The medical coding certificate curriculum is designed to prepare students to function as medical coders, abstractors, and billers in health record services located in hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care facilities, insurance companies, and governmental agencies. The coder/abstractor/biller is trained in the following functions normally performed by a health record service: analyzing and technically evaluating health records and reports; compiling, interpreting, and utilizing hospital and health care statistics; coding symptoms, diseases, and operations according to recognized classification systems; and abstracting and retrieving medical information. Students will be introduced to specialty coding and electronic billing requirements in an outpatient setting. All students must complete HINM-designated courses within the three years prior to graduation. HINM-designated courses not meeting this time requirement must be retaken, or the student must test out the current course content.