Free Medical Billing and Coding Courses Online in 2026
Free medical billing and coding courses from AAPC, AMCI, Alison and Great Learning, what the exam costs, what the job pays, and who can pay for training.
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Yes, you can learn medical billing and coding for free online. AAPC, AMCI, Alison and Great Learning all offer free beginner courses you can take at night after the kids are asleep. What no free course gives you is the national credential most employers want, and that exam costs money.
This guide lists the free medical billing and coding courses worth your time, what each one actually covers, what the job pays, and how a single mom can get the paid exam or full training covered.
How this guide was checked. Every course, fee and figure below was read on its own page on October 6, 2026.
| The figure | What it is | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $51,140 | median yearly pay for medical records specialists, the job that includes coders, in May 2025 | BLS |
| 14,000 | openings projected each year from 2025 to 2035, with jobs growing 8% | BLS |
| $199 to $299 | what AHIMA charges for its entry-level coding exam, the CCA | AHIMA |
The short version
- Free courses teach the basics: AAPC's intro videos, AMCI's i2MC course, Alison and Great Learning cost nothing
- The credential is not free: AHIMA's CCA exam is $199 to $299, and AAPC's CPC exam is $425 ($400 for students)
- The job pays a median of $51,140 and usually needs a certificate program, not a degree
- Your local American Job Center must put low-income parents first for WIOA training money
- "Financial aid" at some schools means a loan, so read the fine print
Which free medical billing and coding courses are worth it?
Four free options cover the basics well. Use them to find out whether you like the work before you spend anything. The best careers for single moms guide compares coding with other short-training jobs if you are still choosing.
AAPC: Intro to Medical Coding and Intro to Medical Billing
AAPC, the group behind the CPC credential, answers its own question plainly: yes, it offers free courses. It points beginners to two video series, Intro to Medical Coding and Intro to Medical Billing (AAPC). Start here, because AAPC also runs the CPC exam.
AMCI: the free i2MC course
The Absolute Medical Coding Institute's free i2MC course is built for complete beginners. It covers the three main code sets, ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS Level II, plus modifiers (AMCI). AMCI pitches it as the step before you commit to studying for certification.
Alison: Basics of Medical Billing and Coding
Alison's free course takes 4 to 5 hours. It explains how diagnoses and treatments become alphanumeric codes, the main coding systems, and how medical insurance works (Alison). Its certificate is a CPD-accredited Alison certificate. That shows you finished a course, but it is not a coding credential.
Great Learning: Medical Coding (CPC) Foundations
Great Learning's free Medical Coding (CPC) Foundations course runs about 3.75 hours and covers ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, modifiers and the revenue cycle (Great Learning). Despite "CPC" in the name, finishing it does not make you a Certified Professional Coder; only AAPC awards that.
Side by side, the four free courses compare like this.
| Course | Length | What it covers | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPC intro videos | Not listed | Intro to medical coding and to medical billing | Free video series |
| AMCI i2MC | Not listed | ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, modifiers | Free beginner course |
| Alison | 4 to 5 hours | Coding systems, billing, medical insurance | CPD-accredited Alison certificate |
| Great Learning | About 3.75 hours | ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, modifiers, revenue cycle | Completion certificate, not the CPC |
Can you get certified for free?
Usually not on your own. The two main entry credentials both charge an exam fee. AHIMA's Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam costs $199 for members and $299 for non-members, and you need a high school diploma to sit for it (AHIMA, CCA). You must bring the right code books, or you forfeit the fee.
AAPC's Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam tests CPT, HCPCS Level II and ICD-10-CM codes. You buy an exam voucher and register at least three weeks before your test date (AAPC, CPC). A voucher costs $425 for one attempt or $499 for two, and students pay $400 or $475 (AAPC, CPC exam cost). To keep the credential, you must renew your AAPC membership every year and earn 36 continuing education units every two years.
So the realistic free route is this: learn for free, then get the exam or the full training paid for by someone else. The next section shows who that someone can be.
The credential is also a first step, not a ceiling. BLS notes that medical records specialists can move up to health information technologist roles after a higher certification or a degree in health information technology. The degrees for single moms guide covers online options for later.
How can a single mom get the training paid for?
Start at your local American Job Center. Under the federal WIOA Adult program, staff using those funds for training must give priority to people on public assistance, other low-income adults and people who need basic skills help (US Department of Labor, WIOA Adult). If you get SNAP or TANF, say so at your first visit.
The Labor Department points people to the CareerOneStop site or its toll-free line, 1-877-US-2JOBS, to find the nearest center. CareerOneStop's WIOA-eligible training program finder lists each state's approved training providers. Ask whether medical coding is on your area's approved training list and whether WIOA can pay the exam fee too.
A community college certificate is the second route. Pell Grants already help students with financial need earn undergraduate credentials, and the Pell Grant guide for single mothers explains how much you could get and how to apply.
Workforce Pell is new, and slow so far. Since July 1, 2026, Pell Grants can pay for short programs of as little as 8 weeks, but each program needs approval from the governor and the Education Department (US Department of Education). On October 5, 2026, the Department approved only the second program in the country, a Clinical Medical Assistant course at Ivy Tech in Indiana (US Department of Education).
Read the word "aid" carefully. AAPC's financial aid page, for example, describes financing through two lending partners, Climb and Affirm, and Affirm may ask for a down payment (AAPC). That is a loan you repay. Exhaust WIOA and grants first, as the college grants for single mothers list suggests.
How much does medical billing and coding pay?
Medical records specialists, the BLS job title that includes medical coders, earned a median of $51,140 in May 2025, or $24.59 an hour (BLS, Medical Records Specialists). The lowest 10% earned less than $37,000 and the highest 10% more than $81,150.
Billers sit in a different BLS group. Billing and posting clerks, who work across all industries and not only health care, earned a median of $48,500 in May 2025 (BLS, Financial Clerks). That is a little below coders.
Where you work matters too. In May 2025, coders working for company offices earned a median of $60,980 and those in hospitals $59,120, against $47,120 in doctors' offices (BLS). Compare these numbers with the other options in the jobs for single moms guide.
Is there demand for medical billing and coding jobs?
Yes. BLS counted 200,700 medical records specialist jobs in 2025 and projects 8% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average. It expects about 14,000 openings a year, many of them from workers who retire or change careers.
The typical entry level is a postsecondary nondegree award, which is a certificate program, not a degree. BLS adds that employers may prefer or expect certification, sometimes soon after hiring. That is why the exam step in section 2 matters more than which free course you start with.
Does the work fit around kids?
Partly. BLS says medical records specialists typically work at a computer and most work full time. In hospitals, which are always open, some coders work shifts, including nights or weekends. A doctor's office may keep daytime hours, which can suit school pickup better.
Remote coding jobs exist, but BLS does not report how many coders work from home, so be wary of any course that promises one. If working from home is your goal, the guide to remote jobs for moms explains how hiring for home-based roles works.
Your free-to-certified checklist
- Watch AAPC's free Intro to Medical Coding and Intro to Medical Billing videos this week.
- Take AMCI's free i2MC course to learn ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS Level II.
- If you like the work, visit your American Job Center and ask about WIOA training and exam funding.
- Bring proof of SNAP, TANF or low income, because WIOA training gives priority to these.
- Pick a credential: AHIMA's CCA ($199 to $299) or AAPC's CPC ($425, or $400 for students; buy the voucher three weeks ahead).
- Read every "financial aid" offer to see whether it is a grant or a loan.
- Apply first to hospitals and doctors' offices, which employ almost half of all coders.
Frequently asked questions
Does WIOA pay for medical coding training?
It can. WIOA Adult funds pay for training through American Job Centers, and staff must give priority to people on public assistance and other low-income adults. Ask your local center whether medical coding is on its approved training list and whether the money can also cover the CCA or CPC exam fee.
Can I teach myself medical billing and coding?
You can learn the basics yourself with free courses that cover ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS Level II. To get hired, though, most employers prefer a certificate program and a credential. AHIMA's CCA only requires a high school diploma, so self-study plus a review course can work if you pass.
Who gets paid more, a medical biller or a coder?
Coders, slightly. BLS reports a median of $51,140 for medical records specialists, which includes coders, in May 2025. Billing and posting clerks across all industries earned a median of $48,500. Many jobs combine the two. Among coders, those in company offices and hospitals earn the highest medians, $60,980 and $59,120.
How much does a beginner medical coder make?
BLS does not publish a starting wage, but its range is a guide. In May 2025, the lowest-paid 10% of medical records specialists earned less than $37,000 a year, and the median was $51,140. Pay usually rises with a credential and experience.
How long does it take to become a medical coder?
The free courses take hours to weeks: Alison's runs 4 to 5 hours and Great Learning's about 3.75 hours. The job itself usually needs a certificate program, the typical entry level BLS lists. Workforce Pell can now fund approved programs as short as 8 weeks, though few are approved yet.
A training plan works better with a budget behind it. The grants for single moms guide lists cash help that can cover childcare or bills while you study.
Sources
- BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Records Specialists (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Clerks (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- AAPC, Does AAPC offer free medical billing and coding courses? (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- AAPC, Certified Professional Coder (CPC) (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- AAPC, How much does the CPC exam cost? (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- AAPC, Do you offer financial aid? (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- CareerOneStop, WIOA-Eligible Training Program Finder (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- AHIMA, Certified Coding Associate (CCA) (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- Absolute Medical Coding Institute, Free Online Medical Coding Course (i2MC) (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- Alison, Basics of Medical Billing and Coding (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- Great Learning, Medical Coding (CPC) Foundations (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- US Department of Labor, WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Program (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- US Department of Education, final rule creating Workforce Pell (retrieved October 6, 2026)
- US Department of Education, second Workforce Pell program approved in Indiana (October 5, 2026) (retrieved October 6, 2026)
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✻ About the contributor · Folio N°.187
Written by Subha
Psychologist and writer covering the topics that matter most to single moms, money, mental health, and the small daily rituals that keep a family running. Every article is research-backed and edited four times before publish.
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