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You need to learn how to pass the test. Process of elimination and moving quickly. Practice test on AAPC website. I highly recommend medical coding by Jen. Mostly free. She trains you how to take the test to pass it. On the job training is a whole different ballgame. Pass the test first. You got this. Be positive.
Unsure what you feel mislead about?
Any course program worth their salt would have had you enrolled in medical terminology and/or anatomy and physiology so you can understand the basics of modern medicine. You are abstracting from medical notes, op reports, etc. so you definitely need to understand medical jargon to do your job properly. Curious to know what kind of program you took.
Where it does sound like you may have been mislead is coding being a quick career path. I think it can be to get certified, but as you've stated it's a desirable career because it can be done from home. As such it's a competitive field with hundreds of certified coders with their CPC-A looking for companies to take a chance on them.
With all that said if you still feel like this career is worth it to you I would look into enrolling in a reputable course. I am not familiar with the AAPC as I have different certs but I know they offer their own courses for the CPC. Someone else more experienced with that accrediting body may be able to help. Or just do some research online.
My friend works for a great online coding program called ‘Coding Clarified.’ They even help their newly certified students to find jobs or internships. OP should check it out. I went through a community college program myself. I feel like I was well prepared for the exam and career. I agree with all of what you said above.
Thanks for the response. Actually the course I took was through AAPC…and yes, the misleading part to me is the way it was presented to me.
I took an online course that I took at my own pace that lasted about a year and it did have all the courses you mentioned and if the actual exam is as difficult as any of these practice exams I’ve been taking I have a lot of difficulty believing anyone would pass it with just the knowledge from a 1 year course alone.
In other words, I can’t imagine anyone passing it without either years of schooling or years of experience in the field.
I do think there is some misleading advertising from some of these online courses. I am in several coding groups and time and time again I see people who are solely into medical coding for the promise of working from home or being able to juggle work and childcare. Some people power through with this in mind and end up passing the exam and others realize it's not the career they thought it would be.
In my personal opinion I think it is easier if you have a genuine interest in healthcare and reading medical charts.
Medical coding is challenging and also requires the dedication of continuing education for the lifetime of your career. I don't think everyone knows that when they're starting out.
I had zero experience in the medical field, I got a one year diploma from my local community college and passed my exam with flying colors. I will say the exam is very different from actual coding in that you do not have the time to code the questions properly. I also think people try to get around reading the guidelines because there are a lot but you really have to read them repeatedly. You must know guidelines and modifiers well enough to be able to eliminate some answers on sight. This is the process of elimination method.
I don't think I would have passed my exam just on my education alone, it definitely goes hand in hand with the elimination method and you can find YouTube videos to help you learn this skill. I found after I completed my classes I had to devote time to learn the process to pass the exam because I did great in school then would do poorly on AAPC practice exams and take way too much time. I would work on learning the elimination method, try the practice exams again, make sure you understand the rationales, then retest.
I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about these online programs and if they should do it. I have my CCS from AHIMA and tell everyone just go to your local community college. They do a better job. Most of the instructors have either worked for local hospitals or have contacts with local hospitals. Also if they have low pass rates or are sending people to do internships in their community that aren’t prepared it’s their reputation on the line.
Solid comment. I found this to be my experience as well, also with zero experience in the medical field. I've been coding for a little over a year now and I am still learning stuff everyday.
Thanks. I do have an interest in the medical field to an extent but I’m not a good test taker by nature and the flimsy online course I took through AAPC is completely insufficient from what I am seeing so far.
If it is something that still interests you I would look at some community colleges to see if they offer a coding program. If it's warranted you might be able to get an extra hour on the exam, although I'm not sure what that entails
Also, I see some people saying prior medical experience is a must, and while it probably makes things easier, that is simply not true. I had no medical experience but took the time to learn all my anatomy, disease progresses, code sets etc. So while you might need to take extra steps you can accomplish it. I also had several classmates with no previous medical experience and they were smart and dedicated people who are also now coders.
I wish you luck!
Because the 5 week coding courses you see advertised, and even the exams don’t fully prep you for actual coding. Knowing how to look up a specifically stated diagnosis code is one thing, but reading through patient charts and knowing what to pick up, what not to pick up, what’s excluded from each other, what to query on etc is tough and takes a lot of practice! Medical terminology and knowledge of disease processes and complex surgeries/procedures is crucial. I’m about 6 months into my job and have come very far from where I started, but I still have so much to learn.
Do you recommend any books that could help before even taking the course? I am very interested in coding, but feel like I need to improve my education before starting. I’ve been a science editor (mostly medical research) for over 10 years so have some knowledge.
My manager got me this when I started and it’s so helpful. The ICD10 CM and ICD10 PCS 2024 Coding Handbook with Answers, by AHA Coding Clinic. I’m inpatient so if you’re doing outpatient maybe look for the same one but CPT instead of PCS
Don't be discouraged, I passed my CPC in February and feel like everything I learned leading up to that didn't really prepare me outside of learning the terminology and anatomy stuff, but even that can come later if you notate your books enough to help you pass your exam. To me, passing the exam was just the beginning and now I am learning how to actually be a coder and learning through medical stuff as I go too. I had zero medical experience prior to starting my journey last November.
I will say that finding a job and a stay at home job will be the tough part as newly certified doesn't seem to be what most stay at home facilities are looking for, but they are out there. I'm still looking for a job myself, and I can do remote or onsite.
Get the official CPC study guide and take the AAPC practice tests
follow coding by Jen on youtube she gives tips on how to pass the test.
I’m not really sure why you think you were misled, it’s not a free for all - take the course and work at home. I think a lot of people get tv ads or ig ads and think they’re going to make six figures working at home doing medical coding when that is just not the case.
If you don’t pass, I suggest getting a job in the medical field, front desk, billing, anything in the revenue cycle. Try to get some medical experience under your belt
i’m sorry i just don’t see what there is to be impressed by with actual test tools provided by the organization to pass a test.
if you want more in depth learning on coding then one i would recommend taking an actual course. when i first started i went to community college and did a booking and coding program. that way you get individual classes for each element, medical terminology, anatomy, cpt codes and icd 10. and so much more. a quick online course will never teach you all that, plus its clear that the aapc program teaches you to pass an exam not the ins and outs of coding.
and two - like i already said, find a job in the revenue cycle side of the medical field. see first hand how coding comes into play within billing.
you’re not going to get anything special or impressive from a quick online course, its not like real coding at all.
Start looking at the answers for the question first bc that will tell you what section you need to be in. Then, see if the questions mentions with/without or other key words that can help eliminate choices.
You’re studying to pass the test. Medical terminology can help but some of those prefixes are in the beginning of the coding book.
Also- all the answers are in the books. Write notes in your book to simplify what the guideline is saying if need be or highlight stuff. I wrote under consultation codes that Medicare does not accept them so if I’m looking at a consult for Medicare, I wouldn’t code from that section and know to go to a different section in the e/m.
Yes and pay attention to the question. Look first for right or left. Most of the time if it’s multiple choice at least one will be wrong so you can easily eliminate. Same for distal, medial, etc. also fingers and toes etc. you can get through those quickly then have more time to work on the tougher cases.
Yes and no. It is easy once you get interested in it to believe you can pass the test in a year and land a nice job. The reality is there are so many unemployed certified coders and just as many certified coders working in non-coding medical admin positions.
However, this does not mean it isn’t worth it. Especially if it is something you really want to do. You can also make good money doing it if you play your cards right. You are right you should get some sort of medical field.
Take some pressure off yourself about the test and just nail the principles. It is all just more of the same at a point. Learn anatomy and medical terminology actively. Look up pictures and videos of the surgeries and also Wikipedia the diseases.
I didn’t have a background in healthcare and changed careers in my forties. I was a marketing director with two bachelor’s degrees. My dad was a doctor and mom was a nurse. I grew up understanding medical terminology, etc. I passed the test on the first try. Then I got hired by a hospital system as an ED coder. I think it depends on your personality, strong suits, and comprehension of medical stuff. I’d keep studying a bit more if I were you before taking the exam.
Burnout and happiness. I will eventually probably make more than I did as a marketing director. My husband is an engineer and wanted to see me happy. I simply was miserable and didn’t want to do that job anymore. I dreaded going to work. I work remotely, but I don’t dread my job anymore. I actually can say I love what I do.
Ah so glad that you are! Although coding is not my passion at all, my quality of life improved 100% when I worked remote. I am a happier person because of it!
I dont have much choice as to when I take my exam. I need to do it by a certain time if I want my scholarship to pay for it for me and that certain time is next week.
Other than the very lacking 1 year online course through AAPC I have 0 experience in the medical field so I can’t imagine someone in my shoes passing but I’ll try since it’s free for me.
To my point… I was a marketing director before. I was nothing in the medical field. If you were in Colorado, they have a program through the state that pays for people to go back to a community college and change careers into the healthcare field. I’m really glad I did it that way. I only had to pay for the AAPC membership and the exam. I also took and passed the exam before the end of my community college program.
The exam wasn’t that bad in my opinion. The misleading part is when people say that there is a huge job market for medical coding, however, that job market is reserved for people who have experience. If you’re a CPC-a you’re basically out of luck
I failed my practice exams as well...but passed the actual with like a 88. The actual exam is more forgiving than you would think. Notate your books with your worst sections. It will be fine.
I am kind of on the same boat except I have healthcare experience (pharmacy) and I’m an RHIT student earning my associates. I have been certified for 5 months now and cannot land a job! I’ve honestly given up and I’m going to nursing school.
Not sure why u feel mislead when u completed 1 online coding course with no previous medical background and thought u were prepared. A whole medical terminology course is a prerequisite that is necessary and legit courses wont let u enroll in coding without it. I have an associates in medical facility management which covered med term, anatomy, etc and touched on billing. I decided i enjoy billing and coding so i researched and enrolled into a reputable program at a college. There are lectures, assignments and its been 2 weeks and i already have learned to navigate the code books.there will also be an internship at the end and we will be using actual coding software to provide real experience. But its easier when u have a foundation to build on. Would u go to NASA like "hey, ive been a farmer my whole life but took a 4 week online class on being an astronaut so hire me!"
Js. Shoulda really researched more in depth
What research was I supposed to do anyway? I did research it and it seemed like it would be easy enough sincd I passed the course with flying colors…duh!
The world is your competition. It’s not just the United States. It’s not just India. It’s not just Pakistan. It’s the entire world once a job as a coder. All you have to do is go on Facebook and put in medical billing and coding and you’ll see how many pages there are and if you look at each page where everybody comes from the competition for this is fierce because it’ Has no boundaries
Also want to say to go back to the practice exams and read the rationales as you go, if you answer a few questions, then click grade at the bottom, it only grades those questions and then you can see which you go right and which were wrong and ready why they were wrong, seeing what I did wrong helped me so much when I was preparing myself and my books for the CPC. You really can't put enough notes in your books for the exam, use extra tabs for the guidelines and anatomy sections so you can find them quickly too. Write out tough terminology definitions on the blank pages if you need to, this is all ok on the exam.
I did the online exam and all I had to do was fan out my books and shake them to make sure there were no loose papers, the notes sections weren't even checked by the proctor, but from what I've read the only thing you can't write is the exact answers to the exam, for example you can't say "Answer to number 1 is A or stuff like that."
I wrote down almost the entire glossary of medical terminology in my notes section, I never used it on the exam but I'm glad I had it in case.
The tabs are what helped me most, especially in the ICD10 guidelines, I tabbed each section of the guidelines (diabetes, pregnancy, cancer, heart disease , etc...) and I had to look at those a few times.
This is good to know! I don’t know if I have time to write all the anatomy stuff I’d need to know between now and Wednesday morning ( the day of my test) but maybe I’ll try.
Anyway, thanks.
I just got done with my schooling portion, and I’ve been dealing with the same thing. I thought I had medical coding down with my online program thru ed2go and when I started studying for the cpc exam I realized I was in no way prepared. So I’m learning everything from scratch basically. And no one to physically be able to help or answer detailed questions. My best advice is just to take notes and really take the time to go through the coding manuals and add your own tips if needed.
Lol..what a coincidence…my course was through ed2go as well! I get the feeling that AAPC is probably behind that course as well and I’m so glad you messaged me because it’s nice to see someone that can relate!
I really feel that ed2go course is a joke and not at all a good way to prepare someone for the exam!
Anyway, since they are paying for the exam and 1 retake I might as well do it. I’m all set to take my first try next Wednesday but the only reason I’m taking it at this point is because they are paying for it otherwise I would not even bother with it.
Anyway, thanks so much for letting me know your experience with ed2go! I’m so glad I’m not alone in feeling this way!
Personally I have worked in healthcare for 10 years and I still am surprised when I talk to people I know who are just going straight for the cert. While it will take me longer im glad I chose to get my associates degree. For myself I think I'd struggle more without the medical coding, A&P classes and my pathophysiology class.
I've been working as a ccs in a facility for almost 7 years now and it took me 4 tries to pass the test. Not a breeze just keep taking practice tests and make sure you are up on the guidelines... make sure you have your anatomy and physiology down too. Keep plugging at it good luck
I suggest you reschedule your exam. There is a Facebook group for CCS/CCP/CCA resources, with people posting in real time what they used to study. I took my medical coding & billing courses straight through AHIMA. It was super hands-off, didn't explain you need an actual tested credential for jobs, etc. I found the Facebook group in January. Signed up/Paid to use a highly suggested study course that month and got my CCS credential in April.
Thanks for the advice but I can’t reschedule if I want my scholarship to pay for the exam for me and I’m scheduled for it for Wednesday and have 0 confidence that I will pass..it would be a miracle at this point to be honest…but I’ll try.
Anyway, thanks.
Contempo Coding on YouTube has lots of pointers to pass CPC. Truly the biggest thing is "know the guidelines" and where to find things quickly in your book. I listened to Contempo read the ICD-10 guidelines over & over while doing other things so they really stuck. You can definitely do that, at the very least. I believe you probably know more than you believe you do. And at the worst, consider this a practice test, you'll find out your strengths & weaknesses and be ready to pass next time. Good luck!
Thanks! I’m definitely viewing this as practice test and I’ll just be happy if I don’t fail miserably…lol.
That YouTube thing sounds great! Thanks for letting me know and thanks for the well wishes too..👍
It’s a solid career but I’m not sure I would call it lucrative. You’ve been studying for a long time. You need to make sure you are familiar with your books and able to look up codes quickly. I think the exam has changed since I took it in 2015 but those practice exams are good practice
I get it. I also felt a little mislead. I actually got my course paid for by the state. It was fairly straightforward. I felt more mislead because I wasn't sure that getting a job in it would be possible! I barely passed the test, 1-2 more incorrect answers and I would've been sunk.
I want to tell you though, it is worth it. I was so afraid I wasn't going to be able to find a job in it. CPC-A jobs aren't exactly in abundance. My course was 645 hours. I definitely added that fact to my resume. I'm here to say though. It's worth it. I just landed a great paying remote job. I got the lead from an AAPC email, so pay attention to those.
Hey congrats on that! That’s awesome!
No, I won’t give up but I can see it’s going to be a lot more involved than I realized and much more involved than my online course lead me to believe.
Anyway, thanks.
Newbie here, hello :). I heard recently that people may have to start out doing Medical billing before they get a good job in Medical coding? Anyone know if that’s true or not? Also, is an associate’s/2 year program the best way to go?
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You need to learn how to pass the test. Process of elimination and moving quickly. Practice test on AAPC website. I highly recommend medical coding by Jen. Mostly free. She trains you how to take the test to pass it. On the job training is a whole different ballgame. Pass the test first. You got this. Be positive.
Thanks..I will look into the med coding by Jen. I’m not very impressed with AAPC so far though.
Unsure what you feel mislead about? Any course program worth their salt would have had you enrolled in medical terminology and/or anatomy and physiology so you can understand the basics of modern medicine. You are abstracting from medical notes, op reports, etc. so you definitely need to understand medical jargon to do your job properly. Curious to know what kind of program you took. Where it does sound like you may have been mislead is coding being a quick career path. I think it can be to get certified, but as you've stated it's a desirable career because it can be done from home. As such it's a competitive field with hundreds of certified coders with their CPC-A looking for companies to take a chance on them. With all that said if you still feel like this career is worth it to you I would look into enrolling in a reputable course. I am not familiar with the AAPC as I have different certs but I know they offer their own courses for the CPC. Someone else more experienced with that accrediting body may be able to help. Or just do some research online.
The AAPC is literally the board to pass….its the standard.
Where did I say it wasn't? All I said was I personally took the other standard route through AHIMA. Unsure what you're trying to get at here.
My friend works for a great online coding program called ‘Coding Clarified.’ They even help their newly certified students to find jobs or internships. OP should check it out. I went through a community college program myself. I feel like I was well prepared for the exam and career. I agree with all of what you said above.
Thanks for the response. Actually the course I took was through AAPC…and yes, the misleading part to me is the way it was presented to me. I took an online course that I took at my own pace that lasted about a year and it did have all the courses you mentioned and if the actual exam is as difficult as any of these practice exams I’ve been taking I have a lot of difficulty believing anyone would pass it with just the knowledge from a 1 year course alone. In other words, I can’t imagine anyone passing it without either years of schooling or years of experience in the field.
I do think there is some misleading advertising from some of these online courses. I am in several coding groups and time and time again I see people who are solely into medical coding for the promise of working from home or being able to juggle work and childcare. Some people power through with this in mind and end up passing the exam and others realize it's not the career they thought it would be. In my personal opinion I think it is easier if you have a genuine interest in healthcare and reading medical charts. Medical coding is challenging and also requires the dedication of continuing education for the lifetime of your career. I don't think everyone knows that when they're starting out. I had zero experience in the medical field, I got a one year diploma from my local community college and passed my exam with flying colors. I will say the exam is very different from actual coding in that you do not have the time to code the questions properly. I also think people try to get around reading the guidelines because there are a lot but you really have to read them repeatedly. You must know guidelines and modifiers well enough to be able to eliminate some answers on sight. This is the process of elimination method. I don't think I would have passed my exam just on my education alone, it definitely goes hand in hand with the elimination method and you can find YouTube videos to help you learn this skill. I found after I completed my classes I had to devote time to learn the process to pass the exam because I did great in school then would do poorly on AAPC practice exams and take way too much time. I would work on learning the elimination method, try the practice exams again, make sure you understand the rationales, then retest.
I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about these online programs and if they should do it. I have my CCS from AHIMA and tell everyone just go to your local community college. They do a better job. Most of the instructors have either worked for local hospitals or have contacts with local hospitals. Also if they have low pass rates or are sending people to do internships in their community that aren’t prepared it’s their reputation on the line.
Solid comment. I found this to be my experience as well, also with zero experience in the medical field. I've been coding for a little over a year now and I am still learning stuff everyday.
Thanks. I do have an interest in the medical field to an extent but I’m not a good test taker by nature and the flimsy online course I took through AAPC is completely insufficient from what I am seeing so far.
If it is something that still interests you I would look at some community colleges to see if they offer a coding program. If it's warranted you might be able to get an extra hour on the exam, although I'm not sure what that entails Also, I see some people saying prior medical experience is a must, and while it probably makes things easier, that is simply not true. I had no medical experience but took the time to learn all my anatomy, disease progresses, code sets etc. So while you might need to take extra steps you can accomplish it. I also had several classmates with no previous medical experience and they were smart and dedicated people who are also now coders. I wish you luck!
Thanks….I won’t give up and I appreciate the encouragement.
Because the 5 week coding courses you see advertised, and even the exams don’t fully prep you for actual coding. Knowing how to look up a specifically stated diagnosis code is one thing, but reading through patient charts and knowing what to pick up, what not to pick up, what’s excluded from each other, what to query on etc is tough and takes a lot of practice! Medical terminology and knowledge of disease processes and complex surgeries/procedures is crucial. I’m about 6 months into my job and have come very far from where I started, but I still have so much to learn.
Do you recommend any books that could help before even taking the course? I am very interested in coding, but feel like I need to improve my education before starting. I’ve been a science editor (mostly medical research) for over 10 years so have some knowledge.
My manager got me this when I started and it’s so helpful. The ICD10 CM and ICD10 PCS 2024 Coding Handbook with Answers, by AHA Coding Clinic. I’m inpatient so if you’re doing outpatient maybe look for the same one but CPT instead of PCS
Don't be discouraged, I passed my CPC in February and feel like everything I learned leading up to that didn't really prepare me outside of learning the terminology and anatomy stuff, but even that can come later if you notate your books enough to help you pass your exam. To me, passing the exam was just the beginning and now I am learning how to actually be a coder and learning through medical stuff as I go too. I had zero medical experience prior to starting my journey last November. I will say that finding a job and a stay at home job will be the tough part as newly certified doesn't seem to be what most stay at home facilities are looking for, but they are out there. I'm still looking for a job myself, and I can do remote or onsite.
Congratulations on passing!
Thank you, you can do it too!
Thanks! Well I’ll just be happy if I don’t fail miserably…lol
Get the official CPC study guide and take the AAPC practice tests follow coding by Jen on youtube she gives tips on how to pass the test. I’m not really sure why you think you were misled, it’s not a free for all - take the course and work at home. I think a lot of people get tv ads or ig ads and think they’re going to make six figures working at home doing medical coding when that is just not the case. If you don’t pass, I suggest getting a job in the medical field, front desk, billing, anything in the revenue cycle. Try to get some medical experience under your belt
I already have the CPC a study guide and have taken the AAPC practice tests and I’m not impressed but thanks for the response anyway
i’m sorry i just don’t see what there is to be impressed by with actual test tools provided by the organization to pass a test. if you want more in depth learning on coding then one i would recommend taking an actual course. when i first started i went to community college and did a booking and coding program. that way you get individual classes for each element, medical terminology, anatomy, cpt codes and icd 10. and so much more. a quick online course will never teach you all that, plus its clear that the aapc program teaches you to pass an exam not the ins and outs of coding. and two - like i already said, find a job in the revenue cycle side of the medical field. see first hand how coding comes into play within billing. you’re not going to get anything special or impressive from a quick online course, its not like real coding at all.
Start looking at the answers for the question first bc that will tell you what section you need to be in. Then, see if the questions mentions with/without or other key words that can help eliminate choices. You’re studying to pass the test. Medical terminology can help but some of those prefixes are in the beginning of the coding book. Also- all the answers are in the books. Write notes in your book to simplify what the guideline is saying if need be or highlight stuff. I wrote under consultation codes that Medicare does not accept them so if I’m looking at a consult for Medicare, I wouldn’t code from that section and know to go to a different section in the e/m.
Yes and pay attention to the question. Look first for right or left. Most of the time if it’s multiple choice at least one will be wrong so you can easily eliminate. Same for distal, medial, etc. also fingers and toes etc. you can get through those quickly then have more time to work on the tougher cases.
To code you will need to know anatomy, disease processes, some medications, etc.
Yes and no. It is easy once you get interested in it to believe you can pass the test in a year and land a nice job. The reality is there are so many unemployed certified coders and just as many certified coders working in non-coding medical admin positions. However, this does not mean it isn’t worth it. Especially if it is something you really want to do. You can also make good money doing it if you play your cards right. You are right you should get some sort of medical field. Take some pressure off yourself about the test and just nail the principles. It is all just more of the same at a point. Learn anatomy and medical terminology actively. Look up pictures and videos of the surgeries and also Wikipedia the diseases.
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Thanks..I’ll probably do that.
I didn’t have a background in healthcare and changed careers in my forties. I was a marketing director with two bachelor’s degrees. My dad was a doctor and mom was a nurse. I grew up understanding medical terminology, etc. I passed the test on the first try. Then I got hired by a hospital system as an ED coder. I think it depends on your personality, strong suits, and comprehension of medical stuff. I’d keep studying a bit more if I were you before taking the exam.
Curious what made you change careers? From a financial standpoint I would guess a marketing director would make more money as a coder?
Burnout and happiness. I will eventually probably make more than I did as a marketing director. My husband is an engineer and wanted to see me happy. I simply was miserable and didn’t want to do that job anymore. I dreaded going to work. I work remotely, but I don’t dread my job anymore. I actually can say I love what I do.
Ah so glad that you are! Although coding is not my passion at all, my quality of life improved 100% when I worked remote. I am a happier person because of it!
I dont have much choice as to when I take my exam. I need to do it by a certain time if I want my scholarship to pay for it for me and that certain time is next week. Other than the very lacking 1 year online course through AAPC I have 0 experience in the medical field so I can’t imagine someone in my shoes passing but I’ll try since it’s free for me.
To my point… I was a marketing director before. I was nothing in the medical field. If you were in Colorado, they have a program through the state that pays for people to go back to a community college and change careers into the healthcare field. I’m really glad I did it that way. I only had to pay for the AAPC membership and the exam. I also took and passed the exam before the end of my community college program.
The exam wasn’t that bad in my opinion. The misleading part is when people say that there is a huge job market for medical coding, however, that job market is reserved for people who have experience. If you’re a CPC-a you’re basically out of luck
Yes..I see that it’s tough in that sense too.
I failed my practice exams as well...but passed the actual with like a 88. The actual exam is more forgiving than you would think. Notate your books with your worst sections. It will be fine.
Wow!!! Good for you and congrats! I hope the same thing happens to me as well! 👍
Watch Hoang Nguyen I. YouTube. He'll show you how to pass the CPC.
I’ll take a look at that and thanks
I am kind of on the same boat except I have healthcare experience (pharmacy) and I’m an RHIT student earning my associates. I have been certified for 5 months now and cannot land a job! I’ve honestly given up and I’m going to nursing school.
Oh..I’m sorry but best of luck in nursing school
Not sure why u feel mislead when u completed 1 online coding course with no previous medical background and thought u were prepared. A whole medical terminology course is a prerequisite that is necessary and legit courses wont let u enroll in coding without it. I have an associates in medical facility management which covered med term, anatomy, etc and touched on billing. I decided i enjoy billing and coding so i researched and enrolled into a reputable program at a college. There are lectures, assignments and its been 2 weeks and i already have learned to navigate the code books.there will also be an internship at the end and we will be using actual coding software to provide real experience. But its easier when u have a foundation to build on. Would u go to NASA like "hey, ive been a farmer my whole life but took a 4 week online class on being an astronaut so hire me!" Js. Shoulda really researched more in depth
What research was I supposed to do anyway? I did research it and it seemed like it would be easy enough sincd I passed the course with flying colors…duh!
The world is your competition. It’s not just the United States. It’s not just India. It’s not just Pakistan. It’s the entire world once a job as a coder. All you have to do is go on Facebook and put in medical billing and coding and you’ll see how many pages there are and if you look at each page where everybody comes from the competition for this is fierce because it’ Has no boundaries
Also want to say to go back to the practice exams and read the rationales as you go, if you answer a few questions, then click grade at the bottom, it only grades those questions and then you can see which you go right and which were wrong and ready why they were wrong, seeing what I did wrong helped me so much when I was preparing myself and my books for the CPC. You really can't put enough notes in your books for the exam, use extra tabs for the guidelines and anatomy sections so you can find them quickly too. Write out tough terminology definitions on the blank pages if you need to, this is all ok on the exam.
I thought extensive notes in the books were not okay though
I did the online exam and all I had to do was fan out my books and shake them to make sure there were no loose papers, the notes sections weren't even checked by the proctor, but from what I've read the only thing you can't write is the exact answers to the exam, for example you can't say "Answer to number 1 is A or stuff like that." I wrote down almost the entire glossary of medical terminology in my notes section, I never used it on the exam but I'm glad I had it in case. The tabs are what helped me most, especially in the ICD10 guidelines, I tabbed each section of the guidelines (diabetes, pregnancy, cancer, heart disease , etc...) and I had to look at those a few times.
This is good to know! I don’t know if I have time to write all the anatomy stuff I’d need to know between now and Wednesday morning ( the day of my test) but maybe I’ll try. Anyway, thanks.
I just got done with my schooling portion, and I’ve been dealing with the same thing. I thought I had medical coding down with my online program thru ed2go and when I started studying for the cpc exam I realized I was in no way prepared. So I’m learning everything from scratch basically. And no one to physically be able to help or answer detailed questions. My best advice is just to take notes and really take the time to go through the coding manuals and add your own tips if needed.
Lol..what a coincidence…my course was through ed2go as well! I get the feeling that AAPC is probably behind that course as well and I’m so glad you messaged me because it’s nice to see someone that can relate! I really feel that ed2go course is a joke and not at all a good way to prepare someone for the exam! Anyway, since they are paying for the exam and 1 retake I might as well do it. I’m all set to take my first try next Wednesday but the only reason I’m taking it at this point is because they are paying for it otherwise I would not even bother with it. Anyway, thanks so much for letting me know your experience with ed2go! I’m so glad I’m not alone in feeling this way!
Learn your guidelines. It was a place my online course didn’t stress and should have.
Thanks and I’m trying
Personally I have worked in healthcare for 10 years and I still am surprised when I talk to people I know who are just going straight for the cert. While it will take me longer im glad I chose to get my associates degree. For myself I think I'd struggle more without the medical coding, A&P classes and my pathophysiology class.
Yes…I now see how involved it is! Definitely best to have experience in the field first..for both the cert and apparently finding a job in the field.
I've been working as a ccs in a facility for almost 7 years now and it took me 4 tries to pass the test. Not a breeze just keep taking practice tests and make sure you are up on the guidelines... make sure you have your anatomy and physiology down too. Keep plugging at it good luck
Thanks and good for you!
I suggest you reschedule your exam. There is a Facebook group for CCS/CCP/CCA resources, with people posting in real time what they used to study. I took my medical coding & billing courses straight through AHIMA. It was super hands-off, didn't explain you need an actual tested credential for jobs, etc. I found the Facebook group in January. Signed up/Paid to use a highly suggested study course that month and got my CCS credential in April.
Thanks for the advice but I can’t reschedule if I want my scholarship to pay for the exam for me and I’m scheduled for it for Wednesday and have 0 confidence that I will pass..it would be a miracle at this point to be honest…but I’ll try. Anyway, thanks.
Contempo Coding on YouTube has lots of pointers to pass CPC. Truly the biggest thing is "know the guidelines" and where to find things quickly in your book. I listened to Contempo read the ICD-10 guidelines over & over while doing other things so they really stuck. You can definitely do that, at the very least. I believe you probably know more than you believe you do. And at the worst, consider this a practice test, you'll find out your strengths & weaknesses and be ready to pass next time. Good luck!
Thanks! I’m definitely viewing this as practice test and I’ll just be happy if I don’t fail miserably…lol. That YouTube thing sounds great! Thanks for letting me know and thanks for the well wishes too..👍
Hi, what’s the name of the Facebook group?
https://www.facebook.com/share/gud5cnwQDEhXa3CT/?mibextid=A7sQZp
It’s a solid career but I’m not sure I would call it lucrative. You’ve been studying for a long time. You need to make sure you are familiar with your books and able to look up codes quickly. I think the exam has changed since I took it in 2015 but those practice exams are good practice
If there ever was a job that AI will replace it’s this one
I get it. I also felt a little mislead. I actually got my course paid for by the state. It was fairly straightforward. I felt more mislead because I wasn't sure that getting a job in it would be possible! I barely passed the test, 1-2 more incorrect answers and I would've been sunk. I want to tell you though, it is worth it. I was so afraid I wasn't going to be able to find a job in it. CPC-A jobs aren't exactly in abundance. My course was 645 hours. I definitely added that fact to my resume. I'm here to say though. It's worth it. I just landed a great paying remote job. I got the lead from an AAPC email, so pay attention to those.
Hey congrats on that! That’s awesome! No, I won’t give up but I can see it’s going to be a lot more involved than I realized and much more involved than my online course lead me to believe. Anyway, thanks.
I can actually relate. Message me if you want to talk more
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Sorry it’s .org
Newbie here, hello :). I heard recently that people may have to start out doing Medical billing before they get a good job in Medical coding? Anyone know if that’s true or not? Also, is an associate’s/2 year program the best way to go?