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CCS exam fresh out of school - Anon

Posted: Sep 12, 2011

Did anybody take the CCS exam right out of school? Just curious. I want to do inpatient coding and feel it would be best for me to go this route from the get-go. My local hospital's requirement is that I obtain this certification within 2 years. However, I feel that without actual work experience it would help to pass this exam to increase my chances of employment. I am enrolled in the Andrews School and it seems their course is very thorough, so maybe passing the CCS exam is not impossible. Who knows. A lot of people I talk to who have their CPC tell me it was the most difficult exam they have ever taken so maybe I am shooting too high...

I remember several grads on Andrews boards passing CCS and/or CPC - or both

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nm

Passed both CCS and CPC right out of school - NewGrad

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I passed the CCS a few months after finishing the Andrews program. I got a hospital coding job a couple of months after that, shortly after which I took the CPC and passed it. I feel very fortunate to have gotten the job without having any coding experience. It is the CCS that made the difference for me. No one has ever asked or cared what school I attended.

Yes - I did

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I took the exam 2 months after graduating. I did some studying up on my own on things I wanted to reinforce, especially the guidelines, and worked the Clinical Coding Workout again for reinforcement. I passed. Six months later, I took the CPC-H and passed also. You can do it. My experience was that it was better to take the exam sooner rather than later. I tackled what I thought the more difficult one first to get it over with! Good luck!

No, you are not aiming too high. - Redpen

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Yes, you're correct that getting the certifications will improve your marketability. The CCS is not impossible.

My personal recommendation is to take the CPC first to build confidence and get some test-taking experience, then take the CCS. As you can see above, another student felt the opposite approach would work best for her. Everyone is different.

Approach both exams with the attitude that you're testing the waters, so that you won't experience as much anxiety. That alone will earn some points. If you don't pass, well, then you will know exactly what you need to study--nothing bad about that! The CPC comes with 1 free retake.

I think the exams get harder as you gain on-the-job experience. That's why I recommend taking them early on.

Send me an email through Andi if you'd like to talk about this more.

Do you recommend taking CCA then CPC? - sm

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I am currently in a coding program and realizing how hard it really is. Some days I feel like crying because I am so lost. It's so much harder and complex than I thought it would be. I am thinking of taking the CCA then CPC when I finish. Would taking the CCA be a waste of time?

Recommendation - Redpen

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I'm not sure what program you are taking, and I hope it isn't ours, but if you do happen to be one of our students, please call or email us RIGHT NOW so that we can talk about feeling lost and see what we can do.

Should you take the CCA before the CPC? Did someone suggest that? Did they say why? You should be fine taking the CPC first. If you are unable to pass the CCS, though, or are afraid to try, then you might consider the CCA.

Thanks for your reply. - sm

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I am not a student of yours or at your program. I was told by the instructor to take the CCA first if I want to be an inpatient coder, get experience, then go for the CCS. However, she said it wouldn't hurt to get the CCA then the CPC if I wanted to do inpatient coding but also have my CCA for future possibilities.

passed CPC right out of school - Raine59

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I went to Andrews and took the CPC (this past March) about 3 months after finishing the program. I felt it was challenging, not to mention tiring, but it was not unreasonably difficult and I got a good score. I haven't been looking for a coding job as of yet due to some family issues but I plan to start studying for the CCS and hope to take it later this year, and will be looking for a coding job later this year too.

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