FELLOWSHIPS
Find Your Right Fellowship
The Certification Diplomacy initiative by the Professional Medical Billers Association USA ensures that aspiring medical coders and billers can pursue their careers and develop their skills without financial barriers, while upholding professional standards and ethics.
PMBAUSA LLC empowers you to achieve your career goals with industry-recognized certifications for every stage of your professional journey. Whether you’re starting out or advancing in medical coding, billing, auditing, compliance, or revenue cycle management, our credentials validate your expertise and open doors to new opportunities.
Difference between Certification and Fellowship
| Aspect | Certification | Fellowship |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Validates baseline or advanced knowledge through an examination | Develops deep, specialty-level mastery through continuous practical exposure |
| Nature | Credential-based qualification | Voluntary professional advancement program |
| Awarding Basis | Performance in a structured exam | Awarded after completing assignments related to Anatomy, physiology, ICD-10-CM, CPT Coding Concepts and Coding 500+ real-world clinical scenarios |
| Learning Approach | Exam-oriented, syllabus-driven | Practice-driven, case-based, peer-to-peer learning |
| DII Medical Records | Limited or simulated | Extensive hands-on clinical scenarios across specialties |
| Assessment Method | One-time or periodic examination | Ongoing evaluation through scenario coding, discussions, and reviews |
| Duration | Fixed time period | Continuous process, not time-bound |
| Eligibility | Open to eligible learners or graduates | Only for certified medical coders |
| Peer Interaction | Minimal | Structured peer-to-peer discussion and expert interaction |
| Skill Depth | Demonstrates knowledge competency | Demonstrates applied expertise and professional maturity |
| Outcome Focus | Certification of learning | Recognition of advanced practice and specialization |
| Regulatory Status | May be issued by certifying bodies | Not a regulatory credential; purely voluntary |
| Career Impact | Entry or progression qualification | Professional differentiation and domain authority |
| Learning Continuity | Limited to CEUs | Continuous learning and skill enhancement process |
Certification vs Fellowship
Fellowship programs are voluntary professional development initiatives designed exclusively for already certified medical coders to enhance specialty-specific practical skills.
A fellowship is not a license, not a government-recognized qualification, and not a regulatory credential. It does not replace or supersede any certification issued by professional certifying bodies or statutory authorities.
Fellowship recognition is awarded based on demonstrated applied competency, including successful coding of more than 500 de-identified clinical scenarios, participation in peer-to-peer discussions, and ongoing professional engagement. There are multiple stage wise qualifying examinations, and the learning process is continuous in nature.
Participation in a fellowship does not guarantee employment, promotion, salary increase, or regulatory acceptance. Outcomes depend on individual performance, experience, employer requirements, and applicable payer or jurisdictional policies.
All fellowship programs are intended solely for skill enhancement, professional growth, and academic recognition within the medical coding profession and should be interpreted accordingly.
FIMC® – Fellowship in Medical Coding is Registered Trademark of MEDESUN PRIME. The Fellowships are offered by PMBAUSA LLC and MEDESUN PRIME.
