Course marketing often uses "certificate," "certified" and "certification" as if they were interchangeable. They are not. Mixing them up is one of the most common ways prospective students end up with something different from what they expected.
Five different things
| What you receive | Who issues it | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Completion certificate | The course provider | You finished that provider's course |
| Academic certificate or diploma | A college or school, often for credit | You completed a defined set of courses at that institution |
| Exam preparation | A training provider | You studied material aligned to an exam; no credential is awarded |
| Professional credential | An external body (AAPC, AHIMA, NHA and others) | You passed that body's exam and met its requirements |
| Degree | An accredited college | An associate, bachelor's or higher award |
Completion certificate
Many noncredit programs issue a certificate of completion. It documents that you finished. It is not a government license and it is not a credential from AAPC, AHIMA or NHA. Its value depends on the provider's reputation and on what employers in your area think of it.
Academic certificate or diploma
Community colleges and some career schools offer certificates or diplomas that carry academic credit. These are issued by the institution and are governed by its accreditation. In this directory, 56 offerings are labeled credit-bearing and 85 noncredit, with 15 not stated (this directory's published records, October 2026; the figures describe listed programs, not the whole market). See college credit vs. noncredit training.
Exam preparation
A course that "prepares you for the CPC exam" teaches toward an exam but does not award the credential. You must still register with the issuing body, pay its fees and pass.
Professional credential
These are the ones people usually mean by "certification": CPC, CPB, CCA, CCS, CBCS and similar. Each issuer sets its own eligibility, exam, fees and renewal. For example, AHIMA states that CCA candidates must have a high school diploma, and that its CCS exam costs $299 for members and $399 for non-members. For AAPC credentials, check AAPC's current requirements at aapc.com because its pages could not be read by automated tools when this guide was prepared. Details are in understanding CPC, CPB, CCA, CCS and CBCS.
Degree
An associate or bachelor's degree is a different level of award entirely. A certificate is not a degree, however it is named.
Phrases that deserve a second look
- "Get certified in 8 weeks." Ask: certified by whom? If the answer is the provider itself, it is a completion certificate.
- "Includes certification." Often this means an exam voucher or fee payment is included, not that the credential is guaranteed. See exam vouchers, books and membership costs.
- "Nationally recognized." Recognized by whom, and in what sense? Ask for the issuer's name.
- "Accredited." Programmatic or institutional accreditation is a separate question from credential issuance; ask which agency, then check that agency's own site.
Why it matters
Employers who list a credential in a job posting usually mean the external one. A completion certificate from a course may help you learn the material, but it will not satisfy a requirement for a named credential. Conversely, many entry-level positions do not require any credential, and some employers train on the job. Do not assume either way; read postings in your area.
Finishing a course never confers CPC, CPB, CCA, CCS or CBCS. Only passing the issuer's exam and meeting its requirements does.
Questions to ask a provider
- What exactly do I receive when I finish, and who issues it?
- Does it prepare me for a named external exam? Which one?
- Is the exam fee included, optional or separate?
- Is the program offered for academic credit, and is the institution accredited?
- Are there prerequisites for the external credential that the course does not satisfy, such as work experience recommended by the issuer?
Our methodology page explains how we label each listing. Browse all programs or compare options on the compare page.
Sources
- AHIMA, Certified Coding Associate (CCA) (ahima.org)
- AHIMA, Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) (ahima.org)
- AAPC (check current certification requirements) (aapc.com)