A charging system for an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) includes a split charging coil for generating a magnetic field to provide power to the IMD. The split charging coil includes a first coil portion and a second coil portion, each of which can be formed as a mechanical winding of an insulated conductor. The first and second coil portions are connected to each other in a way that substantially reduces or eliminates any current-carrying path that is routed radially with respect to the coil. As a result, the split coil produces a uniform magnetic field that enables a more accurate determination of alignment between the coil and the IMD than is available using traditional charging coils.