Certified Coding Associate
This is an entry-level credential. During the CCA exam, you do not actually have to assign codes. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of the rules of coding – not your expertise in assigning codes.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/cca/
Certified Coding Associate
This is an entry-level credential. During the CCA exam, you do not actually have to assign codes. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of the rules of coding – not your expertise in assigning codes.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/cca/
Certified Coding Specialist
These individuals are experts in hospital inpatient coding. If you think about the HIPAA Code Sets – see everything is inter-related, hospitals use ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS on their inpatient accounts. Therefore, a CCS is an expert in ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. They are also comfortable coding with CPT. This is a mastery-level credential, NOT entry-level. Like all coding credentials – the exams are not tied to a college education. Anyone who thinks they have enough knowledge and experience to pass the exams are welcome to take them. However, AHIMA recommends that you not attempt the CCS exam without several years of daily coding experience.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/ccs
Certified Coding Specialist Physician-Based
These people are essentially outpatient coders. They have expertise in ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II. This is a mastery-level credential, NOT entry-level. Like all coding credentials – the exams are not tied to a college education. Anyone who thinks they have enough knowledge and experience to pass the exams are welcome to take them.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/ccs-p
Registered Health Information Technician
Often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. An additional role for RHITs is a cancer registrar — compiling and maintaining data on cancer patients. AHIMA’s employment data shows that RHITs, which is tied to an associate’s degree, do commonly code for a living. In fact, over 80% of RHITs code. RHITs make great coders.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/rhit
Registered Health Information Administrator
Manage patient health information and medical records, administer computer information systems, collect and analyze patient data, and use classification systems and medical terminologies. National employment data from AHIMA shows that less than 10% of RHIAs code for a living.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/rhia
Certified Professional Coder
This credential is granted to people who demonstrate expertise in ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II from the physician office or other ambulatory care setting perspective. These coders are most commonly seen in physician offices.
CPC Credential Additional Information
Certified Inpatient Coder
To attract hospital coders, AAPC created to credentials that certify you as being an expert in either hospital inpatient coding or hospital outpatient coding. The CIC specializes in inpatient hospital coding.
CIC Credential Additional Information
Certified Outpatient Coder
To attract hospital coders, AAPC created to credentials that certify you as being an expert in either hospital inpatient coding or hospital outpatient coding. The COC specializes in outpatient hospital coding.
COC Credential Additional Information
American Health Information Management Association Coding Credentials
Brittani Moberly
Created on March 19, 2025
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Transcript
Certified Coding Associate
This is an entry-level credential. During the CCA exam, you do not actually have to assign codes. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of the rules of coding – not your expertise in assigning codes.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/cca/
Certified Coding Associate
This is an entry-level credential. During the CCA exam, you do not actually have to assign codes. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of the rules of coding – not your expertise in assigning codes.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/cca/
Certified Coding Specialist
These individuals are experts in hospital inpatient coding. If you think about the HIPAA Code Sets – see everything is inter-related, hospitals use ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS on their inpatient accounts. Therefore, a CCS is an expert in ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. They are also comfortable coding with CPT. This is a mastery-level credential, NOT entry-level. Like all coding credentials – the exams are not tied to a college education. Anyone who thinks they have enough knowledge and experience to pass the exams are welcome to take them. However, AHIMA recommends that you not attempt the CCS exam without several years of daily coding experience.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/ccs
Certified Coding Specialist Physician-Based
These people are essentially outpatient coders. They have expertise in ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II. This is a mastery-level credential, NOT entry-level. Like all coding credentials – the exams are not tied to a college education. Anyone who thinks they have enough knowledge and experience to pass the exams are welcome to take them.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/ccs-p
Registered Health Information Technician
Often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. An additional role for RHITs is a cancer registrar — compiling and maintaining data on cancer patients. AHIMA’s employment data shows that RHITs, which is tied to an associate’s degree, do commonly code for a living. In fact, over 80% of RHITs code. RHITs make great coders.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/rhit
Registered Health Information Administrator
Manage patient health information and medical records, administer computer information systems, collect and analyze patient data, and use classification systems and medical terminologies. National employment data from AHIMA shows that less than 10% of RHIAs code for a living.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/rhia
Certified Professional Coder
This credential is granted to people who demonstrate expertise in ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II from the physician office or other ambulatory care setting perspective. These coders are most commonly seen in physician offices.
CPC Credential Additional Information
Certified Inpatient Coder
To attract hospital coders, AAPC created to credentials that certify you as being an expert in either hospital inpatient coding or hospital outpatient coding. The CIC specializes in inpatient hospital coding.
CIC Credential Additional Information
Certified Outpatient Coder
To attract hospital coders, AAPC created to credentials that certify you as being an expert in either hospital inpatient coding or hospital outpatient coding. The COC specializes in outpatient hospital coding.
COC Credential Additional Information