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Going to start coding - help


Posted: Apr 04, 2010

I am wanting to start coding in the next month.  I have a question though.  Does it make a difference if you have a certificate or associates in it?  Is one better than the other?

Coding credentials - Redpen

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't believe you will be able to find a coding program that offers an associate's degree. Coding courses typically offer a certificate, or a piece of paper saying you completed the course.

Don't confuse "a certificate" with "certification." What really matters in coding is that you can pass an AHIMA or AAPC certification test (CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-H, etc.). That's what tells an employer that you're a good bet because you have at least the minimum knowledge and ability shown by that exam.

Associate degree programs are offered in health information technology, which includes coding along with other topics. It is not necessary to complete that kind of program for coding. They may take more than twice as long--time you could be working as a coder.

Many prospective coders take coding-only courses so that they can get up to speed in coding quickly, pass a certification exam, and begin working.

In many work situations in coding, a large majority of which are in the ambulatory setting, a health information technology degree is not considered necessary. It's the coding credential that counts.




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