Vance-Granville Community College is now registering students for Medical Terminology, the first of four courses required for the Medical Coding certificate program. Classes will be held on VGCC’s Main Campus on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6 until 9 p.m., Jan. 18 through May 7.
The Terminology course is the introduction to the language of medicine. Students learn to pronounce, spell and define medical terms related to anatomy, physiology, pathological conditions, diagnostic testing and medical procedures. Four courses are required to complete the Medical Coding certificate program: Medical Terminology; Medical Coding; Medical Insurance, Billing and Chart Abstracting; and Medical Coding Certification Exam Preparation. Students must have a high school diploma or GED to enter the program.
The cost of this course includes a $175 registration fee and a $3 security/access fee. Textbooks are also required for the class.
Medical coding is the process of taking written medical records and converting them into a numerical language in order to submit a bill for services or supplies to an insurance company for payment. VGCC’s program provides area residents with the necessary skills and understanding to allow them to seek entry-level coding positions in one of the nation’s fastest-growing occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The medical coding field is expected to grow much faster than the average occupation through the next decade.”
For more information and to register, call VGCC at (252) 738-3417 or 738-3324.