CMCS 2025
Certified medical coding specialist is a career path that offers a variety of job opportunities at hospitals, doctors’ offices, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. The job requires a high level of attention to detail and proficiency in a specific coding system that is used at your particular facility.
Certified coders are in demand for their skill set and knowledge of the industry. They are able to identify and assign standardized codes for diagnoses and procedures that are used for data management and billing purposes.
Free Certified Medical Coding Specialist Practice Test Online
Certified Medical Billing And Coding Specialist
If you enjoy working with people and are interested in helping healthcare providers make their services more accessible, consider becoming a certified medical billing and coding specialist (CMCS). This career is growing in popularity because it offers flexibility in schedules and high pay.
These professionals work with patient records to prevent fraud and abuse, support coding and billing practices, submit claims and help healthcare providers gain maximum reimbursement for their services. They also create detailed billing records and efficiently code invoices to ensure that insurance companies and healthcare providers are reimbursing the right amount.
To succeed in this field, it’s essential to have a thorough understanding of medical terminology. This includes anatomy and physiology terms, diagnosis and procedural terminology, etc.
It’s also important to have a basic understanding of computer systems and relevant medical software. You’ll need to know how to navigate these programs as well as any other tools that you use on a daily basis to do your job.
To get started in this career, consider earning a certificate or associate’s degree from a postsecondary school. These are less expensive options than going to a traditional college and offer a fast track to entry-level positions without years of schooling.
| What Is The CMCS Certification? | CMCS stands for Certified Medical Coding Specialist, a credential that validates medical coding knowledge across common code sets and reimbursement rules. |
| Who Should Pursue The CMCS Credential? | It is designed for coders, billers, and healthcare admin staff who want a recognized skills signal for medical coding roles. |
| What Topics Does The CMCS Exam Cover? | Expect ICD-10-CM, CPT®, HCPCS Level II, modifiers, documentation requirements, and basic compliance concepts. |
| What Jobs Can CMCS Help You Qualify For? | CMCS can support roles like medical coder, billing specialist, claims analyst, or revenue cycle support positions. |
| What Is The CMCS Exam Format? | Most CMCS-style medical coding exams use multiple-choice questions that test code selection, guidelines, and scenario-based coding decisions. |
| How Many Questions Are On The CMCS Exam? | The total item count depends on the provider, but practice with timed sets that mix ICD-10-CM, CPT®, and HCPCS questions. |
| How Long Is The CMCS Exam? | Plan for a timed exam session; build speed by practicing coding scenarios under a countdown clock. |
| Are Code Books Allowed During The CMCS Exam? | Rules vary by testing program, so confirm whether approved code books are permitted and if annotations are restricted. |
| What Are The CMCS Eligibility Requirements? | Many programs do not require prior certification, but medical terminology and anatomy basics make preparation much easier. |
| How Do You Register For The CMCS Exam? | Register through the test provider’s portal, choose a date or testing window, and follow ID and proctoring requirements. |
| How Much Does The CMCS Exam Cost? | Pricing depends on the provider and whether training is bundled, so compare exam-only fees versus course + exam packages. |
| Can You Retake The CMCS Exam If You Fail? | Retake rules vary, but most programs allow retesting after a waiting period and an additional fee. |
| What Is The Passing Score For The CMCS Exam? | Passing criteria differ by provider, but it is typically a minimum scaled score or percent-correct across all sections. |
| How Long Does It Take To Get CMCS Results? | Some exams provide immediate preliminary results, while others release official scores within several business days. |
| Does The CMCS Certification Expire? | Expiration depends on the issuing body; some credentials require renewals or CEUs, while others remain valid longer. |
| Does CMCS Certification Increase Salary? | It can improve earning potential by qualifying you for higher-paying coding roles, but salary depends on experience, location, and specialty. |
| How Long Should You Study For The CMCS Exam? | Most learners need several weeks of focused study, especially if they are new to ICD-10-CM and CPT® guidelines. |
| What Is The Best Way To Study For CMCS? | Use a structured plan: learn guidelines first, then drill mixed practice questions, and review mistakes by code set. |
| Are Practice Tests Helpful For CMCS Preparation? | Yes—practice tests build speed and reveal weak areas so you can target guidelines, modifiers, and common error patterns. |
| What Are Common Mistakes On The CMCS Exam? | Frequent errors include ignoring guidelines, missing laterality or encounter type, and selecting codes without validating documentation. |
CMCS Certification
The CMCS certification is a credential awarded to management consultants who have met global standards for competence and ethics. Consultants must also demonstrate a commitment to lifelong professional development.
Among the requirements for certification is a Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in consulting. In addition, candidates must provide references and engagement summaries.
A CMC has a proven track record of success with clients and has demonstrated integrity and adherence to a code of professional ethics. This means that when hiring a management consultant, you can be confident that they are committed to providing quality services.
Certified medical coding specialists have extensive knowledge of the CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS coding systems. They are also knowledgeable in medical terminology and disease processes.
The certification exam consists of 90 questions that have to be answered correctly in two hours. To pass, you must get at least 52 out of 75 questions correct.
Certified Medical Coding Specialist Jobs
Certified medical coding specialist (CMCS) jobs are one of the fastest-growing career options in America. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that job openings will increase 8% between 2025 and 2031, resulting in 53,600 new positions.
In this career, you analyze patient records and abstract clinical data for accurate coding of diagnoses and procedures. You use your coding expertise to ensure accurate reimbursement for your employer.
Employers also expect you to stay up-to-date on coding classification manuals and related software. This includes a knowledge of ICD-10-CM, CPT(r) and HCPCS codes and the latest healthcare terminology.
You also need to be able to communicate with patients who have questions about their bills and how to pay them. This is important for ensuring patient satisfaction and a positive patient-physician relationship.
Certified Medical Coding Specialist Salary
Medical coding specialists use ICD or CPT codes to translate patients’ diagnoses, tests, and treatments into numerical digits for reimbursement processing. They also review medical records to file insurance claims and collect payments from insurers.
While entry-level medical coding specialists earn around $45,701 annually, experience adds 47 percent to income over the course of a career, according to the 2025 Salary Survey by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC). Certifications and higher education levels can also increase earnings.
The average yearly salary for medical coders without certification is $42,015; those with one or more AAPC-recognized credentials can expect to earn $55,923 per year, up 8.7% from last year.
While salaries vary by workplace setting, AAPC statistics show that larger healthcare organizations offer higher wages for billers and coders. Multi-site health systems, for instance, pay the highest annual salaries at $51,389 compared to smaller practices.
Certified Medical Coding Specialist CCS Required
If you are interested in a career in medical coding, you may want to consider earning one of two types of certifications: the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS). Both certifications offer professional validation and can help you gain employment.
CPCs create a variety of coded data, including diagnosis and procedures, that hospitals and medical providers use to obtain reimbursement from insurance companies or government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. They also help researchers and public health officials monitor health trends.
You can earn a CPC certification by taking an exam administered by the American Association of Professional Coders, which requires you to have a working knowledge of anatomy, pathology and medical terminology. The exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions and is typically offered in a testing center or online. You can also purchase AAPC study guides to prepare for the exam.
Certified Medical Coding Specialist Resume
A medical coder is responsible for ensuring that all insurance claims meet legal standards and are processed in an efficient manner. They also handle reimbursement claims, and may work as a team with billing staff to ensure accurate billing and claim payments.
Typically, certified medical coding specialists possess the following skills: expertise with medical terminology and a strong understanding of insurance industry processes. They must be able to handle large volumes of data and manage their time efficiently, focusing on high quality work and timely reporting.
Focus on the hard skills that equip you for any medical coding position, then consider what soft skills you can offer (check the job posting for these). When tailoring your resume, keep in mind that applicant tracking systems used by healthcare organizations filter online applications for keywords and acronyms.
You should include your work history, up to 10 years, in reverse chronological order from earliest to most recent. Highlight specific achievements or contributions that are relevant to the employer’s hiring needs, including data volume increases, efficiencies, cost savings and productivity gains, among others.
Crtified Medical Coding Specialist vs Medical Billing
If you’ve ever walked through a doctor’s office or hospital, you know that there is often a lot of work involved with billing for patients and insurance companies. These professionals work closely with medical offices and healthcare facilities to ensure that patient treatments are appropriately billed and paid for.
Although they are both important aspects of a health care facility, their duties are different. Medical coders review documentation from doctors, nurses and other providers and translate it into codes that can be submitted to insurance companies for reimbursement.
They then communicate with the insurers to make sure that they are submitting claims correctly, and they work closely with other medical professionals to ensure that all of the necessary information is included in each claim.
You’ll need a high school diploma or GED certificate to start working as a medical coding specialist, but you may also choose to earn an associate degree in medical coding or earn certification from an accredited organization. You’ll also need computer proficiency and the ability to work well with others.
The BLS reports that the average salary for a medical coder was $40,350 in 2025 and that this profession is one of America’s fastest growing. The field is expected to grow 8% between 2025 and 2031, which means that many job opportunities exist for qualified medical coders and billers.
Certified Medical Billing Coding Specialist Job Description
The healthcare industry is experiencing a high level of digitization, which means that every facility needs someone to do the billing and coding for insurance and patient invoices. This is a very important job because without someone to do these things, healthcare facilities would not be able to collect enough money to continue operating.
Medical Billing & Coding specialists perform many different tasks, but all of them relate to the administrative work of coding and billing patients for their medical care. These workers work for physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, outpatient care centers and insurance companies, and they may be based in the office or remotely.
Typical duties for a medical billing and coding specialist include entering patient records, processing payments and insurance information and following up with patients who do not pay their bills. Some of these jobs are full time while others may be part-time or on a flexible schedule.
Certification is not required for a career in medical billing and coding, but it can help you get a better job and increase your earning potential. Earning industry certification, such as the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), can give you an edge over other applicants and help you advance to more senior positions.
Education is another important factor in getting a job as a medical billing and coding specialist. Employers typically want at least a high school diploma, but some prefer an associate or bachelor’s degree in health information technology, medical administration or a related field.
Certified Medical Coding Specialist Question and Answers
No—CPC and CCA are separate credentials; CMCS is a different certification track, so compare content outlines and employer preferences.
Experience helps, but beginners can pass if they master terminology, anatomy basics, and coding guidelines through consistent practice.
Yes, if you have solid references and discipline, but a course can speed up learning for guidelines and code book navigation.
You can usually retake after the required waiting period; use the score report to focus on the weakest code sets.
It can be, especially if you pair the credential with practice projects and entry-level revenue cycle experience.
Many providers offer remote proctoring, but availability and rules vary—confirm system requirements and ID checks before scheduling.
If you study consistently, you can often complete prep and testing within 1–3 months, depending on your background.
At minimum, focus on ICD-10-CM, CPT®, HCPCS Level II, and modifier usage, plus basic payer and compliance rules.
Place it in the Certifications section with the issuing body and date earned, and mirror keywords from the job posting.
It can help you meet baseline qualifications, but remote roles typically also require accuracy, productivity, and some real-world coding experience.