The Benefit of Certification
Certification gives professionals the edge they need in this highly competitive field. Experts agree that in the health care industry certified professionals are more trusted, and more readily hired at higher salaries. In addition, the U.S. government pushes for all coders of Medicare claims to be credentialed AND certified by the end of this decade.
Medical coding and billing professionals understand their role in everyday business practices and the recognition certification brings. They realize the better jobs and salaries go to certified professionals who have proven that they know their job and possess the skills to do the job well.
Certification is not the same as Licensure
Certain professions require a license in order to practice. Only those who have met all qualifications for licensure and have passed a written examination offered by a jurisdiction of the United States government, usually on state level, qualify for licensure.
Licensure gives professionals the right to practice well defined functions within their scope of practice. This is to ensure that the
public will not be harmed by incompetence. Nurses, lawyers, psychologists, and public accountants are four examples of practitioners that require licensure to practice.
Medical assistants are not required to be licensed. Their role is to assist and perform basic supportive services in the physician's office under the direct supervision of a licensed health care professional or doctor. It is illegal to use them to replace highly trained, licensed professionals. Neither are they required to be certified (in the USA).
Certification
Certification works a little different from licensure. Although in some countries, certification may be used as a synonym for licensure, more often than not, licensure applies to persons who are required by law to obtain it in order to practice their skill, whereas certification is almost always voluntary! Nevertheless, certification has its place.
The main purpose of certification is to set professional standards, and increase professionalism in the field. It attests to the professional's professional knowledge and skills, as well as the level of achievement and competency.
In order to get certified, graduation from an accredited vocational training program or institution is a must, followed by a thorough certification exam. Once certification has been granted, the holder is allowed to use a certain professional credential, or title with their name. It is usually valid for a limited time period, such as a year, or two, or sometimes more. Thereafter, renewal generally requires proof of accumulated continuing education units (CEUs) that are approved by the certification body, additional training, or a recertification exam.
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