A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Andrews future student, question about CPC - Kristi

Posted: May 13, 2012

Hi! I am registering for coding classes at Andrews this week. I just finished the AHIMA A&P course, passed the final exam, and after doing extensive research through the threads here on MTStars, I have decided to continue my coding studies through Andrews.

My future goals are to hold both the CCS and the CPC credentials in the future. I read the Andrews grads are passing the CCS right out of school. Great!!

Do I need two years of coding experience before taking the CPC exam? I thought some were taking the CPC first and then the CCS right after graduation, but I visited the AAPC site, and I believe they want two years experience first before taking the exam. I'm just a little confused and looking for some guidance. My plan for the future is to be a hospital inpatient coder and then eventually transition into an auditor coding position. So, I would like to hold both credentials. I also want to eventually get some specialty credentials (CHONC - hem/onc, CEMC - evaluation and management). The sky is the limit. In your opinion, will more credentials in the future mean a higher salary?

Good questions and great goals - CCS, CPC

[ In Reply To ..]
You do NOT need 2 years of experience to TAKE the CPC exam or to receive the credential. Without 2 years experience, you will just get a CPC with an A tacked on. You can waive 1 year of experience if you have taken certain coding courses, of which Andrews does qualify. So, after completing Andrews you would only need 1 year of experience to have that apprentice A removed.

It isn't like the scarlet letter, though. Employers are not put off by it. If you look appealing enough to hire in other respects, they won't pay any attention to it. Most of them were in the same boat once themselves.

Getting the CCS is advisable. You need to do that before they start testing ICD-10 in it and implement any more of their changes to it because nobody will know what the exam contains. That means you cannot dawdle. You are obviously self-motivated enough to map out a 6-month plan and get done by December.

As for other certifications, check the AAPC salary survey to see which result in higher incomes. Some do and some do not. We do not yet see ads looking for certifications in EM and some other areas. Most "office" coding pays at office rates (lower). Getting a certification that said you were real good at family practice or GYN would seem to limit you more than help.

Getting a lot of credentials also does not automatically result in higher pay. You still get paid for what you are doing, not what you can do.

The trick is to cover the bases with what is necessary, then to add what you can use on the job. Especially add what you can use to audit.

In terms of pay, auditing is good, especially if you are an outside auditor. So are the more difficult specialties. If you want top pay, go for interventional cardiology and interventional radiology. Those are harder because you actually have to know what the doctor is doing and because the coding is very complex.

I think they have a waiting list for enrollment right now - CC

[ In Reply To ..]
You may want to get on the waiting list as soon as possible.

thank you - Kristi

[ In Reply To ..]
I appreciate the responses and look forward to diving in. I just got off the phone with Andrews and my shipment will be later this week. I feel so empowered - it's a good thing!!

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