By: Zeniya Cooley

At a time when healthcare organizations are facing a 30 percent nationwide shortage in medical coders, Central Carolina’s medical record coding program is working to close that talent gap by training the next generation of medical coders—professionals who translate patients’ information into standardized codes.

“We hold very high expectations for our students because the healthcare industry has those high expectations,” said Mary Johnson, the medical record coding program manager. “We want graduates [to] have confidence, be competitive and be very competent.”

The medical record coding program typically enrolls 25 students each year and currently offers three certificates: the Medical Record Coding Certificate (MRCO), Inpatient Medical Coding Certificate (AMCO) and Medical Billing and Reimbursement Certificate (MBRC), the latter of which was added in the fall of 2024. Each certificate ranges between 20 and 38 semester hours and is 100 percent online, accommodating adult learners and working students. 

The first two tracks are designed to produce highly-skilled, certified medical coders who are prepared to work in hospitals, physician practices, insurance companies and remote coding environments. Meanwhile, the third track prepares students to work as certified billing professionals in various healthcare settings.

To achieve these goals, Johnson said courses take a project-based approach. For example, coding students practice real-world case studies and auditing simulations. For these assignments, learners examine clinical documents like physician notes and ensure they have the information necessary to accurately translate diagnoses and other health information into a universal code used for billing, reimbursement, and record-keeping.

Meanwhile, students in the medical billing and reimbursement track practice applying inpatient and outpatient codes to claim forms.

“It is rigorous,” said Johnson of the program. “You’re trying to gain skills that are important not just for a job, but a true career.”

The specific skills the medical record coding program targets are students’ clinical interpretation, critical thinking and coding accuracy skills. This last one is especially critical given that coding errors cost organizations $36 billion annually, according to an American Medical Association (AMA) report.  

“We emphasize accuracy, accuracy, accuracy,” said Johnson. “That leads into making sure the healthcare provider stays compliant.”

Another competency that’s become important is using AI as a tool to enhance, rather than diminish, students’ critical thinking. For example, Johnson said professors have students code a patient encounter assignment themselves, input the diagnosis and other provided health information into ChatGPT and verify if the AI tool has created the same code.

“If the [AI] does well, fantastic. If it doesn’t, then we go in and we delve in and break it apart to find out why,” she said. 

Ultimately, though, Johnson said that AI can’t replace medical coders. She cites a 2025 James Cook University-led study that found ChatGPT achieved a 22 percent accuracy rate when classifying ICD-10 codes from discharge summaries. This is compared to a 47 percent accuracy rate for the top human coder in the study.

Johnson adds that AI lacks the judgment and expertise of human coders. “We’re trying to teach our students that AI can support the coding workflow, but it can’t replace the critical thinking, the context, the compliance expertise that a human being [has],” she said. 

The proof is in the numbers. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical records specialists is projected to grow seven percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average. And CCTC’s own job placement data for the medical record coding program supports this. Johnson said 100 percent of program graduates land a job within six to 12 months.

One of those graduates is Amanda Doud, who completed the Medical Record Coding Certificate in 2024 and the Medical Billing and Reimbursement Certificate in 2025. She now works full-time at Midlands Neurology & Pain Associates, P.A., crediting Johnson for helping her land an externship there.

“I was able to apply for an externship opportunity through the American Academy of Professional Coders’ (AAPC) Xtern program. [The medical record coding] program manager helped me with my resume as I prepared for the opportunity,” said Doud.

After completing the 160-hour medical coding externship at Midlands Neurology & Pain Associates, she landed her current role. Besides helping her career, Doud said CCTC’s medical record coding program helped her recognize the essential role of medical coders in patient care. 

“Medical coders work behind the scenes but walk side by side with the patient as they read through the patient’s chart,” Doud said. “I know the patient’s illness and pray for their speedy recovery. When the patient gets better and recovers from an illness, I smile and am happy for them.” 
Doud thanks CCTC’s medical record coding program for fostering the passion and pride she feels for her profession. “Without the dedicated instructors and program manager at Central Carolina, I would not be able to play a pivotal role in the medical field,” she said.

Visit CCTC’s website today to discover how our medical record coding program prepares students for fulfilling, high-demand careers in healthcare.