Before you begin, you’ll need to meet key health and safety requirements set by our clinical partners. See what’s required and take your next step.
Medical Coding: Hospital-Based
To begin, connect with an advisor who can guide you through program options and next steps, including the application process.
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Medical Coding: Hospital-Based is designed to prepare individuals for diagnostic and procedural coding positions in hospitals and hospital-based settings such as outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and surgery centers.
The program is approved by the American Health Information Management Association (233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150, Chicago, IL 60601-5800) and the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program (PCAP) Council (35 W. Wacker Dr., 16th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601) and is designed to provide the foundation needed for comprehensive entry-level coding certification examinations.
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Medical Coding: Hospital-Based (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5092
Total credits required
42
Catalog Year
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
Admission criteria
High school graduate or GED.
Completion of Program Prerequisites.
Formal application and acceptance to the Medical Coding: Hospital-Based certificate program is required. Applications can be obtained Advisement or from the College website.
Ability to fully participate in classroom laboratory, and professional practice settings.
Background Check Requirements
Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students in this program participate in mandatory professional practice placements in health care settings.
Students must be willing to undergo a background check performed by the MCCCD-approved vendor. (Students who are unsure of their background status may take a preliminary background check at their own expense before entering the program, the results of which will not be sent to the college.)
The following courses must be completed within five (5) years of the Required Course(s) for which they are Prerequisite requirements: BIO201, BIO202, BPC110 or CIS105, HCC145, and HIM200.
What You'll Learn
- Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior, and cultural competency skills according to acute care professional practice standards.
- Apply critical thinking skills to decision-making processes in accordance with acute care standards and best practices.
- Apply legal and ethical concepts and principles applicable to acute care setting regulations and guidelines.
- Use health information technologies commonly used in acute care settings.
- Apply anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology concepts in the acute care coding function.
- Apply clinical nomenclatures, vocabularies, classification systems, revenue cycle management processes, and coding compliance concepts according to acute care standards.
Career Statistics
Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.
Medical Records Specialists
$49,790
* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2024.
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
This option may include variable full-time (12 to 18 credits per semester) and/or part-time (11 credit hours or less per semester) status by term due to course prerequisites and scheduling
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO156 or BIO181 |
Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I | Program Prerequisite | NSI, SQ or NSI, SQ | 4 | |
| BPC110 or CIS105 |
Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems | Program Prerequisite | CS or CS | 3 | |
| HCC145 | Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals | Program Prerequisite | 3 |
Summer Semester (Term 2)
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | NSI, SG | 4 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | NSI, SG | 4 | ||
| HIM101 | Introduction to Health Information Management | 3 | |||
| HIM180 | Introduction to Medical Billing and Reimbursement | 2 | |||
| HIM200 | Human Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Health Information Management (HIM) Professionals | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIM181 | Medical Claims Processing | 3 | |||
| HIM208 | ICD-CM Diagnostic Coding | 2 | |||
| HIM210 | ICD-PCS Coding and ICD Applications | 2 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIM211 | Advanced Applications of Coding and Reimbursement | 4 | |||
| HIM213 | CPT and HCPCS Coding | 3 | |||
| HIM221 | Medical Coding Seminar | 1 | |||
| HIM222 | Professional Practice in Medical Coding | 1 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO156 or BIO181 |
Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I | Program Prerequisite | NSI, SQ or NSI, SQ | 4 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPC110 or CIS105 |
Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems | Program Prerequisite | CS or CS | 3 | |
| BIO201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | NSI, SG | 4 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCC145 | Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals | Program Prerequisite | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | NSI, SG | 4 | ||
| HIM200 | Human Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Health Information Management (HIM) Professionals | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIM180 | Introduction to Medical Billing and Reimbursement | 2 | |||
| HIM208 | ICD-CM Diagnostic Coding | 2 | |||
| HIM210 | ICD-PCS Coding and ICD Applications | 2 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIM101 | Introduction to Health Information Management | 3 | |||
| HIM181 | Medical Claims Processing | 3 | |||
| HIM211 | Advanced Applications of Coding and Reimbursement | 4 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIM213 | CPT and HCPCS Coding | 3 | |||
| HIM221 | Medical Coding Seminar | 1 | |||
| HIM222 | Professional Practice in Medical Coding | 1 |
Course Area Key
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=175233.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Medical Coding: Hospital-Based
While you’re on the waitlist, take time to explore courses, short-term programs, and scholarships that can help you reach your goals and keep you moving forward.
Explore your future in healthcare with resources that help you understand career paths, program requirements, and next steps so you can start preparing with confidence.