatient coding is provided, along with the necessary background courses in health record content, medical terminology, and disease process.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

• Accurately apply diagnosis and procedure code utilizing ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS
• Interpret coding guidelines for accurate code assignment
• Identify the importance of documentation on code assignment and the subsequent reimbursement impact
• Practice AHIMA's Standards of Ethical Coding
  

The Coding Basics program has been designed so students can learn all the fundamentals in about 15 months by following the recommended pace of taking four clusters of three classes, each cluster lasting 15 weeks. We have arranged the 12 classes in these four groups for an optimal learning experience. However, AHIMA also realizes there are also busy individuals who wish to approach the program at a slower pace, so AHIMA is now offering all 12 Coding Basics classes for sale individually, so students can take classes in groups of two or, occasionally, one at a time. Because lessons learned in one class will help support lessons learned in the others, we recommend that students not take more than 2-6 weeks off between classes or clusters, or they may experience difficulty keeping up with the coursework.

All Coding Basics classes are designed to be self-directed and are not led by instructors. The advantage of a self-directed program is that you aren't forced to wait until the 15-week access period is over before moving on to the next class or cluster of classes —you can complete the program more quickly if you want to!

Students who successfully complete the Coding Basics Program (four clusters with three classes per cluster or 12 single classes) will receive a Coding Basics Certificate of Completion and may choose to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) national certification exam.
> Learn more about the CCA national certification exam

Click on the category names below to see more detail.

Prerequisite:	A "C" or better in a college-level basic Human Anatomy and Physiology course
Requirements:	Purchase required books (necessary for most courses in each cluster) > View book list Have access to certain technology Obtain proctor for all final exams Become student member (or show proof of existing membership)
Credits:	41 total college course credits recommended by ACE
Begin 3-Class Clusters or Individual Classes:	If you pay by credit card, you'll be given access AS SOON AS WE CONFIRM FULFILLMENT OF PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENT. If you pay by check, you will be given access as soon as payment is processed and fulfillment is confirmed.
Access to 3-Class Clusters or Individual Classes:	15 weeks
Price Schedule: (prices are the same for members and non-members)	$2000   all four 3-class clusters registered at one time (save $200-$400!)   $550   each 3-class cluster   $225   each single class

Click on one of the cluster titles below for a detailed description of the three classes in that cluster.

Cluster 1 [Get details]	Healthcare Delivery Systems Medical Terminology Computer Basics in Healthcare
Cluster 2 [Get details]	Pathophysiology/Pharmacology Basic ICD-9-CM Coding — Part 1 Healthcare Data Content and Structure
Cluster 3 [Get details]	Basic CPT Coding — Part 1 Medical Office Procedures Basic ICD-9-CM Coding — Part 2
Cluster 4 [Get details]	Basic CPT Coding — Part 2 Reimbursement Methodology Professional Practice Experience

Prerequisites

Prior to your initial enrollment in Coding Basics, you must provide official proof that you completed a basic Human Anatomy and Physiology course (no lab is required) and received a grade of "C" or higher. Ask the college or university to mail the official transcript to the following address. Note that faxes of the transcript are not acceptable.

AHIMA
Distance Education and Training—Coding Basics
233 N. Michigan Ave., 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601-5800

Important: If, when you completed the required Human Anatomy and Physiology course, you were using another name (such as maiden name), please email coding.basics@ahima.org to let us know that your transcript will be arriving under a name that differs from your registration name.

To help you meet this prerequisite, AHIMA offers an online Human Anatomy and Physiology course. Click here for information on AHIMA's Human Anatomy and Physiology course and its required textbook.

Note to nurses and physicians: We will accept a copy of your nursing or medical license in place of a transcript.

Requirements

Books
Textbooks are not included in the program tuition fees. For a complete list of required textbooks and manuals > view the Coding Basics book list. You'll also find information on how to order your books and qualify for member discounts.

For students who are thinking about ordering their books for all clusters at one time, note that AHIMA reserves the right to change which books and which editions of books are required for each cluster up to 30 days before a cluster starts.

Technology
Coding Basics requires the use of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Flash plug-ins.
> Get links to download these plug-ins.

Proctored Final Exams
All Coding Basics finals must be taken under the supervision of a proctor. This means you must ask a manager, supervisor, human resources personnel, or HIM coworker to be in the same room with you as you complete your exams. If you are taking the courses outside of work, you may ask a friend to be your proctor. Spouses or family members cannot be proctors.

Proctoring is necessary for the Coding Basics courses to be accepted for credit. Detailed proctoring instructions and forms can be viewed here:

• Final Exam Information for Students (PDF)
• Final Exam Information for Proctors (PDF)
• Final Exam Proctor Certification ONLINE Form
  

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print the three documents above. Be sure you have the latest version of this free software.
> Get link to download Acrobat Reader

Membership
Coding Basics enrollees are required to obtain AHIMA membership so they will have access to the features offered on AHIMA Communities of Practice and to materials located in the FORE Library: HIM Body of Knowledge.

Student membership is currently available to most Coding Basics enrollees at $35 per year, but there are some exceptions:

• If you are currently an active or associate member of AHIMA, you have already satisfied the requirement.
• If you have a current AHIMA credential but are not a member, you are required to become an active member at the cost of $165 per year (this includes a $10 credential maintenance fee).
• If your credential has lapsed, you are required to become an associate member at the cost of $155 per year.

Membership guarantees you discounts on all books published by AHIMA. But the benefits go far beyond book savings...when you join, all AHIMA resources — including the Journal of AHIMA, the FORE Library HIM Body of Knowledge, and AHIMA Communities of Practice — will be yours to enjoy.  After payment for your first class or three-class cluster has been received and processed, you may apply.

> Go to the online membership form
> Get more details on AHIMA membership

Credits

For the benefit of our Coding Basics students, AHIMA Distance Education participates in the American Council on Education's (ACE) Transcript Service. The ACE Transcript Service offers a lifelong record for students who have successfully completed our courses that have been reviewed by ACE CREDIT . This service enables adult learners to present a nationally recognized transcript to the college or university of their choice for the potential award of academic credit. For more information, visit the ACE CREDIT Transcript Service website.

Note: Transfer of credit is determined by the receiving institution.

> View a list of credits recommended for individual courses and other details

Students may register any Coding Basics course they've successfully completed with ACE. All of a student's ACE-evaluated courses are shown on one transcript with easy-to-read descriptions, credit recommendations, and suggested transfer areas. Upon request, the transcript can be released at any time to a college of the student's choice. To join the ACE Transcript Service, students must pay a one-time set-up fee of $40.00 and a nominal fee of $15.00 each time they request the release of a transcript.

> Complete an online registration with ACE (for Coding Basics students)

Clusters/Classes Begin

As soon as a student's payment has been received and processed, AHIMA will send a registration confirmation via e-mail. Students may then begin their coding basics courses on any date, as long as their A&P prerequisite has been satisfied, by following the steps below. After you have registered, there are two steps you need to take, to start your class:

Step 1: Log In and Request Approval
Log in to the campus, go to the "My Classes" list, and click on the title of the new class or cluster. Click the "Request Approval" button and submit the brief form there, and we will contact you within 3 business days with a "Welcome" e-mail. (Note that your course(s) will not be approved to begin unless you have already provided us proof of your A&P prerequisite having been satisfied.)

Step 2: Self-Activate
Students should self-activate course(s) on the date they are ready to begin, since their 15-week course period begins then. Follow the instructions in the "Welcome" e-mail you receive, to log in again and "Self-Activate" (start) your course or cluster. That is when your 15-week course period will begin. You should self-activate a course or cluster within two weeks of receiving your Welcome e-mail. If you need your self-activation period extended, you should e-mail us at coding.basics@ahima.org.

If you have registered but have not yet ordered and received the textbooks for your course(s), you should wait until the books arrive, and THEN request approval to start your courses.

Cluster/Class Length and Repeat Class Registrations

Full Program or Clusters
Students who have registered for the full Coding Basics program (all four clusters) will be enrolled in one cluster at a time. Students have 15 weeks to complete the three classes within each cluster. Students who do not complete one of their classes before deadline, or complete any class with an average below 70%, will need to repeat that class in order to receive a certificate at the completion of the program. Click here to contact Coding Basics administration about repeating a class.

Because this program is self-paced, some students may take less than 15 weeks to complete a cluster of classes. If you are registered for the full program and are ready to move on, you may request activation of your next cluster before the 15-week access period for your current cluster is over.

Some students may decide to register and activate a class or cluster before they've completed what they're currently working on. Remember that if you choose to overlap classes/clusters, you must complete all the work by deadline.

Single Classes
Students who have registered for single classes may be enrolled in no more than three classes at one time. You will have 15 weeks to complete each individual class. Students who do not complete a class before deadline, or complete a class with an average below 70%, will need to repeat that class in order to receive a certificate at the completion of the program. Click here to contact Coding Basics administration about repeating a class.

Extensions

Extensions will be considered only for students with extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances, such as bereavement or medical emergency. All requests for extensions must be in writing, sent either by mail or e-mail.

Registration

All 4 Coding Basics Clusters

$2000.00 AHIMA members and nonmembers Save $200-$400 by registering for all 4 clusters at one time!

Individual Clusters
Cluster 1 View Details		Cluster 2 View Details		Cluster 3 View Details		Cluster 4 View Details
$550.00 members and nonmembers.		$550.00 members and nonmembers		$550.00 members and nonmembers		$550.00 members and nonmembers

Cluster 1 Individual Classes
Healthcare Delivery Systems View Description		Medical Terminology View Description		Computer Basics in Healthcare View Description
$225.00 members and nonmembers		$225.00 members and nonmembers		$225.00 members and nonmembers

Cluster 2 Individual Classes
Pathophysiology and Pharmacology View Description		Basic ICD-9-CM Coding Part 1 View Description		Healthcare Data Content and Structure View Description
$225.00 members and nonmembers		$225.00 members and nonmembers		$225.00 members and nonmembers

Cluster 3 Individual Classes
Basic CPT Coding Part 1 View Description		Medical Office Procedures View Description		Basic ICD-9-CM Coding Part 2 View Description
$225.00 members and nonmembers		$225.00 members and nonmembers		$225.00 members and nonmembers

Cluster 4 Individual Classes
Basic CPT Coding Part 2 View Description		Reimbursement Methodology View Description		Professional Practice Experience View Description
$225.00 AHIMA members and nonmembers		$225.00 AHIMA members and nonmembers		$225.00 AHIMA members and nonmembers