I've been looking to get a Medical Billing / Coding certification. I've worked in the health insurance industry for 11 years and have recently been downsized. I am very familiar with the ICD-9 and CPT codes.

Meditec offer a CBCS (Certified Billing and Coding Specialist) certification.

National Healthcareers Association (NHA) also offers a CBCS.

Are they the same certification?? What's the difference??? How does someone differentiate from the two???

Also I heard of the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Professional (CCP).

Then there's the American Association of Professional Coders - Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification.

Which of these are the most widely accepted certification?

TIA

Most employers want to know if you know your stuff and certification is a way to show that you do. How you choose to get that is pretty subjective as you pointed out. Most companies set themselves up as "authorities" and proceed to provide basic information on what should be the standard(s) for certifying. That's what all of the companies who do it have done. Some have been around longer than others and are probably better known, however, most employers want to know if your knowledge base is sufficient to do a job for them.

Hope that helps.