Trade Schools
Medical billers and coders are in demand in our day and age because they ensure patients and payers reimburse healthcare providers for their services.
There are several ways to prepare for a job in medical billing and coding.
Usually, students have three credentialing options: certificate, diploma, or associate degree.
The courses typically focus on legal policies, health insurance, coding, and the human body.
After completing the programs of their choice, students are encouraged to take the Certified Professional Coder exam provided by the American Academy of Professional Coders.
To help you choose the training program that best meets your needs and learning style, on this page, we have compiled information about the best medical coding and billing schools in California.
1San Joaquin Valley College
About the School
San Joaquin Valley College has 16 locations across California and online programs.
The college provides a variety of career-ready programs.
Its catalog includes a program that prepares students for work in medical billing and coding in California.
The program can be completed online in as few as seven months with a certificate and in 15 months by students who want to earn an Associate of Science Degree.
Courses Offered
Medical billing and coding students take classes such as:
- Medical Insurance Principles- a course that focuses on the requirements of this profession as well as insurance terminology, legislation, and regulations that affect billing and coding
- CPT/HCPCS Coding- a course that examines coding concepts associated with the Current Procedural Terminology manual and the HCPCS code book.
Contact Information
- Address: 8344 West Mineral King, Visalia, California 93291
- Phone: (866) 544-7898
- Website: https://www.sjvc.edu
2California State University, East Bay
About the School
California State University, East Bay offers a Medical Billing and Coding program that equips students with the knowledge and skills to become successful in this profession.
Students learn about legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts central to the medical billing and coding field.
The course list includes HIPAA compliance, official coding guidelines, and third-party payer requirements.
Among other skills, students gain an understanding of patient registration, medical coding, claims submission, reimbursement, and collections, as well as common medical terminology.
Graduates may choose from three nationally recognized exams:
- Certified Professional Coder exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders
- Certified Coding Associate
- Certified Billing and Coding Specialist exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association
This is a self-paced program.
Students have 12 months to complete it.
Tuition for this program is $2,995.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes classes such as:
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Medical Billing and Coding
- Managed Healthcare
- ICD-10-CM Coding
- CPT Coding
- Pharmacology for Coders
- Insurance Claims
- Commercial Insurance
- Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, Workers’ Compensation
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, SF 102, Hayward, CA 94542
- Phone: (800) 730-2784
- Website: https://ce.csueastbay.edu
3Valley Medical Coding
About the School
Valley Medical Coding offers the following training courses and services:
- ICD-10 (CSS Exam Prep Course)- a 24-week program
- Medical Coding and Billing
- Clinical Documentation Improvement
Courses Offered
The ICD-10 (CSS Exam Prep Course) provided by Valley Medical Coding trains individuals to identify, analyze, and code different medical conditions diagnoses, and procedures.
The curriculum includes the integrated study of basic coders’ human anatomy and disease process, medications, treatment and therapies, medical terminologies, and complete ICD 10 coding systems.
Students learn the best practices to adhere to HIM standards in terms of patient privacy, data analysis and management, health record stewardship, clinical documentation review, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 473 East Carnegie Dr., Suite 200- #0204, San Bernardino CA 92408
- Phone: 818 825 9527
- Website: https://www.vmcila.com
4Cal State LA
About the School
Cal State LA is a public university located in the heart of Los Angeles and offers more than 100 academic programs.
Courses Offered
Cal State LA offers a Medical Billing and Coding program in Downtown LA.
This program costs $2,650 and covers all electronic program materials.
The curriculum is offered in partnership with a third-party provider and not taught by Cal State LA faculty.
The courses are not degree-eligible.
After gaining practical work experience, students who complete the program may be qualified to sit for the American Academy of Professional Coders- Certified Professional Coder exam, the American Health Information Association Certified Coding Associate exam, or other National Certification exams.
After completing the program students receive a Certificate of Completion.
Contact Information
- Address: 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
- Phone: (323) 343-3000
- Website: https://www.calstatela.edu
5California State University Chico
California State University Chico offers the opportunity to earn a degree by offering year-round classes.
Courses Offered
A Medical Billing and Coding online career training program is available at the university.
This fully online course prepares students to start a career in this high-demand occupation and earn the medical billing and coding professional certification.
Students learn how to use the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System and the CPT Category II and ICD-10 codes.
The program also offers the opportunity to earn hands-on practical experience using medical billing and coding software.
The curriculum covers:
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- The Musculoskeletal System
- The Respiratory System
- The Nervous System
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Introduction to Medical Billing and Coding
- Managed Healthcare
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 400 W First Street, Chico, CA 95929-0250
- Phone: 530–898–6105
- Website: https://rce.csuchico.edu
6Cal Regional Career Accelerated Learning
About the School
Cal Regional Career Accelerated Learning offers an online Medical Billing and coding program that prepares students with the skills needed to process patient data in less than three months and begin a rewarding career as a medical billing and coding specialist.
The program can be completed in 11 weeks.
Courses Offered
Students learn a variety of skills, including:
- Reviewing medical records and translating patients’ diagnoses into medical codes, including ICD, CPT, and HCPCS
- Determine care services and manage the health insurance claim process
- Understanding basic terminology
- Audit medical billing for compliance and fraud prevention
The program includes 144 hours of online instruction, two days of live instructor-led learning, two days of self-paced assignments, and the national exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 4820 Business Center Drive, Suite 100 Fairfield, CA 94534
- Phone: (800) 927-5159
- Website: https://calregional.com
7UEI College
About the School
UEI College provides a Medical Billing and Insurance coding program that offers online class lectures, on-campus labs, and hands-on training at a local employer during an externship.
Students learn about topics such as billing systems, medical law and ethics, diagnostic coding, and general office procedures.
Then, they venture into the real world for on-the-job training during a 250-hour externship in a medical and/or claims office.
The program can be completed in 10 months.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
UEI College in Riverside is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.
The program is available in a hybrid and a fully online program.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Insurance Billing
- Insurance Coding Principles
- Medical Law & Ethics
- Documentation & Records
- Insurance Practices
- Medical Office Procedures
- Dental Office Procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1860 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92507
- Phone: (877) 463-4472
- Website: https://www.uei.edu
8San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University offers world-class academics and a variety of programs designed to prepare students for careers in a variety of fields.
Bachelor’s degrees are available in 77 academic areas and master’s degrees in 63 academic areas.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, the university offers a Medical Billing and Coding Professional.
Tuition for this program is $1,799.
The self-paced eLearning course includes six months of access, the ebooks, workbooks, and related course material.
The curriculum includes courses on:
- An overview of the healthcare and insurance industries
- Introduction to the organization and use of ICD-10-CM and CPT manuals
- Basic diagnostic and procedural coding
- The Health Insurance Claim Form
- Review and practice coding Evaluation and Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 160 Spear Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105
- Phone: (415) 405-7700
- Website: https://cpage.sfsu.edu
9California State University San Marcos
About the School
California State University San Marcos provides a Medical Billing and Coding program.
This fully online course prepares students for a career in a high-demand occupation and gives them the opportunity to earn medical billing and coding professional certification.
Students learn how to use the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System and the CPT Category and ICD-10 codes and gain hands-on practice using medical billing and coding software.
After course completion, students receive a voucher for the certification exam of their choice: CPC, CCA, and CBCS.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding curriculum includes courses on:
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- The Cardiovascular System
- The Digestive System
- Diagnostic Procedure, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
- Introduction to medical billing and coding
- Pharmacology for coders
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 288 Campus Way, San Marcos, CA 92078
- Phone: (760) 750-4020
- Website: https://www.csusm.edu
10NIU College
About the School
NIU College offers classes in Medical Billing and Coding in Los Angeles.
Students learn a variety of skills, including health insurance and processing claims for reimbursement, proper procedures for government claims, worker’s compensation, and much more.
Students can graduate in as few as nine months.
Tuition and cost sum up to $4,925.
Courses Offered
Students take courses such as:
- Commercial Claims
- Government Claims
- Managed Care, Claims, Patient Accounts, Collections
The classes are kept small, to 15 students max.
Weekday or weekend classes are available.
Students prepare for completing medical billing and coding tasks such as:
- Submitting claims to insurance companies
- Obtaining insurance referrals
- Understanding insurance guidelines
- Reviewing patient bills for accuracy
- Check payments for accuracy
- Answering phone inquiries
- Using medical billing software to bill insurances
- Translating diagnosis and medical information into codes
- Interacting with physicians and assistants to ensure codes are ready to be converted into a medical bill
Contact Information
- Address: 5959 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Suite 110, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
- Phone: 818-347-9400
- Website: https://www.niucollege.edu
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 410 | $52,860 | $25.41 | $90,960 | $33,180 |
| Chico, CA | 100 | $58,160 | $27.96 | $90,910 | $34,300 |
| El Centro, CA | 80 | $48,010 | $23.08 | $80,930 | $31,260 |
| Fresno, CA | 580 | $52,240 | $25.11 | $81,420 | $33,010 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 40 | $47,700 | $22.93 | $58,870 | $31,660 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,290 | $67,880 | $32.63 | $101,120 | $37,120 |
| Madera, CA | 90 | $55,130 | $26.51 | $78,370 | $36,540 |
| Merced, CA | 90 | $43,650 | $20.99 | $57,990 | $30,970 |
| Modesto, CA | 310 | $49,150 | $23.63 | $63,220 | $35,360 |
| Napa, CA | 60 | $55,260 | $26.57 | $71,940 | $38,100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 350 | $54,650 | $26.27 | $98,520 | $29,970 |
| Redding, CA | 80 | $53,270 | $25.61 | $105,000 | $30,880 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,710 | $65,800 | $31.63 | $97,510 | $34,780 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 1,300 | $73,810 | $35.49 | $102,180 | $37,790 |
| Salinas, CA | 150 | $51,610 | $24.81 | $66,720 | $38,380 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 1,630 | $57,990 | $27.88 | $91,380 | $36,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 2,630 | $73,800 | $35.48 | $107,530 | $43,670 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,070 | $71,090 | $34.18 | $105,370 | $44,500 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 90 | $50,340 | $24.2 | $73,450 | $30,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 120 | $55,490 | $26.68 | $102,500 | $35,040 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 220 | $55,240 | $26.56 | $93,510 | $30,850 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 180 | $62,520 | $30.06 | $81,870 | $38,070 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 380 | $67,490 | $32.45 | $99,710 | $35,910 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 230 | $62,770 | $30.18 | $82,910 | $38,660 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 190 | $49,190 | $23.65 | $75,040 | $32,960 |
| Yuba City, CA | 40 | $48,630 | $23.38 | $74,410 | $34,750 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best medical billing and coding programs in California, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs.
Take your time and make sure you gather information about all the relevant factors before deciding where to enroll.
