Penn Foster
Medical Billing and Coding Diploma
The cheapest accredited path — but you'll still need AAPC's CPC prep on top to land coding jobs.
7 months · 100% Online · Self-paced·Updated May 2026
Our take
Best budget credential path, but plan on separate CPC prep before applying for coding jobs.
Community score · 8 reviews
62%positive
3 positive · 4 mixed · 1 negative · how we score
Our take · May 2026
Our take on Penn Foster
The cheapest accredited path — but you'll still need AAPC's CPC prep on top to land coding jobs.
Will this get you hired?
Not on its own. The CBCS credential this program teaches isn't what coding-job postings ask for — they list CPC, CCA, or CCS. Reviewers who got hired added AAPC's own CPC prep on top and still describe a hard first-job search without prior healthcare work.[1][2][3][4]
Cost
What it costs
$1,259
over 7 months
Pay out of pocket · 100% Online · Self-paced
| Tuition | $1,259 |
| Exam fee | $117 |
| FAFSA eligible | No |
What to know
- Cheapest accredited option in this comparison set — about half the price of comparable career-school diplomas.
- Single-pay is $1,259. The payment plan adds about $300 in interest over the term.
- Books and the CBCS exam voucher are included.
- No FAFSA eligibility — this is a career diploma, not a Title-IV-eligible degree.
- You will likely need to budget for AAPC CPC prep materials separately ($300-$500) if you want to be competitive for coding jobs.
Outcomes
What graduates do
Roles the program targets
- Medical billing and coding specialist
- Medical coder
- Coding manager
- Hospital coder
- Coding and reimbursement specialist
Skills the program teaches
- Applying CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS coding guidelines
- Retrieving patient records and processing reimbursement
- Acting as a liaison between clinicians and billing offices
- Using electronic health records software
- Medical terminology and HIPAA compliance
Reviews · 8 from 2 sources
What real students say
What people talk about
r/MedicalCoding
PositiveLike others said it's very self-paced and having a background in healthcare definitely helps, but if you're self driven then you should be fine.
r/MedicalCodingu/Alisonrose89
Self-pacedWorking adult fitAccreditation
r/MedicalCoding
Mixed[The student portal exists,] but it is pretty much a self-led course. If you're looking for more of a teacher-led course then I would suggest looking elsewhere.
r/MedicalCodingu/1MBee
Self-ledCredential fitMaterials included
r/MedicalCoding
MixedIt has very minimal instructor involvement in your coursework and feedback.
r/MedicalCodingu/MRF2316
Instructor accessExam prepJob search difficulty
r/MedicalCoding
MixedI submitted my transcript to the AAPC and they removed 1 year off my Apprentice! Still having trouble finding work even though I have Billing and insurance education and work experience.
r/MedicalCodingu/urban_royaltyWidely upvoted
Credential fitAffordabilityJob search difficulty
r/MedicalCoding
MixedI think it's good for what you pay for, but you have to put the time in yourself to study.
r/MedicalCoding
Self-pacedCourse platformExam prep
GradReports
PositivePenn Foster is an affordable accredited option for working adults who may have missed out on college opportunities earlier in life.
GradReportsGradReports reviewer2023-03-23
AffordabilityWorking adult fitCareer change fit
GradReports
PositiveI applied for a Medical Claims Rep position in January 2018 and I got the job. My education was very beneficial from Penn Foster.
GradReportsGradReports reviewer2018-07-21
GradReports
NegativeWithout the prior work experience I could not get a single interview after numerous applications.
GradReportsGradReports reviewer2019-09-25
Job search difficultyCredential fit
Career overview
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist at a glance
Medical billing and coding is administrative health care work. You translate clinical notes into billing codes, help claims move through the system, and keep records clean enough for insurers and providers to use.
Daily work: Use ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS codes to document diagnoses, procedures, and reimbursement details.
Work setting: Most jobs sit inside physician practices, hospitals, insurers, billing companies, or skilled nursing facilities.
Remote reality: Remote jobs exist, but they are easier to land after you have coding experience and strong specialty knowledge.
- Median pay
- $50k/yr
- Below the U.S. healthcare-occupation median of about $80k. Entry roles often start in the high $30s.
- BLS OEWS
- U.S. jobs
- 187,910
- A mid-sized health-information field — similar headcount to physical therapists, much smaller than registered nurses.
- BLS OEWS
- Job outlook
- Faster than average
- Projected 7% growth through 2033 — roughly 2× the all-occupations average of 4%.
- BLS Occupational Outlook
- AI impact
- Replacement
- High AI exposure: routine outpatient coding is increasingly automated. Specialty and inpatient coders are more resilient.
- AI impact guide