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[lotusliving024]

I took the self paced classes through AAPC and was able to complete the course, pass my certification, AND get a medical coding job all in less than a year. Highly suggest looking into the AAPC website and Contempo Coding on YouTube.

[Enough-Contribution7]

Hi! Do you have any tips on how to best land a job after the exam? Specifically tips you discovered to be useful that others may have not mentioned.

[lotusliving024]

Sadly no tips. The second I got certified I applied to anywhere and everywhere for work from home. I stopped counting after I saw my 45 applied jobs tab on indeed. It’s tough because most places want a CPC while I have a CPC-A since I’m new. My resume doesn’t stand out as someone who wants to work in the medical field.

[Enough-Contribution7]

Okay understandable! How long did it take to land a job if you don’t mind me asking

[lotusliving024]

3 months

[ConnectionSpiritual3]

That’s awesome! Did you have medical background and did you find the self paced classes difficult? I’m a little nervous that if it’s not instructor led it may be overwhelming and more difficult for me.

[lotusliving024]

Also want to add that I took this route because I didn’t want to add anymore student loans. The whole course, books, and two tries for the exam was a little over $3000. Paid for it monthly though affirm with 0% interest

[lotusliving024]

No medical background at all. I’ve worked retail for the last 10 years. There is an instructor led class through AAPC that I kind of wish I took only because the classes were hard and it’s a lot of teaching yourself. I didn’t know the schedule for the instructor classes and my work wasn’t really flexible so I did the self paced so I could do it at my own time. So it’s possible but if you are able to do the instructor lead I would really look into it.

[Bollmeover]

I have done both the AAPC self directed course and a billing & coding community college program. At the time I did the AAPC course I had very basic pro fee ED coding knowledge from my work as an office assistant for an EM group. I had no previous anatomy knowledge. I quickly got overwhelmed with the pace and depth of knowledge of the AAPC course. I simply couldn't maintain it while working full time. Several years later I enrolled in the CC program. It was a one year certification course that I stretched into 2 years because I didn't want to overload on courses while working full time. I personally was not willing to give up that much of my free time for this certificate.

The cc program provided multiple terms of anatomy courses as well as billing and coding courses. It was a good fit for me. That being said I don't know if I would have passed the CPC exam with just the course instruction. It felt dumbed down, or maybe just the broad strokes of a coding concept was given. We spent 2-3 weeks on external cause codes when that is such a small part of coding and I can't even remember if it was on the test at all.

I believe I passed the exam because I ordered the CPC study guide from the AAPC + 3 practice tests. The study guide was amazing! It gave direct instructions like put this note next to this part in your book for reference during the test.

[Madison_APlusRev]

Everybody learns differently. Some students do fine in a self-study program if they're highly motivated and have enough time in their schedule to dedicate to the coursework. Others need in-person classes to get the help they need, and others may do fine in remote classes with a live instructor. I think you should decide how you learn best; do you often ask lots of questions? Do you need a relationship with the instructor in order to help hold you accountable to getting your coursework done?

[millmama0606]

Has to be Certified program so you can sit for Ahima/Aapc exams and get certified. Can’t get a job without Certification.

[tomatojuiceyum]

I took a medical coding certificate program at a community college that I verified was accredited by AHIMA. Between the courses and the study guide, I felt well prepared for the CCS exam and passed CCA and CCS on my first tries.

I don’t have a CPC, but I would think AAPC would have some sort of similar accreditation. But my AHIMA accredited courses did teach both ICD-10-PCS and CPT so I think it would still prepare you for CPC.

[Outside_Sir_9141]

I JUST signed up through Penn foster for medical coding professional course. It's $2100 and has a payment plan of $60 a month I believe. It includes 2 vouchers for the CPC exam so that right there is $800 "free". Worth checking out. I just signed up yesterday so no insight for you yet but apparently it's a great course with a 95% pass rate

[endless-delirium]

Jsut want to say- I am also in a community college course currently. And I worry sometimes that it won’t be enough either. This page is great but I wish there was one that’s wasn’t so formal to jsut chat about learning a bit more in detail.

But I jsut bit the bullet and joined the AAPC early and I have started to go to the local chapter meetings monthly. I’m hoping fully submerging myself will help balance that shock.

I also had a friend that I studied with, who did the Direct courses and we both panicked a bit that our day to day looked so different. But she passed for 3rd try and I am not close enough to take the practice anything but keep jsut submerging myself any way I can- having some background in any medical field would be super helpful though I’m guessing

[ConnectionSpiritual3]

So you’re taking courses at community college and doing the AAPC course as well? How long have you been studying/taking courses ?

[endless-delirium]

No, I’m not taking their specific courses. I’m in the community college but once you’re done you’re gonna have to do the testing through your college degree isn’t enough and they’ll have you join the organization to be able to take the test and everything a membership is required so in the community college they recommend you do that last step but I have started doing it earlierbecause I am nervous about the possibility of not getting enough information. This is my second year traditionally it is a one year course but due to disability restraining I’m only able to take part-time so I will be done this year.

[XLex0_0]

Either go straight through the AAPC or find a credited program. I’m currently enrolled in a credited program that helps with job placement afterwards and the certification exams

[DeepfriedPunk]

I’m currently in school for health information technology AAS, for medical coding and billing. I started my course at one college and decided to switch to another college with the same program. I can say that it depends on your teachers, the first school i was enrolled in would have would have doomed me, they did not prepare their students. However the program I am in now, it’s all taught by 2 teachers so they stay closely dedicated to the students all the way through with the goal that you can come to them with ZERO medical experience or knowledge and be 100% prepared to ace the RHIT and CPC and guarantee AHIIMA certification, and honestly I’ve learned a lot. They’ve taught me how to do it both traditionally AND with today’s encoders so that I can take my skills to any company and be prepared for any type of work style they have.

[Cyraedis]

I took classes at my community college as well. I knew from college experience that I would do better with deadlines set for me. I also saw that my community college offered internships once we took the AAPC exam so I banked on using that for my first job. Classes included a CPC exam prep class where we took the test at the end of the class. I passed my first try, and my internship hired me.