Agree, it is very hard NOT to be hired with a - CCS Posted: Jul 3rd, 2015 - 4:23 pm In Reply to: More importantly CCS candidates get hired; not so much RHITs - for coding jobs
For outpatient coding, the AAPC credentials are accepted. Many outpatient coding employers outside hospitals and medical centers have never heard of AHIMA, in fact. A new coder should get the CPC, not the COC or another, because the CPC is seen as the most general and most jobs are there. You don't want to specialize in something that has very few jobs or risk an employer not knowing what the credential is.
For hospital and medical center coding, where the focus is on AHIMA, this is how the credentials stack up. CCA is only going to be a good thing if the employer has a training slot; it screams "I took coding, but didn't learn enough." It is better than nothing, but not by much. There are a lot of job announcements that say "no CCAs."
RHIT often indicates about the same level of coding ability. Programs teach CCA and RHIT in the same classes, after all. If a new RHIT does not also have a CCA, it may mean the person cannot code. It is well known that many RHITs cannot. Some colleges' RHITs can code well, so you will see hospitals near there taking them, but it is not common. They prefer that they have experience. (We see them fail the CPC and CCA all the time.)
RHIA is better, because it represents a four-year degree. They are expected to code competently enough to manage coding, so they often apply for coding jobs to get experience if they know they are good at it. Once they have proven themselves in coding, the RHIA is fine.
After that there is the CCS. It demonstrates mastery level coding skills in all types of coding, not just inpatient. It is such a fearfully difficult exam ... it has a 40-60% failure rate depending on the year ... that anyone who passes is treated with respect. With or without experience, employers will take a good look at you.
That is why many of us recommend getting both the CPC and the CCS. With both, you have what both outpatient and hospital employers want.
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