A medical coder is an administrative professional who helps to translate and transcribe important health documents for record-keeping. Medical coders review patient files, such as physicians notes, lab reports, procedures, and diagnoses, and translate everything within them into universal medical alphanumeric codes. These codes are used for the purpose of documenting medical records and informing accurate medical billing. Medical coders work in clinical practices, hospitals, insurance companies, and health agencies, and they can also work from home if an employer allows.

To become a medical coder, one must complete medical coding training, which can be done in the form of an associate degree program in medical coding, a certificate in medical coding from an accredited organization, or on-the-job in-house training by an employer. Upon completing a medical coding program, the next step is to earn the CCA (Certified Coding Associate) or CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) credential offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) .

Medical coding is a highly accessible career with room to grow. Medical coders can also work remotely, and some remote medical coders are full- or part-time employees, while others work as contractors or freelancers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes medical coders as “medical records specialists” and reports that most medical coders don’t pursue a four-year degree. The career outlook for medical coders is positive, and the typical salary for a medical coder varies depending on factors such as experience, location, and employer.