Certified Medical Billing Specialist^®

Why Get Certified?
Certification can lead to better visibility, opportunities and jobs. In today's increasingly complex and highly-specialized economy, credentials are everything. Sure you may have the skills to do the job, but how do you convince potential clients or employers? Certification!

Certification may open doors you don't expect. Certification is likely to increase self-esteem as well as job potential and income.

What is the Certified Medical Billing Specialist^® Exam?
The Medical Association of Billers CMBS^TM Program is a challenging series of interesting and practical courses. It is aimed at individuals employed in a provider's office, health insurance company, or an independent billing center.

A candidate for certification is an individual who is motivated to improve their medical billing and coding knowledge and to develop new skills to assist providers in maximizing their reimbursement through proper coding and documentation.

How Long Does it Take to Get Certified?
Certification can take anywhere from a single weekend to as much as 6 months. To achieve certification, an individual must successfully complete a series of six online courses, take a PowerWeekend™, or test out at a proctor site. There are no classroom prerequisites required to sit for the CMBS^TM certification.

What is on the Exam?
The CMBSTM Examination consists of 100 questions in the following areas:

Introduction to Medical Office Insurance	Billing Process - From the time the patient calls for an appointment through claim payment The importance of a provider's financial policy Sample forms evaluation - superbill, patient intake sheet... Place of Service Codes
Medical Terminology	Medical Terminology Basics - Prefix, Root, Suffix Ways to memorize and conquer medical terminology
Introduction to ICD Coding	History Purpose Format Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Conversions The Coding Process Tables: Hypertension, Neoplasm, Drugs and Chemicals "Rule Out": Chronic Conditions, Late Effects, V and E Codes Importance of ICD/CPT Linkages Basics of ICD-10
Introduction to CPT Coding	Brief History Sections of CPT Manual HCPCS Format and Conventions Symbols Guidelines Appendix Index Modifiers E/M Codes
Insurance Carriers	Definitions Commercial Plans Government Plans HMO PPO Workers Compensation
Proper Billing and Coding of Medicare Claims	Guidelines Par Vs Non Par Parts of Medicare CCI Edits Medicare Appeals Process
How to Complete a CMS-1500	Required Fields Establishing Medical Necessity
Claim Resolution	Reading and Evaluating an EOB or RA Writing successful letters of appeal

If you would like to view a mock test click here. 


To find out how to register for the CMBS^TM exam visit our Test Out Procedures page. 

How do I stay certified?
To maintain your CMBS^TM certification, graduates must complete 12 continuing education units (CEUs) per calendar year. This may be accomplished by successfully completing one MAB on-line class, one PowerWeekend™, one or by taking approved vendor classes. Students must be a current member of the Medical Association of Billers to remain certified. Many schools throughout the country offer CMBS^TM CEUs. If schools have requested pre-approval of their CEUs 1 CEU will be awarded per hour of classroom study. If CEUs are not pre-approved they will receive 50% - or a 4 hour class would be awarded 2 CEUs. Please check the Pre-approved CEUs page.



INTERMEDIATE LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Medical Billing Specialist^® for Hospitals CMBS-H
The CMBS-H exam is an intermediate level certification covering the differences between billing for inpatient and outpatient treatments.

Students must be familiar with Medical Terminology, ICD Volume II, CPT, and HCPCS. The class will cover Internal Network of a Hospital, ICD Volume III, Form Locators, and Billing on a CMS 1500 and UB 04. This class is currently only given on-line. Click here to register using our secure shopping cart. Click here for the Online Class application form if you are mailing your payment. 

Certified Medical Billing Specialist^® for Chiropractic - CMBS-CA
The Medical Association of Billers Certified Medical Billing Specialist^® - Chiropractic Assistant (CMBS-CA) Program is a challenging and practical intermediate level billing and coding certification. The CMBS-CA certification will give students proof of competency necessary for State Registration where required. This class is currently only given on-line. Click here to register using our secure shopping cart. Click here for the Online Class application form if you are mailing your payment.

Certified Medical Billing Specialist^® Instructor - CMBS-I
The Medical Association of Billers offers a training class for instructors. We will demonstrate how to conduct a refresher class and provide tips and assessment tools. Instructors will have an opportunity to present topics to the class and be evaluated on presentation as well as question answering skills. Upon successful completion instructors will receive their CMBS-I. This class is given once a year in Las Vegas. For more information please go to: CMBS-I Train-the-Trainer.