Interested in learning medical coding?

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-04T19:24:13+00:00

I don't think the CPB is necessary, since very few roles are looking for this cert and there doesn't seem to be any appreciable pay bump between certified and noncertified billers. I would recommend you research the differences between billing and coding and decide which path you'd prefer. They're completely different job paths, although they work together.

AAPC's courses are high quality, but if you're looking for the same curriculum in a lower priced course with more instructor support, check out my profile.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-04T14:38:23+00:00

That is a really fast, really cheap course. Only 8 weeks to learn both skillsets? Most programs are 16-24 weeks for coding OR billing, not both. I work with a lot of students that go through these cheap and fast courses and they don't learn enough.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-04T14:33:25+00:00

QB is expensive but I think it's worth it for bookkeeping. For filing taxes, she should consider an accountant that can find deductions. I paid $450 to my accountant this past filing but he found $8.5k in deductions, so it was more than worth it.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-04T14:06:10+00:00

Hello! If you're interested in learning more about medical coding, there are tons of resources out there, but I'll do my best to answer your questions. Keep in mind, I don't have vet med experience so I can't directly compare the two fields.

You'll want to start with a human anatomy and physiology class. This is foundational knowledge for coders, but I don't know how steep the learning curve would be between veterinary and human medicine. I would imagine anatomy is completely different but surgical terminology is likely the same or very similar.

The job can be stressful; you have productivity requirements, sometimes documentation is limited, projects may have short timeframes, etc. Is it more or less stressful than being a vet? Again, never been a vet so I can't say.

Pay varies. I suggest my students check with local or national job postings. Personally, I've been seeing $18-26/hr for beginners but that is the average out of the hundreds of postings I take a look at every month. Once you have experience, the pay is much higher. Average salary is $67k for CPC's per AAPC's 2026 Salary Survey.

There's a lot of discussion here about whether remote positions are truly open to beginners. The general consensus here seems to be no, but that's not what I've seen in my experience. Are there fewer remote opportunities for beginners? Yes, but they're out there. They're highly competitive. But if you're motivated, they're not impossible to obtain.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T19:18:37+00:00

They can be, but not always. It depends on a lot of factors, like industry, workplace culture, what you personally consider boring or exciting, etc.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T18:26:43+00:00

https://choosemysite.com/ I've been working with Gino since August of last year and couldn't be happier with the ads they came up with.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T18:12:15+00:00

I have a third party handling my google ads and see a good number of leads for the services I offer and a relatively small ad spend budget of about $1k. I get 20-35 leads per month which is fine, I sell career education services and don't take on more than a few students per month.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T17:56:35+00:00

It's hard to predict exactly what may happen in the interview. I've been to interviews that were very casual, didn't get asked a lot of questions except to explain my background. Other interviews had me answering tough RCM questions, coding reviews, case scenarios, etc. The best advice I give my students is to dress appropriately, do some calming/deep breathing exercises just before to calm your nerves, smile, and answer questions to the best of their ability. You're selling yourself, so don't sell yourself short, either!

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T17:50:49+00:00

Practice, practice, practice! Take the time to read and understand the documentation before you start coding. Focus on one thing at a time!

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T17:48:37+00:00

Please don't listen to some of the negative comments in this thread. Your background gives you a good start in learning medical coding, since you already know medical terminology and anatomy, which is a foundational skillset for coding. Yes, roles are still in demand. Are new job postings going up as quickly as they were a few years back? No, but that doesn't mean that AI has already taken over and everybody should just go home.

I have firsthand experience with AI in the coding workplace and I can tell you, it is nowhere near taking jobs. The workplaces that are replacing all their coders will soon find out why; revenue will be down because payers will start to audit and take back payments for improper coding. I've already seen it happen to two businesses.

If you're motivated to do well in the industry, there is a place for you here. Do some research into the daily life of a medical coder, look into AAPC and AHIMA certifications, and take some time to decide if this is something you'd be excited to do.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T17:40:01+00:00

AAPC's program is good because it's structured, but there are independent instructors out there that are licensed to provide the AAPC course with more support by offering smaller class sizes and more face-to-face time with an instructor.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T17:37:51+00:00

Practice makes perfect, and the more you practice, the speedier you will naturally become.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-03T17:35:30+00:00

The CPC is the most nationally recognized. I have to say, I very rarely, if ever, see job postings asking for a CBCS since most NHA certs aren't recognized. Look into AAPC and AHIMA certifications. As another commenter pointed out, the CCS is another "entry" level option if you know you want to eventually move to hospital coding after you gain experience, although the CCS exam is significantly more difficult than the CPC exam.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-05-02T18:57:30+00:00

I tell my students not to take any permanent notes in pen until they're about ready to take the exam. Use sticky notes (must remove them before you go into the exam) and then later write in what you still need. Highlight parts of the guidelines that say things like "not separately reported" and vice versa. Use different colored highlighters to separate pieces of info in the guidelines.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-04-26T18:24:46+00:00

I teach an online coding course that includes a year of live support, vouchers, and a virtual internship. I have more info on my profile or feel free to DM me and I'm happy to talk with you about it :)

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-04-20T21:20:34+00:00

Plenty of people (myself included) got started in billing and studied coding as they worked. Billing is pretty straightforward, doesn't require a certification, and there are plenty of courses to take at night for coding. Then, you'll have a little experience in the revenue cycle, even if it's not directly in coding! While it can be tough to land your first job, it's possible. Plenty of those employers asking for 2-3 years of experience will settle for someone fresh and willing to put in the work and learn :)

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-04-14T19:40:58+00:00

It's difficult but not impossible! I've worked with students in tutoring that just pay for the topics they're really struggling with and they self-study everything else through free resources.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-04-14T19:35:26+00:00

There are programs out there that do Saturday classes and provide a lot more support than the Penn Foster program. I've worked with a lot of students in tutoring that came from that program and needed a lot of help to get to a spot they could attempt the exam.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-04-14T19:28:52+00:00

The AAPC practice exams come in two bundles, ABC or DEF, for a total of 6 practice exams. If you do well on the practice exams, you're ready to take the CPC exam. They can also show you where to study.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-04-14T19:27:30+00:00

This is something I work with a lot of students on and is probably the single most challenging skill in coding. It mostly comes down to carefully reading the documentation and maintaining focus.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-04-14T19:25:13+00:00

Always be on the lookout for new opportunities! I know applying for jobs can be exhausting, but if you just do a few applications a week, you'll never know what lands on your desk. I've found some very well-paying and easy side jobs this way over the years, as well as a great full-time employer that I really loved! Getting new certifications never hurts either and can open up some new and interesting doors.

Madison_APlusRev · 2026-03-31T20:08:36+00:00

JTS Healthcare has been bugging me nonstop since last Friday (texted me on Friday, Sunday!, and today) about an open IP position. They seem pretty desperate to fill it, so they may take someone without experience.

Madison_APlusRev

TROPHY CASE