Billing and Coding Schools....

I don't know much about billing/coding programs, but I do know a lot about going to school and doing my research. I don't know what your school experience is, but I am assuming that you are starting from scratch. You know that you want to do online here are a few tips

Just like brick & mortar schools, online schools vary a great deal. Some require regular meetings (online or in person). Some are term v. semester. Some are self-paced others still follow deadlines. As a military spouse you need to figure out how long it should take you to complete the program compared to how long your husband is expected to stay where he is at. If you know there is chance you will be moving soon look at schools that go where you go. CTC is one of them most bases have a Central Texas Advisore on post.

You should think about what exactly do you want as far as class scheduling goes. What can you handle. Many people I know fail a distance class the first time because they don't realize the amount of self-discipline it takes to read/watch lectures. This is probably the most important. What do you want and what are you capable of doing? Take this to the counselor and find what best fits into that plan.

Goodluck

dont forget to ask about tuition assistance and scholarships. There are a few available exclusively to mil spouses.

Hi Amanda, I recently began online studies for medical transcription work. They also offer coding classes. The website is http://www.andrewsschool.com. **Make sure you put that 2nd 's' in the address otherwise it will take you someplace completely different. I have a friend who's already graduated from the school and is working so I know it's legit. I know that before I could enroll I needed to pass an entrance exam which focused on grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. I'm not sure if the exam for coding is the same or not. They expect the course to take about a year to complete. The website explains the cost, their curriculum, and their values as a school. Good luck!

Amanda T,

Congratulations on your decision to go back to school. I wish you all the best. You have gotten lots of good recommendations from those who have responded to your questions and concerns. When looking for an online or ground school there are lots of things to consider. This like Tuition (sometimes you can get a grant and free books), cost per credit, length of classes, how soon do you want to complete your degree or field of study, importantly make sure the school is accredited.

All these things are important, however, accreditation is vital for your degree or certificate to be validated. Also, look into grants, loans, and scholarships. The grants, loans, and scholarship have several different rules and regulations. The grants, and loans are given by the government and guaranteed, however, you will have to pay back the government subsidized and unsubsidized loans six months after you complete your program of study. These are just a few of the things to look into when seeking a good program of study.

There are on ground and online schools for the field you want to go into. Check out websites for schools in the field you want to go into. I did and am now working on my masters in psychology. The schools I went to were online and I was able to work on assignments on my own schedule. The assignments have due dates, however, you have to be willing to work on your class work (which include reading chapters each week).

Check out Western International University (www.wiu.edu), University of Phoenix (www.uop.edu), and Grand Canyon University (www.gcu.edu). I believe that Grand Canyon University has or does help you with some experience internship as well. I believe they have the program you are seeking. Otherwise, you can search online schools for the field of your choice. There are many schools that will accommodate your field of choice. I have obtained my AAB, BS, and will have my masters in psychology within the next year.

I have a friend who's husband is in the military, and she also attended online classes. She was able to maintain her classes while they were relocated (I believe) three different times to three different countries. She is a teacher, and still attends school online today for other degrees.

Good Luck, and have fun, I have had a great time with online schooling. Please let all of us know how things turn out. This is exciting (at least for me). Again, Good Luck.

I took a few classes a couple of years back and one of the things that turned me off of it was having to market yourself to doctors in order to become employed. At the I did the classes, at the end they were trying totrain you a little on how to come up with a business name and the steps you would go thru to get out there and rally up some business. You couldnt just get a job then. Maybe it is different now I dont know, I just thought I'd share my info. Good luck to you!