Your path to medical billing
and coding certification
Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS)
Earning your CBCS credentials will help you
Fulfill employer requirements
Access better career opportunities
Maximize earning potential
Enhance knowledge & skills
What Does Certified Billing & Coding Specialist do?
The skills learned through medical coding certification are essential to hospitals, physicians offices, surgery centers, nursing homes, dental offices, home healthcare agencies, mental health facilities and even insurance companies and consulting firms. This rewarding field requires a high level of professionalism and dependability. Tasks performed could include.
- Gathering/reviewing essential information
- Verifying required documentation before patient information is released
- Preventing fraud/abuse by auditing billing
- Supporting coding and billing process
- Assigning codes for diagnoses and procedures
- Submitting claims for reimbursement
- Auditing billing
- Coaching healthcare providers to achieve optimal reimbursement
94% of employers require or encourage certification for medical billing & coding specialists
(Source: 2025 Industry Outlook)
CBCS Exam Eligibility
Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency, or are scheduled to earn a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency in the next 12 months*
Completed a medical billing and coding training or education program within the last 5 years.
OR
Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency
1 year of supervised work experience in a medical billing and coding field within the last 3 years; or 2 years of supervised work experience in a medical billing and coding field within the last 5 years.
5 steps to medical billing and coding certification
Apply for your exam
Create a free NHA account online, anytime, and submit your Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam application through your account portal
Set a date
Select the date and location–online or in-person–for your exam. (A CBCS exam fee payment is required during this step.)
Prepare, prepare, prepare
Time to study! We're here to support you. We have study materials available, including an interactive study guide and practice test.
Take the exam
You'll take the exam either at your school, a PSI testing center near you, or through live remote proctoring at the location of your choice.
Get your Results!
For online exams, NHA will officially post your certification results to your account page within two days of scoring your test.
