1. American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
2. American College of Surgeons
3. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
4. American Society for Surgery of the Hand
5. American Society of Breast Surgeons
6. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
7. American Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
8. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
9. American Society of Transplant Surgeons

10.  Association of Surgical Technologists

11.  Association of Women Surgeons

12.  Burnsurgery.org

13.  International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery

14.  Society for Vascular Surgery

15.  Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

16.  Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons

17.  Society of Thoracic Surgeons

18.  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

19.  American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons

20.  American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine

21.  American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons

22.  American Society of Orthopaedic Physicians Assistants

23.  American Head and Neck Society

24.  Society of Surgical Oncology

25.  Congenital Heart Surgeons Society

26.  American Association for Thoracic Surgery

27.  Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses

28.  American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association

29.  American Society of Anesthesiologists

30.  American Association for Neurological Surgeons

First, it is incredibly stable. The demand for people trained in medical billing processes is tremendously high. Whether you choose to seek a certificate, associate’s degree or bachelor’s, you will likely be able to find a salaried position immediately after. Even if you end up with an hourly position, the pay is so high that it will be better than most other positions you could seek out. This kind of job security is rare in today’s market, and makes medical billing a very smart educational path to travel down.

Moreover, it is not a difficult education to receive. If you are short on time, and need to find a job quickly, you can simply go for a six month program and receive a certificate. For many online companies, and small medical practices in your area, this amount of training will usually be sufficient. If you are looking for a higher paying position or would like a full time position at a bigger clinic, you can get an associate’s degree, which still only takes about two years. If you are really ambitious, and looking for possible managerial responsibilities, there is no need to consider a master’s program for business. In fact, people who receive a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in medical billing have a good chance of getting a managerial position right out of the gates. Not a bad deal, when you think about it.

Finally, medical billing degrees give you options. If you want an office position with a good benefits package, you have that option. On the other hand, if you are looking to supplement the income of a current job with some side work, or need to work from home in order to take care of your kids, that can be done as well. There are a wide variety of medical billing firms that will contract out work to people. That means you can go to work in your pajamas every day, if you want. Whether you are looking for a professional deal or something more casual, a degree in medical billing can get you where you want to go. 

There are a couple of options you have available to you if you want to pursue a degree in medical billing. First, you could choose to complete a certificate program. These programs will provide you with six or so months of training in the processes and software used in your typical medical billing position. If this is the type of undergraduate training you are interested in, then the best school for you will be one that is nearby. Why is that? There are literally thousands of sources for medical billing certificates. When you go to apply for a job, a certificate does not necessarily look impressive. However, if the source of said certificate is a local, reputable institution of higher learning, you are more likely to get the job.

You could always consider an associate’s degree as well. These programs tend to last about two years. With an associate’s degree in medical billing, you will have more extensive training in medical billing practices, and may even be trained in medical coding, which often goes hand in hand with billing jobs. Moreover, you will receive a very basic general education training, which can prove helpful if you ever choose to go back to school to receive your bachelor’s degree in any arena. If this is up your alley, then the best undergraduate medical billing school will be an acclaimed community college. It does not have to be nearby, but it should be well respected in the community. Associate’s degrees tend to be a dime a dozen, so getting it from a more rigorous community college will set you apart from your peers. It is also better than going to a full blown university, because it typically costs a lot less, and lets you finish your work in less time.

You also have the option of trying to receive your bachelor’s in medical billing, but this option is not really suggested. There are precious few programs who will offer this kind of degree, and it will usually cost a good deal of money. Your best bet is an associate’s degree or certificate.

The answer is research. Medical billing is a unique study subject in that the amount of four year institutions of higher learning that provide a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on medical billing are few and far between. The majority of people will seek education from a community college or online program. Unfortunately, for this reason, there is no truly reputable resource for ratings and rankings of medical billing schools. With no one location to turn to, you have to do the digging yourself.

How do you go about researching the ratings and rankings of top medical billing schools? There are a couple of steps you can take. First, try talking to a school or career counselor. Whether this is at your high school or at an adult outreach center, they may be able to recommend several local schools that have a solid reputation and can fulfill your educational needs and goals. Talking to these kinds of counselors can give you the best idea of what options are available to you on a local level, and give you tips on what needs to be done in order to gain admission. They may even have applications on hand!

Another choice is to turn to the World Wide Web. The internet has a vast amount of information about different medical billing schools, degrees and programs. While this can be an invaluable resource, there is also a lot of fake information about what schools are really tops. Instead of evaluating the schools, these websites use their “top” lists as a means of advertising for the programs listed. Make sure that before you take a website for their word, you examine the criteria they have used for selecting their programs. Some of the programs listed will not even be accredited, which classifies them as a huge waste of time, as far as you, the prospective student, are concerned. The top medical billing schools in the country are difficult to pin down. However, the true top medical billing school will be the one that best suits your needs as a student. 

First, do your research on the schools you are currently considering. If you want to get a good education, you need to make sure the program you applying to for medical billing is a reputable one. There are hundreds out there, but only some of them are accredited. If you are accepted to one that is not accredited and finish out the program, you may end up with a certificate or degree that is functionally useless. Make sure the program is accredited, and you will save yourself a lot of grief.

Moreover, it is important to consider the kind of program you are applying for. How much time do you have to devote to your studies? If it isn’t a lot, you should probably consider an online program. These will allow you to take your classes at your own pace. If you have a second job or a family that you are raising, the flexibility of an online program is invaluable. However, some people learn better in a physical classroom. If this is the case, you should take a look at some of the more traditional programs. What will the professor to student ratio be? What is the graduation rate at that program? Make sure that it is something that will fit your learning needs.

Next, you need to make sure your application reflects well on you. Do you have experience in an administrative capacity? Have you served in a clerical position? These are things that would indicate a proclivity for the kind of work medical billing requires. Do you have any experience in an actual medical institution? This could tell the people reviewing your application that you already have some of the knowledge it will take to successfully complete their medical billing program. These things will set you apart from the other applicants, and increase your chances for admission.

Finally, spend a good amount of time crafting your personal statement. Nearly all academic programs require some kind of essay to accompany your application, and medical billing is no exception to the rule. Make sure you do not turn in a generic application. Tell the readers a story about your life, or about an experience that has left you uniquely equipped to deal with the stressors involved in a medical billing career. This will break up the tedium of reading cookie cutter essays all day, and give the review panel a reason to consider you above all others. 

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. To begin with, you need to be willing to look around. There is plenty of money out there for people pursuing some form of higher education. Check with local organizations. Even if the organizations have no ties to the field you are interested in, they may have a scholarship you could be eligible for. Local companies and even big corporations tend to offer scholarships in a community for its residents in order to foster good will as a matter of good press. Read your local paper, or check with an adult outreach center to see if they can point you in the right direction.

However, don’t stop there. Many of the schools you are applying to probably have some form of financial aid available. If you had good grades in high school, are a single parent, or are returning for an education after several years in the workforce, you may be eligible for an institution or department based scholarship. Talk to the admissions department for the program you are applying to, and see if they have any suggestions to make.

Of course, you always have the wonderful digital spectrum of the World Wide Web. There are dozens of websites that can provide you with a list of scholarships you could be eligible for. For example, www.fastweb.com will develop a list of scholarships you have a chance to win based on a profile that you develop for them including your basic information and interests. Usually, you will end up with a list of thirty to fifty scholarships you can apply for that will be making decisions in the next six months, giving you ample time to apply for multiple awards.

The most important step in all of this is to be as diligent as possible. One go round with these sources will not guarantee that you will find the right scholarship for you. New scholarships are introduced all the time, so it is important that you continue to research, even if you have already received several hundred dollars in scholarship money. If you continue to look for updated sources, you may find yourself able to not only pay for school, but for your books and living expenses while taking classes.