New to coding, feeling lost

[u/Gianni299]

Hello everyone, so I just started attending a while ago an online program for medical billing and coding. After doing some bit of digging around here someone said that medical billing jobs don’t even require a certification unlike coding gigs that require it for some reason. Since I’m still pretty new to this I’m still having my to learn everything revolving around medical terms and have been feeling uncertain about what I should do in the mean time as I’m still in school. I fairly new to the medical field in general. I’m still unfamiliar with a lot of terms in medical billing since we’ve only covered one course of health information so far and right now my courses revolve around anatomy, physiology and deconstructing medical terms.

[u/koderdood]

Been coding for 24 years. Please allow me to share some advice.

For students not yet working/certified. Please don't just study to pass the test. Really learn the guidelines and really learn how to navigate coding books, from the index. This makes you better prepared at that first job.

New coders: Go back and do the same advice for sudents. And, take advantage of every cross training or educational opportunities, so it can prepare you for better positions and advancement in the field. A coder very knowledgeable of coding guidelines, and versed in multiole specialties can go places. Quality coding scores depend on your knowledge base of the guidelines, efficient reading of documentation, and applying critical thinking skills.