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information on how the CCS exam process works - Almost Ready

Posted: Mar 27, 2012

I'm looking for some information on how the CCS exam process works, i.e., how long is the exam, etc. I understand you can bring your books, which books do they allow? Thanks in advance.

Complete info is on AHIMA website - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Not trying to be snooty. It really is all there. There is a considerable amount. You do not want to take the advice of anyone but them. They have a new test company, so we would not know for sure.

It is easy to find. You have to find it before you can register, anyway.

After you find it, we can amswer specific questions about it.

CCS Exam - Almost Ready

[ In Reply To ..]
I really wanted to get an understanding of how the test is run from someone who took the test, not from AHIMA. I know they have a testing company, I know you have to pay in advance, you can bring books, but I don't know which ones. I was told if you have too much writing in them, they may take your books away, so what's that all about; I've been hesitant to write anything in my books. Can I take all my books from my course along with me? I'll need extra luggage on that day. Is it mainly coding and I just need the CPT, etc.? How many questions? How long were you given to take the test? Did you finish in time? Those are the kinds of things I wanted to know, but if no one is willing to give information about the test, that's fine, too. I won't ask again.

Intense experience, finished on time and passed, and that is how I know - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
That you need to get the information from the official source.

Nearly everything you asked is addressed online. We can tell you what we think we remember, but if we are wrong, where does that leave you?

I was not being lazy by asking you to go to the AHIMA website-I was doing what is best for you. It will be sad if you react to it by refusing to ask questions, beause you will be harming yourself.

Suggestion: Talk To Some Fellow Graduates With Recent Successful Testing Experience - Pragmatist

[ In Reply To ..]
The best thing to do is find people with a similar educational background in coding. In other words, find someone who went to the same school you did who successfully sat for that CCS exam. Then get information from them on how they did it. You don't find many new graduates who are capable of taking that test without leaving in the middle of it. Once you do find one, hang on to them. Get all the information you can. If they studied the same material you did, you can do it too. On the other hand, it's nearly impossible to find people who were able to pass the CCS exam right out of school. Most schools don't teach to that level. If yours didn't, you'll have to do additional study on your own and hope for the best. You won't find any successful fellow CCS graduates.

These are questions to ask your instuctor - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Our instructor answers questions like that for us. Also, if you are taking a course like Andrews that has a message board where students and graduates talk, you can get good information there as well, from people who have been exactly where you are, studying the same books in the same course. Nobody else can help you because there are such huge differences in the abilities of new graduates, the books they've completed and at what level they completed them, etc. Good luck with the test! I hope you do well on it.

We had a discussion on our school board about those same questions - Understand where you are coming from

[ In Reply To ..]
We were all wondering about how much writing we could do in our books, should we use highlighter, what kind of highlighter, etc. Several of the graduates told about their experiences. One of them told about a guy who kept moaning and finally just quit and left. Another one said she walked out thinking she had failed, but she passed.

The questions you're asking are all great questions. It would just take a really comprehensive discussion though, and that isn't possible here. That's why you're being encouraged to go back to your school and get answers that are relevant to graduates who went through your specific program. Are you going to be one of the ones who moans through the test and then walks out before finishing because your course didn't prepare you? Did your course provide you with the right books and tell you what kinds of notes you can include in it? Those are things none of us can tell you, but your fellow graduates and instructors can.

Why Coder gave you that answer. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If Coder is who we think she is, she will think you would be more confident if you get accurate information on your own and THEN ask questions about it. She thinks teaching people to fish is important. You probably ought to listen to her suggestions because she has gotten a lot of people through those exams. She isn't referring you to the AHIMA website because she does not want to take time to answer but because she thinks that going there will relieve most of the anxiety you now feel.

I have to agree with that. A big reason people fail those exams is they did not see the instructions or requirements beforehand. Some people register but never look at the candidate guide or see what is going to be on the exam. They show up with the wrong books and are not admitted. Things like that.

You might be thinking that AHIMA is sneaky about this, but they are not. They tell you everything you need to know. You have to do what they tell you, not what teachers or coders tell you.

Here's the site - Shay

[ In Reply To ..]
http://www.ahima.org/certification/chda.aspx?gclid=CJu5m7_qia8CFYGo4AodLhn6-Q

I read all of the information on the site, then I called AHIMA for more information. They were helpful, but suggested 3 years or more experience before sitting for the test. I didn't take the AHIMA test, I took the AAPC test...hope I didn't make a $400 mistake.

Thank you - Almost Ready

[ In Reply To ..]
for your kind replies. Honestly, I don't think I'll be moaning and groaning when I take the test. I'm a nervous test-taker and need to just calm down and know that I can get through it. The education I'm getting is going very well, but again I'm nervous about taking these tests, but know if I calm down I'll be able to handle it. Just wanted to get a feel for the test beforehand.

Not getting this ... what $400 mistake? - CCS, CPC

[ In Reply To ..]
Not clear what you think to be a $400 mistake . . . taking the CPC? How could something like that ever be a mistake? I have both credentials? Do you feel I made a mistake? How?

I don't feel you made a mistake at all - Shay

[ In Reply To ..]
Sorry if I was unclear. I just meant, that the hospital jobs seem to be asking for the CCS credential. Honestly, I have never worked as a coder I just want to break into this field. I guess I didn't understand the that the CPC credential was based more in outpatient coding and the CCS credential was based more on inpatient coding. That was just my misunderstanding. I was afraid that the CPC without experience was not worth as much as the CCS without experience. It's the experience component I am most worried about.

Credentials are like potato chips. Why stop at just one? - CCS, CPC

[ In Reply To ..]
One credential, either one, is good, but two are better. It goes a long way toward overcoming the experience issue and in showing that you can do any coding job. With one from each organization, you will look good no matter which organization the employer favors.

Thanks, again - Almost Ready

[ In Reply To ..]
for your comments. Perhaps I did miss something when I read the info on AHIMA's website and will re-read; perhaps I don't know how to code either since I can't read everything you know that's on the website!

Make sure you click on all the links on that page. - CCS, CPC

[ In Reply To ..]
As I recall, there is general information on the first page, but there is much more in the links. It looks like you might have missed some of that. For instance, you asked us how many questions there would be, if you could bring books, and if you could write in them. That was answered on the exam site.

There is a link to the candidate guide that is pretty obvious, but there are also links to a doument that explains exactly what is on the exam. It tells you the number of questions and how long you have. There is also a document that lists exactly what books you can use. It tells you whether you can write in them and how much writing is ok.

I think you have felt that some here were just being critical when they were trying to point you toward what they know you must have before you can take the test.

Seriously, I think most of us have met people who failed that test more than once because they did not read the website. They never knew there was a candidate guide, a list of references or what it meant, sample questions, and a list of books.

I have had several want to borrow my code books because they have the wrong ones and did not realize it until two days before when someone saw them packing a tote bag. Some got to the test site and were denied entrance because they did not bring what they needed. Some had to tear pages out of their books or remove all their sticky notes. Every one of them missed the instructions and insisted that nobody ever told them.

Some came back in tears saying they did not know there would be questions about diseases and treatments and DRGs.

Others freaked out over the behavior of other people in the test center, not realizing that those people were not taking coding tests so their moaning and crying had nothing to do with how hard the coding test was, and that when they got up and left it was because they were finished with their exam.

Others never read the instructions that tell you how and what to code. They never found them on the website and did not perceive them as important when they saw them at the beginning of the test because they were too harried.

The failure rate on that exam is very, very high. You really do need to print out all that information and review it over and over before considering yourself ready. What we say about the exam is nearly meaningless. You need to get it from the horse's mouth.

Thank you for this advice - Almost Ready

[ In Reply To ..]
Your reply has made a big difference in my attitude. I appreciate your taking the time to answer and clarify.

CCS Exam - jm

[ In Reply To ..]
Read all that on AHIMA. Print it off. It is rather detailed. The more you know, the more prepared you will feel. I know what you mean about wanting to hear from people who have been through the experience. I believe it was 4 hours, it's been a while. The time went really fast! When I took it, the first part was 60 questions in 60 minutes. I believe they have added more questions now. The second part was patient cases. Read the cases, code them. 6 outpatient, 7 inpatient or something like that. It may be different now. Enter the numbers on the computer in the little boxes and don't put the number in the wrong place, or the whole code will be off. I never wrote in my book, I would not have had time to look at it anyway! I think the whole test might be on computer now, but I had a booklet that contained the cases. Very awkward trying to hold that open and enter the codes. They also gave us laminate boards with markers that dried out. I was used to taking notes as I coded a case, this was impossible to do with that board and those markers, so I wasted time trying to use those stupid tools and finally abandoned that idea, but the frustration and waste of time doing that had me in tears! Just stay calm, keep going, even if you feel you won't pass. I had to pull myself together and truck on and I passed! Study the guidelines, don't stress yourself out, keep moving, don't give up.

Thanks - Almost ready

[ In Reply To ..]
for the answer. That's what I was looking for, someone who could tell me their experience. I realize the test must change each time, but the flavor remains the same. I had already checked AHIMA and called them, but got little information over the phone. They told me I had to apply first and then I would get the information. Anyway, I appreciate your response.

They will give you little info over the phone - CCS

[ In Reply To ..]
They are not big on giving info over the phone because there is nothing left to say after they posted it on their website. I don't imagine they would have time to provide every applicant with verbal instructions, but if they did it would lead to possible legal complications later. ("You never said that when I called!")

They will send instructions after you register, but it will be the same as on the website.

It really has not been clear what you did and did not read. The questions you asked first were questions that had been answered on the CCS website. You became a little testy at being referred to the website, but now say that you read the website. I can't figure out what you read from what you are posting here, making me wonder if you found all of it or if you did not understand it.

Even with this last post, I do not see that you read that material. You might not realize it, but you are saying things that indicate you are not aware of what is there. I agree that you really do need to read it completely before doing anything else.

It is great to ask for the flavor of the exam, but that is not what you have been asking for. When you read all of that website, you will see how we know that you did not read it.

Chastisement - does

[ In Reply To ..]
not fit here. She just wanted a human side/experience of taking the exam.

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