Getting a medical coding certification
June 25, 2015 8:05 AM Subscribe
Is it possible to pass the CPC coding exam without having a degree in Health Information Management? I need to know if this is a foolish idea or if it can be done. No Costco vodka is involved
Is it possible to take the CPC coding exam and pass it without a degree? I will use the study aids from their website, but I need to know if it's a good idea or if I will just fail without college.
More info: I have 10 years experience working in doctors' offices and working medical insurance claims. I was recently taking college classes to get my AS in HIM, but then moved states for my husbands job. Out of state tuition is expensive and the nearest college that teaches gives an AS in HIM is an hour away. The good jobs want this certification and I'm a quick learner and really enjoy the what little coding I've done. I'm sure I can pass the test with the degree, but please tell me of its possible without the degree
Is it possible to take the CPC coding exam and pass it without a degree? I will use the study aids from their website, but I need to know if it's a good idea or if I will just fail without college.
More info: I have 10 years experience working in doctors' offices and working medical insurance claims. I was recently taking college classes to get my AS in HIM, but then moved states for my husbands job. Out of state tuition is expensive and the nearest college that teaches gives an AS in HIM is an hour away. The good jobs want this certification and I'm a quick learner and really enjoy the what little coding I've done. I'm sure I can pass the test with the degree, but please tell me of its possible without the degree
I don't think she's certified, but my sis-in-law works in this industry and has no degree whatsoever.
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:28 AM on June 25, 2015
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:28 AM on June 25, 2015
Best answer: My not on the green best friend says:
It’s totally possible to pass the CPC exam without a HIM degree, I did it 8 years ago through use of the study materials and my work experience and still don’t have one. (My degree is in public health.) If you don’t have the formal documented education when you take the exam, your credential will start out as a CPC-A, apprentice, and you lose the A when you provide documentation of either the education or two years work experience as a coder. The other thing to note is that maintaining the credential requires continuing education units, which can be a pain in the butt to acquire at a reasonable price if you don’t have a workplace that provides them through webinar subscriptions or the like. I’m not sure at this point whether the exam is covering ICD-9, ICD-10 or both, so you’d want to follow up on that so you know what to study for, but again that’s probably in their study materials.
Also, HIM degrees *tend* (not always, but usually) to train for AHIMA’s RHIT certification, not the CPC, which is slightly different - one of my coworkers is actually going to end up having to maintain both certs, because her HIM program requires AHIMA membership, but she personally prefers the AAPC as an organization.
posted by joycehealy at 8:37 AM on June 25, 2015
It’s totally possible to pass the CPC exam without a HIM degree, I did it 8 years ago through use of the study materials and my work experience and still don’t have one. (My degree is in public health.) If you don’t have the formal documented education when you take the exam, your credential will start out as a CPC-A, apprentice, and you lose the A when you provide documentation of either the education or two years work experience as a coder. The other thing to note is that maintaining the credential requires continuing education units, which can be a pain in the butt to acquire at a reasonable price if you don’t have a workplace that provides them through webinar subscriptions or the like. I’m not sure at this point whether the exam is covering ICD-9, ICD-10 or both, so you’d want to follow up on that so you know what to study for, but again that’s probably in their study materials.
Also, HIM degrees *tend* (not always, but usually) to train for AHIMA’s RHIT certification, not the CPC, which is slightly different - one of my coworkers is actually going to end up having to maintain both certs, because her HIM program requires AHIMA membership, but she personally prefers the AAPC as an organization.
posted by joycehealy at 8:37 AM on June 25, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mittens at 8:23 AM on June 25, 2015