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

CPA exam 9 or 10? - whatz-a-raze

Posted: Apr 23, 2015

I took coding as my wallet permitted payment and did not have any ICD 10 courses. prob know the answer to this question but asking anyway: Is the current CPA certification exam based on ICD 10 codes? Has anyone taken this year?

What is the "CPA" exam? - WhatamImissinghere?

[ In Reply To ..]
Am I missing something? What t organization are you talking about? AAPC? Something else?

I believe you mean... - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
ICD-9 or ICD-10

or CCA exam? or possibly CCS or CPC?

CCA --Certified Coding Associate (entry level, no work experience)
CCS -- Certified Coding Professional (much more intensive professional level testing)
CPC -- Certified professional coder

CCA sorry - whatz-a-raze

[ In Reply To ..]
I was going to try to take the CCA. The name of the major is medical insurance and coding. My coding classes ICD 9 and CPT were over two years ago and I am just now taking the last 3 credits. They have since discontinued this major but I will get a certificate in May...was looking at the testing schedule and just don't know if I should bother.

Bother with what? - Confused

[ In Reply To ..]
Bother with what? You spent years in school and a lot of money on this. You could qualify for a job that pays well. What are you not going to bother with??

It seems to me that you don't have a good understanding of what coding is and how your course fit with it, because you probably could have taken the CPC two years ago and been working already.

For what it is worth, neither the AAPC nor the AHIMA exams are in ICD-10 yet. You should see if there is an AAPC chapter near you that will offer the exam and a review session. Take it asap. Do not hold out for the CCA, since few employers even know what it is. You can take it later, but you need the CPC now.

You will have to switch to ICD-10 soon, but that is not a big deal. Get your exams out of the way. You can learn ICD-10-CM in a few hours. PCS takes longer, so take the CCA while it is still in 9.

Employers do know what the CCA is and don't want anything to do with it - Employers prefer the CCS

[ In Reply To ..]
A CCA means you don't know very much about coding but you'd sure like to learn, at someone else's expense. Employers don't like that at all. That's why you see all the people complaining that they can't get their first coding job. There's a good reason for that. They don't know how to code, and the employers know it. A CCS makes all the difference in the world, but it takes a lot more effort to get, so most people don't want to bother.

exams - whatz raze

[ In Reply To ..]
Good point. I honestly hadn't known they even had a CCA exam until I went on the exam website. I am so glad I asked you guys. Very helpful you saying employers think CCA is too amateur. Thanks-- I need to get on the ball now and find the couple hundred dollars for the test.

First you need to find out if the course you took qualifies you to - take the CCS exam

[ In Reply To ..]
First you need to find out if the course you took qualifies you to even take the CCS exam, much less have a chance of passing it. Most don't. Most only prepare you either for the CPC and maybe the CCA. The CPC can be helpful, the CCA not helpful. The CCS is extremely helpful, but most people don't qualify to sit for that exam. If your school does, it will be prominently displayed on their web site, because that is something they will want to brag about.

CCA--CPC - whatz raze

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you. So bottom line the coding questions on the exams at present are still okay if I haven't studied ICD-10.....I did go on the AHIMA website and couldn't find that out. I figured, bottom line, there will be a software program in any job I get that will be converting the codes. Thanks so much for your insight.

Sorry, you are sorely mistaken about that - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
No, sorry, there will NOT be a "software program in any job" "that will be converting the codes."

YOU have to code in ICD-10 just as you coded in ICD-9. In fact, for an AAPC credential (the CPC) you will have to pass a test demonstrating competence in ICD-10 to keep your CPC.

The questions you are asking and the level of expectations you seem to have about coding communicate that your interest in the job is low and your understanding of it is minimal.

I am wondering if your course covered mostly medical front office work, i.e., "insurance and billing." If that was the case, you might have had some coding, but you do not appear to have had enough to work as a coder. The way you talk about it is vague. Unless there is something you aren't telling us -- and we can't tell what you did because you wouldn't tell us what the school was or exactly what the program consisted of -- my guess is that you are not prepared to take ANY certification exam offered by the AAPC, that you are not eligible for any AHIMA certifications, and that your program most likely qualified you to work in a non-credentialed position in a doctor's office generating bills.

I could be wrong, but that's the impression I get from your questions and the way you ask them. You just don't express what you should know at this point and seem apathetic.

Your school should have prepared you for this and told you exactly what to do. If they did not, that's an indication that they weren't teaching coding.

If you think you might want to take the CPC exam, you might want to take a review course. You've been out of coding too long, you probably didn't have much when you did take it, and you don't understand the industry.

What course did you take? - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

Similar Messages:

Sep 15, 2011

Doing a report for a counseling and recovery center. Dr. says.... AIIMS exam showed mild involuntary movement of upper extremities and t____ assessment. Is it AIMS exam or Ames exam. I am also unsure of the blank, it sounds like it starts with the letter T. Thank you Thank you in advance! ...

Nov 11, 2009

External exam, pupillary exam, and slitlamp examination of the anterior segment are normal both eyes intact, all tension is normal both eyes. Undilated funduscopic examination with a 90-diopter revealed a question of mild nerve s/l "fiber alla" edema. ...

Nov 20, 2009

Lasègue sign is negative bilaterally, flare sign negative bilaterally, Rayberg maneuver negative. I cannot find flare, so not sure if it is flare or flair. Have no clue has to Rayberg maneuver. Thanks. ...

Jan 05, 2010

Slitlamp exam is normal. Intraocular pressure by tactile is normal. On dilated funduscopic exam, cup-to-disc ratio is 0.15 with sharp margins in both eyes (s/l maculo splat). Dilated funduscopic exam is within normal limits both eyes. ...

Mar 23, 2010

...or are there pre-reqs? I've looked at the main ahdi website, I just wasn't sure if when they say that you have to "apply" if that means they will look at your experience and either accept or deny you or whether applying is simply a formality so they know you want to take the test.Also, if you've already taken the test, what were some of the toughest sections (for you personally)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. ...

Apr 07, 2010

In the physical exam, the doctor says the following under the HEENT heading: Pupils are pinpoint and nonreactive. Normal appearing sclera. TMs are clear with good light reflection. No s/l "battle sign". Normal nasal exam with no polyps. Help if you can please. ...

Jan 19, 2011

I am ashamed to say that I took the RMT exam twice and failed the transcription part twice. I am horrified! So, here are my questions. Am I the only one or are there any others of you in my shoes and how did you study for the exam? What study tools did you use? ...

Jul 14, 2011

REVIEW OF SYSTEMS___ was negative except for as HPI. (sounds like ten points) ...

Jun 25, 2013

During p/e, dr. says "abdomen is soft, distended with "capamedusa" present.... Could be tapa, kapa, Im duped. ...

Aug 09, 2014

Hi, I'm just wondering how many people have taken the CPC exam with AAPC and passed on their first try? If so, do you have any tips? My coding class ended in May, but I am just now able to sit for the exam. I will take it Sept 9th. I'm reviewing all my homework assignments, studying the practice exams on the AAPC website to prepare for the actual exam. I find myself so stressed out with worry and anxiety that it is hard to concentrate. I'm also job seeking for anything in t ...

Oct 15, 2009

All she says is: neck, erect of right midline, trachea... ...

Oct 30, 2009

Her deep tendon reflexes are (1-2)(+) in the brachial s/l "ray alis", biceps, Achilles, and patellar tendons, and symmetric. thanks! ...

Nov 02, 2009

Visual fields are full to confrontation. ...

Nov 03, 2009

"Cardiovascular exam was tachycardiac. No s/l meals or an ST. No murmurs or gallops were appreciated." Any ideas? Thanks! ...

Nov 03, 2009

Extremities: 3+ edema. s/l kidneys bilaterally. What could "kidneys" be? ...

Nov 07, 2009

Cranial nerves II-XII grossly intact except for left facial s/l nerve lesion on central pathology. Does this make sense? ...

Dec 02, 2009

There is positive s/l bobocavernosis response elicited. ...

Jan 07, 2010

On a vaginal exam, is it common to refer to an area as a "kissing area"? It sounds like I am hearing " She has 2 kissing areas that are both erythematous and very raw and inflamed. " Just wanting to double check. thanks for any help. ...

Jan 07, 2010

Patient has no adnexal mass. No s/l "balathal" mass, as well. I've typed this only a few times before. Now my brain's fried and not helping me in the least. LOL Thanks in advance :) ...

Jan 26, 2010

Although he does have left neuroforaminal stenosis at L2-3, on imaging, there is no exam corlet of same. ...

Feb 06, 2010

s/l "DE" was less than 2 cm bilaterally. s/l "frem-a-tus" was okay. No s/l "E to A" changed were evident. ...

Feb 17, 2010

Examination of the right breast reveals a 3 cm s/l "REH-pree-ah" mobile mass... The "p" is distinct. Thanks for any suggestions. ...

Mar 08, 2010

Cardiovascular system: Heart sounds regular. No murmurs. No gallops heard. s/l "percussed" respiratory sounds masking the heart sounds. Abdomen soft. Patient with URI symptoms. Does this make sense in this context? Thanks! ...

Apr 09, 2010

Reveals a class 4 airway with no erythema or exudate noted. Slight s/l "retrignaphy" is present. Help if you can please! ...

Apr 12, 2010

Exam of the spine showed no s/l **hair or cutaneous lesions**. Clinically well aligned. Full ROM. ...

Jun 03, 2010

I am in the physical exam neck portion, but this statement could belong to another part following the neck exam, I just cannot get close enough on the word. Thank you!! NECK: Jugular vein pressure and carotids normal. Patient does have a bilateral s/l ath-ro-SIT-a-lus. CARDIOVASCULAR: Apex beat not displaced. Heart sounds normal. So the s/l word may be long to the cardiac exam that follows. ...

Jul 21, 2010

The pt passed each s/l aura 14 out of 14. This is for a CDL lisence exam. ...

Aug 05, 2010

I have never run across this. Any ideas? Thank you. He is concrete in his thinking, is goal-directed, but many of his goals are irrational, based on his history. ORIENTATIONAL ABILITY?? : His memory appears intact. ...

Aug 10, 2010

I despise even doing it at all but I want out of this place and I think having it will help my chances of finding a different job. Do you have to be Tier 3 or is that not even a consideration to ADHI? On that note, are there any Tier 2's here who have their CMT? Do you actually get that so-called extra incentive at MQ for being one? I know some other companies offer an incentive. ...

Aug 18, 2010

Cranial nerves intact. Motor power symmetrical. Normal gait. Negative Romberg's test. Normal cerebellar testing without dysmetria and dysdiadochokinesia. Doc says "template neurologic normal. Cranial nerves intact except for the hearing loss" What part of this template would you take out. This is a new doc for me. Thanks ...