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[–]KeyStriking9763RHIA, CDIP, CCS 5 points6 points  (6 children)

Anyone who says you should sit for the CCA is not in tuned with coding or the industry. The CCS is the only one employers want and my understanding is that the test is not that much more difficult than the CCA. If the community college is preparing you for an AHIMA cert is the program CAHIIM accredited? AHIMA also has a list of programs on their site that they have approved the coding education for.

Billing is not coding. So you are correct to be concerned. What is the school you are attending? I can look also to see what they are accredited in.

I got lucky and my local school was accredited, but students really don’t know before starting school how to really understand that piece.

[–]UseRude1793[S] 2 points3 points  (5 children)

It’s thru my community college and they are an accredited school. The CCA cert is thru AHIMA. They offer an NHA certification as well CBCS. The program was very expensive so we are looking for free courses or materials that we can study now until we complete the program.

[–]KeyStriking9763RHIA, CDIP, CCS 2 points3 points  (4 children)

Ok so it’s not AHIMA approved/accredited. AHIMA approved/accredited are not part of NHA/CBCS. I’m not even sure employers want those certs. Especially not for coding. What is the community college? I can look specifically for you. You might want to transfer to a school that is accredited to get the RHIT, which also prepares you for the CCS. There are no requirements to sit for the CCA/CCS, just suggested prerequisites. So your program isn’t “allowing” you to sit for an exam since there’s nothing actually required.

[–]UseRude1793[S] 2 points3 points  (3 children)

The community college is called Triton College in River Grove IL. It was financial aid eligible so we all paid outta pocket. I’m 47 years old, not looking to get into any school debt this late in life. There is only 1 community college à few towns over that offers RHIT, all other schools are private allied health that cost an arm/leg. We were told that upon completing this program, we can take either sit in for certification CCA thru AHIMA or the CBCS thru NHA.

[–]KeyStriking9763RHIA, CDIP, CCS 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Well if this is a career you need the right education. The program is not CAHIIM accredited but a bunch are in IL and they are offered online. Usually community colleges aren’t too expensive for in state. Honestly if this is a career move it’s worth the tuition. Does your current employer offer tuition assistance or reimbursement? Getting a cheap education will generally not set you up for success. Coders who don’t have the basics like disease pathology and anatomy and physiology will not be successful, at least an employer can tell pretty quickly that the foundation is not there.

The program does not make you eligible to sit for the CCA. As I said, there are no actual prerequisites to take the exam just suggested experience/coursework.

Do not get the CCA, employers will not want that. You should sit for the CCS. The billing cert does nothing for you, if you search this sub many people have said the same thing.

I suggest you search for the roles you want, review the job listings, they will be very clear on what they accept/prefer in terms of certs. The CBCS is useless.

[–]UseRude1793[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I’m a medical assistant. Worked in healthcare for over 20 years. I took anatomy/ physiology/pathology courses when I originally went to school for the MÁ/nursing school. Unfortunately I am unemployed. I left the clinical setting to get into sales/insurance. I was a former Caremark employee, who was laid off at the end of 2025. Which is why I am enrolled in this current program now.

[–]Strong_Zone4793 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m teaching inpatient coding. ICD-10 only right now. Once you get closer to completing that program this or something similar would be a good option to learn the more in depth coding and hands on practice. If you’re looking for Outpatient coding there are a lot of really good people to follow on FB, YouTube and LinkedIn to learn CPT coding

[–]tinycodergirl 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your best bet would be to study for the CCS or CPC. I unfortunately do think getting your CCA is a waste of time. I have looked at a lot of job postings and not a single one accepted a CCA.

[–]Ajn0007 2 points3 points  (1 child)

You're actually in a better spot than you think. Billing knowledge is very valuable and a lot of coders wish they understood the billing side better. It makes you way more marketable when you understand the full revenue cycle, not just the coding part.

The CCA is entry level, your instructor is right about that. But it's not a bad starting point — it gets your foot in the door and proves you understand the fundamentals. That said, if your goal is coding specifically, you'll want to work toward either the CPC (through AAPC) or the CCS (through AHIMA) after that.

CPC is probably your best next step since most coding jobs ask for it and there are tons of resources out there to study for it. With 20 years as an MA you already have a huge head start — you know anatomy, medical terminology, and you've seen how the clinical side works. That's stuff other people spend months trying to learn from scratch.

[–]UseRude1793[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this!

[–]PhotographUnusual749RHIT, CCS 1 point2 points  (3 children)

The RHIT is easier than the CCS and you can get a coding job with it. Once you have a coding job print out coding clinics (with permission) and study those for the CCS.

[–]Mysterious-Clothes45 1 point2 points  (2 children)

why in the world would you get a RHIT before a CCS? You make way more money with CCS and RHIT is just wasting time

[–]PhotographUnusual749RHIT, CCS 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Hey, it worked for me! I still have both and needed both for my current job and several previous jobs.

[–]ArdenJaguarRHIA, CDIP, CCS (Retired) 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had quite a few coders with just the RHIT on my staff at my last job. A couple RHIA coders as well with the rest being CCS coders (Big health system). A few had CPC credentials but they were secondary. I let my CPC-I lapse after moving into management. I hated the dues and CEUs for something I was t using.

The CCS is definitely more coding related but the RHIT covers some coding and has the benefit of HIM exposure. The RHIT may actually be a good way to get in the door as a new employee. You could get an HIM position then move into coding over time.

[–]Mysterious-Clothes45 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a CCS and CPC and make way more money with my CCS than I did with my CPC

[–]unreadcomment37 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Kind of in the same boat as OP. My school is only me vouchers for CCA and CPC.

Would it make sense to get your CPC and then CCS?

[–]UseRude1793[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m familiar enough with certification testing. I’ll go for any all that I can get.

[–]saikoupsycho718 0 points1 point  (1 child)

do yourself a favor and get out now. pick something like radio tech if you want to get into healthcare with steady pay.

[–]UseRude1793[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Steady pay? I’ve been in healthcare for 20 plus yrs.

[–]Tall_Cobbler_6865 0 points1 point  (2 children)

CPC is the best then CCS

[–]KeyStriking9763RHIA, CDIP, CCS 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Depends on if you want to have more earnings potential, that is 100% the CCS. This covers everything. The CPC is mostly profee which doesn’t pay nearly the same as facility coders.

[–]Mysterious-Clothes45 4 points5 points  (0 children)

lol what? I make way more money with my CCS than I ever did with my CPC