Clinical Coding Standards Course

The Clinical Coding Standards Course (CCSC) is a mandatory course designed to support individuals already employed as trainee clinical coders by providing them with an overview of the clinical coding profession in general and all national clinical coding standards.

The course is delivered across four modules by a Clinical Classifications Service Approved Trainer.

This practical assessment-based course teaches recently appointed trainee clinical coders how to use their classification books and follow the four step coding process to ensure correct application of ICD-10 and OPCS-4 national clinical coding standards and facilitate accurate coded clinical data.

• The organisation and structure of ICD-10 Volumes 1, 2 and 3
• The organisation and structure of OPCS-4 Volumes I and II
• Using each step of the Four Step Coding Process to correctly assign ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes
• Navigating the National Clinical Coding Standards ICD-10 5th Edition and OPCS-4 reference books, including associated Appendices, to locate national clinical coding standards
• Understanding the structure and content of the OPCS-4 Chemotherapy Regimens List

Module 1: Covers the basics, such as the organisation and structure of the ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications and some of the chapters in each to give delegates a foundation in coding.

Modules 2,3 and 4: We will build on your knowledge by working through each of the chapters of the classifications. We cover several chapters per module and learn via case studies, exercises and assessments. 

NHS England have set the following pre-requisites. The trainee must:

• Have been employed as a clinical coder for between one to six months in an NHS Trust (including a Mental Health Trust) or an independent sector treatment centre.
• Have a personal commitment to continued professional development, including completion of assessment-based learning in a variety of formats
• Have a structured training plan in place agreed with their line manager detailing the time and resources available to complete all mandatory elements before, during and after the course, as necessary.
• Have all the necessary up-to-date classifications books, reference books/manuals and Chemotherapy Regimens list (hard copy or electronic formats) to utilise during the training.
• Have completed the following two mandatory eLearning courses prior to attendance:

1. CCSC: Basic Anatomy and Physiology eLearning (all modules)
2. Basic Introduction to Clinical Coding (modules 1 and 2)