Paralegal certification or Medical Coding? Which has a better job market?

Answer 1

Medical Coding here in Oregon.

Most folks here use lawyers, not paralegals, but there are always doctors offices and medical insurance billing companies looking for coders. But take a look in the newspapers and at the state unemployment job listings in your state to find out which are needed in your area.

Additional information:
Yes, paralegals are not allowed to give legal advice, but in Oregon you don't need to be a paralegal to work in an attorney's office. What few paralegals we have are usually independent and help people to fill out forms, to direct them to reliable resources, research issues and are a great asset to the community. Unfortunately, they are terrible underutilized, so I wouldn't recommend it over a coder - at least in Oregon. Other areas may well be quite different. That's why you need to check the want ads for a good period of time to see what your area needs.

Answer 2

I would say Paralegal. The pay seems to be a bit higher. As for the first comment .. paralegals are not permitted to give legal advise. They simply do all the work for the lawyer (depending on where you work at) and the lawyer takes the credit. Its long hours, tons of research, but well worth it.