People use "medical billing and coding" as one phrase, but the two jobs are different steps in the same chain. Knowing which step interests you changes which course, and which credential, makes sense.
The short version
- Medical coding converts documentation of a patient's care (diagnoses, procedures, supplies) into standardized alphanumeric codes.
- Medical billing uses those codes to prepare and submit claims to insurers, follow up on them, and handle what the patient owes.
In a large hospital these are often separate roles. In a small practice one person may do both. Job titles vary by employer, so read the actual duties in any posting rather than relying on the title.
What coding work involves
A coder reads clinical documentation, such as a visit note or an operative report, and assigns codes from standard code sets. The code sets you will see named in courses include ICD-10-CM for diagnoses, CPT for procedures and HCPCS Level II for supplies and services. Accuracy matters because codes feed payment and data reporting. Coders spend much of the day reading, looking up guidelines and, when documentation is unclear, querying the clinician.
Courses that focus on coding spend most of their time on anatomy, medical terminology, code-set conventions and guideline rules, usually with practice charts.
What billing work involves
A biller takes the coded encounter and produces a claim, checks it against payer rules, submits it, and works the result: payments, denials, appeals and patient statements. It is closer to administrative and customer-facing work, and it involves insurance concepts (eligibility, deductibles, coordination of benefits) more than clinical documentation.
Courses that focus on billing emphasize the claim cycle, payer types, practice-management software and compliance rules for handling patient information.
Side-by-side
| Coding | Billing | |
|---|---|---|
| Main input | Clinical documentation | Coded encounter and insurance information |
| Main output | Accurate codes | Claims, payments, follow-up on denials |
| Core knowledge | Anatomy, terminology, code-set guidelines | Payer rules, claim forms, accounts receivable |
| Typical day | Reading records, assigning codes | Submitting claims, working denials, contacting payers |
| Credentials named in this directory | CPC, CCA, CCS | CPB, CBCS (billing and coding) |
Why many courses combine them
Of the programs published in this directory, 90 are labeled combined, 59 coding-focused and 7 billing-focused (this directory's published records, October 2026; these figures describe listed programs, not the whole market). Combined courses are common because small employers want flexibility and because understanding the other half makes you better at yours: a coder who knows why claims get denied documents and codes differently, and a biller who understands codes spots errors sooner.
If you are undecided, a combined program is a reasonable low-regret starting point, but compare how much of the curriculum is actually devoted to each half. Our comparison page lets you look at programs side by side, and how to compare online training explains what to check.
Credentials differ by focus
Several external bodies issue credentials, and they target different work. The coding-oriented ones include CPC (AAPC), CCA and CCS (AHIMA); billing-oriented or combined ones include CPB (AAPC) and CBCS (NHA). Finishing a course does not confer any of them; they come from an exam given by the issuing body. Understanding CPC, CPB, CCA, CCS and CBCS spells out each one. You can also browse exam-preparation courses by credential: CPC, CPB, CCA, CCS and CBCS.
What the labor data says, and what it does not
The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this work under medical records specialists. It reports 2025 median pay of $51,140 per year, projected employment growth of 8 percent for 2025-35 (listed as much faster than average), about 200,700 jobs in 2025, and a typical entry-level education of a postsecondary nondegree award. Those are national figures for a broad occupation. They do not describe what any single course's graduates earn, they do not guarantee a job, and they say nothing about remote work availability. Pay varies by location, setting, employer and experience.
How to choose
- Read a few real job postings for each role in your area and note the duties and any required credentials.
- Decide whether you prefer reading and rule-based analysis (coding) or process, payer contact and follow-up (billing).
- Check whether a course you are considering says plainly which exam, if any, it prepares you for.
- Ask the provider for the syllabus so you can see the hours spent on each half.
See the full program directory and how we compile it.