Medical Coding Certification

[tr4dj88]

I am taking medical coding classes through my local technical college. I'm having trouble getting my teacher to respond to me through email, so I thought I would try asking here.

I only have one class left. However, my teacher told me to take a class that isn't on my list of classes. She said I would get certified through that class. I don't know if she meant that she would help us set a date to take the certification exam or what. I can't get any more info out of her.

An advisor said that we didn't need that extra class that isn't on the list. She said you can't get certified unless you have 2 years experience working in the medical coding field first.

Does anyone know the process of getting certified? Do you have to have 2 years experience before you can certify? I assumed the college would help us set up a date to take the exam to certify or at least give us the information on it. I don't know what to do anymore. My last quarter starts next week and I don't know if I should be taking that extra class or not.

Has anyone got their medical coding certification through a tech college? How did you have to go about taking the exam to certify?

I'm just clueless on the certifcation process.

Thanks for any information.

[brunzemt]

Try aapc.com

ahima.org

[mom2mom]

I PM'd you.

[KozysMom]

What is the extra class?

It is my understanding (I'm also in a coding course), that you can take the certification exam once you are done with your courses. However, if you pass the exam, you are then certified, but you have an "A" after your CPC-A. This means you are an apprentice. Once you work under someone for 2 years, the "A" will drop off. My instructor advised me, that since I'm taking the course under her (she has over 30 years experience and is registered to teach), that once I finish the 80 hour course, I will only have to work one year and my "A" will drop off.

You can refer to Medical Coding, Medical Billing - American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) for more information.

Good luck!

Cyndi

[mom2mom]

Originally Posted by KozysMom

What is the extra class?

It is my understanding (I'm also in a coding course), that you can take the certification exam once you are done with your courses. However, if you pass the exam, you are then certified, but you have an "A" after your CPC-A. This means you are an apprentice. Once you work under someone for 2 years, the "A" will drop off. My instructor advised me, that since I'm taking the course under her (she has over 30 years experience and is registered to teach), that once I finish the 80 hour course, I will only have to work one year and my "A" will drop off.

You can refer to Medical Coding, Medical Billing - American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) for more information.

Good luck!

Cyndi

Great response!

[tr4dj88]

The class is BUS 2370 Medical Office Billing/Coding/Insurance.

I think its for the medical secretary diploma or something, I don't know why she said to take it. It's like an introduction to coding class or something. That's what I can't understand. This is a class for people who are just touching on the subject........not for the actual coding students. She said something about that's how I would take the certification exam though.

So, how do you certify? The school doesn't set that up for you? The reason I ask is b/c I know with nursing and all that........they set up the times for the students to take their certification exams and they do it together. I assumed it would be the same way with this. Am I wrong about that? Are we just on our own to certify?

Thank you all for your responses.

[babygirl83]

Hello, I also am interested in coding. I would like to know how long it takes to go through the training process. Are there other types of coding too?

[stacyrae]

You get certified thru AHIMA or AAPC. You will need to decide which one you want. They both have A's behind certifications if you are newly starting out. AAPC you will need to wait 2 years to get the A off the end. AHIMA you can start off with the A then take the regular CCS test to get the A off. You don't need any specific class to take the certification tests. You really need a good understanding of coding.