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Getting into clinical coding

3 replies

LittleBitofBread · 09/01/2026 13:58

Disclaimer: This may be pie in the sky and I'm happy to be told if it is!

I've been reading a bit about this on the NHS website. I'm currently freelance but am at an age where I'm starting to think it'd be nice to have at least a little bit of a pension/sick pay/holiday pay etc. I freely admit that is my main motivation. I also want to work from home at least most of the time, and would prefer part-time/jobshare as I'd like to keep up my current freelance work too.

I currently work in (keeping it vague) a totally non-medical, non-record-keeping area, but it does involve attention to detail and quickly reading and summarising info, which I'm experienced and very good at.
I have the basic requirements of GCSEs in maths and science, and good computer experience. I have A levels and an honours degree. I have a basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology as I trained some time ago in an area involving bodywork (think personal training/Pilates sort of area).

How do you get started in clinical coding? Do you have to do an apprenticeship, and for how long? Would I need better maths and science qualifications? (I scraped my GCSEs; my A levels and degree are a million miles away, in the humanities).

TIA.

OP posts:
RuthW · 09/01/2026 18:17

You just need to apply for a job you see. It will be minimum wage probably and training on the job.

maybe do a search on here for other answers as I remember the exact same question a year or so ago.

I work in a gp surgery so we have coders.

KirriIrry · 09/01/2026 18:36

GP coding is different to hospital coding.
You can really only apply for any trainee jobs that come up. it’s on the job training, but the training is long - 2-3 years - with an exam at the end, and most trusts need you to be on-site for good portion of it. The exam is compulsory in many, but not all, trusts. Pay bands vary round the country, but once you qualify the WFH means you can work for any trust. Trainee opportunities are quite hard to come by though, as work from home means recruitment of qualified coders isn’t as hard for some trusts as it used to be.
Qualifications-wise you’re fine.

LittleBitofBread · 10/01/2026 14:38

Thank you both, that’s very helpful 🙏

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