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CCA or CPC? - RadT
Posted: Mar 15, 2010
I would like some advice from you seasoned coders out there. I'm currently transitioning from transcription into coding and checking into different schools. Could I potentially get hired with a CPC or do I have to spend more money/time to get my CCA? Do I need to take the courses offered through AAPC or AHIMA to keep it safe or could I go through a program such as www.medicalcodingexperts.com is offering for only $499, take the exam and get my CCA and be able to find a job? Any information would be appreciated!
There aren't many jobs for CCAs, but if you can pass the CCS exam you're in good shape - Not sure about jobs for CPCs
[ In Reply To ..]All the jobs I see are for someone with a CCS, although I see more and more people joining AAPC these days. You might get lucky and find a job with a CCA, but it won't be easy. That is a pretty easy test compared to what is required for a CCS, which requires a professional skill level. Big difference.
Advice - Seasoned Coder
[ In Reply To ..]There are two main work environments in coding -- outpatient/physician and inpatient/hospital. For the most part, AAPC credentials cover the first and AHIMA covers the second. In other words, neither of these are "better" than the other--they're just different. The work is different and the credentialing exams are different.
If you want to code inpatient, in hospitals, then you might do better with AHIMA credentials. Is the CCA going to be enough? A lot of employers still don't recognize it. It is entry-level and temporary until you get a CCS or CCS-P.
If you are looking for an outpatient, physician services, ER, ambulatory surgery, or similar job, then you would be more likely to want an AAPC credential (the CPC) to start off with. You'll get an Apprentice designation on that until you have two years of experience, but that's ok. They'll waive one year if you take a qualifying course. Most employers will accept it anyway because you passed the full test.
Are there jobs for CPCs? Of course. There are 88,000 AAPC members and they're working--often more than one job.
If you doubt this, consider that the AAPC's CIRCC credential in interventional radiology is highly prized. It's a profoundly difficult exam and people who pass it average about $65K per year.
It just looks like there are more hospital jobs because they are advertised in more visible places. The federal government typically accepts either AHIMA or AAPC credentials, but does not accept any others. So far, they're not accepting the CCA.
Here's how they stack up:
Specialty: CIRCC and other specialty credentials
Proficiency: CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CCS, CCS-P
Entry Level: CCA
The fastest route is probably through the CPC. That's where many coders start now.
Advice THANK YOU - RadT
[ In Reply To ..]Thank you SO much for your reply! It was exactly what I needed to know.
Where I work - Seasoned Coder
[ In Reply To ..]Forgot to say that the 30+ coders at my site are a mixed bag. AHIMA or AAPC or some of both. We look for RHIAs and RHITs to get a coding specialty credential. We don't have any CCAs. We have a few people who have no credentials, but when we are hiring now, we would be hesitant to take someone like that.
Coding is another field where every employer wants experience, so you may have to work a dinky job for a few months to get some. The credential will help a lot, though.
If you think you'd like to stay in radiology, which would be a good plan to start off since you know what it sounds like, go for a CPC. That is directly related to radiology coding--exactly what you need. If you can chum up with the coders where you work, so much the better.
I hire coders and would hire a CCS or a CPC, but a CCA is not qualified for our work - nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
The CCA is a starting point, similar to a learner's permit before getting a driver's licen - Nothing to be ashamed about starting as CCA
[ In Reply To ..]The CCA is a starting point, similar to getting a learner's permit. You aren't expected to stop there though. Your goal is to have a driver's license and in the same way, your professional coding goal is normally focused on a higher level of expertise, a CCS or CPC.
I believe CJ mentioned below that she has a CCA and found a job. You never know if you might be able to do the same, although I wouldn't recommend it.
In fact, the CCA is nothing to be ashamed of. It can be a good 'practice run' before sitting for a CCS or CPC. I wouldn't want to stop there though unless, like CJ, you have a comfortable job and you're happy with it. Most employers require a higher level of skills and expertise. I would actually recommend it for new coders so they can practice taking coding tests, if they didn't get solid test-taking practice while they were in school. Then they will have the confidence needed to go for the more solid and marketable CCS or CPC.
You'll definitely have more, and better, job options if you aim higher. I don't think any professional will argue with that.
Will anyone hire a CCS without experience? - Thinking about it,too.
[ In Reply To ..]nm
Yes, often they do unless they've filled all their positions with experienced CCS Applicants - A CCS means you passed a tough test.
[ In Reply To ..]Absolutely! Like anything else, if they ask for experienced coders and get plenty of them, which is highly unlikely, they would rather hire a CCS with experience.
There are shortages of certified coders in most areas of the country though and Medicare requires that hospitals and facilities billing Medicare have a certain number of certified coders. Now if you live in an area where for some reason there are too many coders or too few hospitals, that would limit your chances of being hired.
When they specify "Certified Coder" they mean CCS or CCS-P or CPC - nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
OR - CPC-H nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
That's true. I forgot that one. - nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
Yes, they will, but it all depends - on you & your effort for it
[ In Reply To ..]As with anything else, getting hired depends on you. There is a lot of effort involved in getting a first job, no matter what the field. One nice thing about coding, though, is that a little experience goes a long way. You might need to take a little job, but you'll be able to move from that to a big job quickly because once a coder is employed everyone seems to want them.
Employers are reluctant to hire new graduates because so many of them require on-the-job training. A lot of them come out of colleges where you can pass coding and graduate with a 70% or 80% score, so they're programmed to expect that 70% or 80% is adequate, in an industry where 95-98% accuracy is considered the minimum. Employers end up doing a lot of remediation, and that is nearly impossible if the coder thinks that floating along at 70-80% is a fine thing.
Employers need someone who is able to hit the ground running, or at least someone who has solid habits and who is able and motivated to take direction, learn rapidly, and get up to speed. They hope to find someone with experience AND credentials, but with the huge shortage of coders this is often not possible.
Some employers can't provide training. Maybe they don't have a coder--they need an expert the first day. Some don't have time. Some can't risk hiring a dud because of local labor laws.
Depending on their willingness and ability to give a new coder time to get up to speed, other employers will take a risk on someone they feel is a good bet for success. If someone looks like a coder, sounds like a coder, acts like a coder, and appears motivated, enthusiastic, positive, and cooperative, then the employer may take that risk.
If that person has one of the "full competency" coding credentials (CPC, CCS, CCS-P, CPC-H), that's going to say a lot in their favor. They'll stand out above experienced coders who have no credentials.
New grads also have to deal with professional organization issues. These affect employment prospects in that an organization's members may feel it is important to support that organization by hiring only coders credentialed by that organization or people who have been through that organization's training programs. If you talk to those people, they'll often tell you that you have to go to their schools and get their credentials. They might not even KNOW about anything else!
A new grad also has to recognize the differences in what kinds of coding are certified by each organization. Hospitals will often look for a CCS because it focuses on the work they do, and the work they do is difficult and critical to reimbursement. Someone looking for an outpatient professional fee or facility outpatient coder might prefer a CPC or CPC-H because they focus more on that kind of coding.
Other employers can see both sides of the fence. They're flexible and might be happy to have any recognized credential at all, because it shows them you achieved a major goal.
The new coder's best bet is to get one credential from each organization, if they possibly can. That keeps everyone happy.
One size does not fit all. Coders are all called 'coders,' but they don't all do the same work, nor do they do it the same way. Someone who wants to work for physicians does not need to learn inpatient coding. A CPC is just what they need to begin. Hooking up with the local AAPC chapter can help with job prospects. Someone who wants to work in a hospital coding inpatient records needs to learn inpatient coding and start with a CCS.
It is important to avoid credentials that are not recognized nationwide. AAPC and AHIMA credentials are ok, but those offered by some other groups might not be.
It's also important not to stop learning. There is a lot of room for growth in coding, more so than in MT. For some, coding is just what you do for a few years, after which you go on to more difficult and higher-paying specialty coding, consulting, advising, auditing, clinical documentation improvement, software development, working for third-party payers, and other challenges.
Your Advice To New Coders To Get Certification From Both Organizations - Linda Andrews
[ In Reply To ..]You wrote, "The new coder's best bet is to get one credential from each organization, if they possibly can. That keeps everyone happy."
I agree with you. In fact, I feel so strongly about that that our coding instructors at my school are certified with both organizations. I tease them about having so many certifications that they can't fit them all on an envelope, which is actually getting to be true.
Thanks for posting!
interesting - cj
[ In Reply To ..]I work for one of if not the largest trauma centers and teaching hospital in the midwest. We have a staff of over 40 coders plus remote support from coders nationwide, I believe an additional 26 coders. Guess what - we have a LOT of CCAs. We are on the cutting edge of technology here, procedures other facilities can only dream of, not to mention the complexity of our medical cases and our outstanding cancer center. Get real with this stuff. A person has to start somewhere, and the CCA is that point. If you refuse to hire them, you are probably missing out on a lot of coding talent. Your loss.
I looked at the web site you referenced. Think they are a ripoff? - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Their site info says they prepare you to take the CPC or get a 70% refund if you don't pass.
Is this legit? Anyone other than OP and me looked at this site from MTStars?