Program Description:

The Certificate of Proficiency is designed to provide students with basic knowledge and skills in specific career fields to enter the workforce directly upon completion of the certificate or to seek advanced study in the field. Shoreline Community College works closely with a local advisory committee comprised of industry professionals to ensure students receive the knowledge and skills currently in demand by employers.

Certificate of Proficiency (60-63 Credits)

Note: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. However, the information is subject to change without notice and final career decisions are the responsibility of the student.

Grade of 2.0 or better in each individual course of the program required.

Additional Information
The final coding course is a virtual Medical Coding Practicum. Students will code 50 - 100 medical charts. Students wishing to continue on to obtain an Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences  (AAAS) degree in Health Information Technology must meet with their advisor and apply to the program.  Additional pre-requisites and courses may be required.

Professional Certifications
Graduates are eligible to take the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for Certified Coding Specialist-Physician’s Office (CCS-P), or the entry-level Certified Coding Associate (CCA). They are also eligible to take the American Academy of Professional Coders Certified Professional Coding (CPC, CPC-H) or Certified Risk Coder (CRC) examinations. The AHIMA mastery-level Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) examination for inpatient coding is also available.

Program Prerequisites:

ENGL& 101 English Composition I  or BTWRT 215  Business Communication, BIOL& 170 Human Biology  and basic computer application skills, including working in a PC Windows environment. A separate initial admissions process is required. Acceptance into Shoreline Community College does not guarantee acceptance into the Medical Coding & Reimbursement Specialist program. Early application to the program is advised as space is limited.

Academic and Program Requirements:

Students are required to maintain a grade of 2.0 in ALL courses. Strong English grammar skills are essential for the program and profession. Since courses are not offered every quarter and some courses require prerequisites, students MUST confer with an HIIM Advisor to develop an academic plan. Check program website for advisor information and access to required computer hardware and software.

General Education Core Requirements (2-5 Credits)

• Human Relations: (2-5 Credits)

• BUS 105 Essentials of Human Relations Credits: 2

• or

• BUS 104 Human Relations In Business Credits: 5

• or

• HIIM 224 Management for Health Information Supervisors Credits: 5 (for dual enrollment in MCRS and HIT)

Core Requirements (57 Credits)

• ACCT& 201 Principles of Accounting I Credits: 5
• HIIM 120 Healthcare Delivery in the U.S. Credits: 4
• HIIM 125 Hospital and Clinic Patient Records Credits: 5
• HIIM 134 Medical Terminology Credits: 5
• HIIM 154 Revenue Cycle Management Credits: 5
• HIIM 170 Legal Aspects of Health Care Credits: 4
• HIIM 171 Basic ICD-10 Coding Credits: 5
• HIIM 172 Outpatient Coding Credits: 5
• HIIM 173 Intermediate Medical Coding Credits: 5
• HIIM 174 Pharmacology Credits: 3
• HIIM 175 Human Diseases Credits: 5
• HIIM 225 Health Informatics Essentials Credits: 5
• HIIM 228 Medical Coding Practicum Credits: 2

Approval To Graduate

Student Name, SID and Date: ____________________________________________________

Faculty Advisor and Date: _______________________________________________________

Division Dean and Date: ________________________________________________________

Credential Approval and Date: ____________________________________________________

Sample Schedule for Certificate of Proficiency

All courses are offered on-line
* Only offered on-line once per year, during the quarter listed.
**HIIM 134 Medical Terminology  is offered every quarter.

1st Year

2nd Year

Program Advisor:

Melanie Meyer, PhD, RHIA, CPHQ, CCS (Advises last names A-L)
206-546-4757 mmeyer@shoreline.edu Rm 2334

Gloria Anderson, MEd, RHIA, CCS (Advises last names M-Z)
206-546-4707 ganderso@shoreline.edu Rm 2333

Program Information:

Length of Program: 60-63 Credits
Completion Award: Certificate of Proficiency
Enrollment: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Approximate Quarterly Costs: $25-$120
(in addition to tuition, books and parking)
Website: http://shoreline.edu/programs/health-information-technology/

EPC 3153