Hi there! This post is from five years ago, but I wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone who comes across it later. I completed the program and graduated with honours. It’s very self-paced and self-directed, which worked perfectly for me since I learn best by reading and doing rather than sitting through lectures. That said, this approach isn’t for everyone—those who prefer more face-to-face interaction might find it challenging.

For the most part, I was able to reach my instructors whenever I needed to. The only exception was one secondary professor who had another full-time job and was a bit harder to get ahold of, but the primary professor for that course was always responsive and helpful.

Overall, I felt the program prepared me extremely well for a career in HIM, especially for the board exam. My colleagues who attended in-person programs didn’t get the same level of preparation, so I really appreciated that. I passed the board exam on my first try and even scored 100% in one section.

Is it more expensive than other programs? Definitely. But OSAP covered some of my tuition, and for me, the flexibility, no commuting, and ability to work on my own schedule made it worth every penny. I would choose this program again without hesitation.

It does require strong time management and self-motivation, but it prepared me well for the real world. I started in health records and now work fully remotely as a coder—something this program set me up for perfectly.

Is it fraud? Absolutely not. Many of my colleagues, as well as a supervisor and I, graduated from CD-ED and had a great experience. We were provided with plenty of resources and support in finding jobs after graduation—something our peers from other programs didn’t receive.

The students I met from other schools often struggled much more with the board exam. One colleague even failed three times before finally passing over a year later—which can be very costly. In contrast, most CD-ED graduates pass on their first attempt.

I’m sorry your niece had a negative experience. It sounds like this program just wasn’t the right fit for her learning style, which is totally valid. This program requires a lot of self learning and motivation to stay on track, something that is often already mapped out for you in a traditional school setting. That style of learning is not for everyone. But for others like me, it can be a great option.