AUBURN — Central Maine Community College is accepting applications to a new 100 percent online associate degree program in medical coding and electronic health records.

Students selected to start the program in January 2013 will be expected to complete all requirements by August 2014. All classes in the program will be offered on e-Racer, CMCC’s web-based delivery system, which students can access through the CMCC student portal 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Assignments, exercises and other requirements will have due dates, and each semester will start and end on established dates.

According to Katharine Lualdi, student services coordinator, “This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in the medical field. The online program at CMCC not only offers high-quality instruction but also greater flexibility than traditional classes. Students can log in to complete assignments anytime and anywhere they have access to a computer and the Internet.”

The degree program will prepare graduates for entry-level positions in hospitals and medical offices.

According to a study done by Advance magazine, the median national earnings for credentialed coders are $35,000 to $40,000 a year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for skilled coders is growing, with employment in medical coding expected to increase by 21 percent from 2010 to 2020.

This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

For more information on the program, contact Lualdi at 755-5456 or klualdi@cmcc.edu.