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Coding Credentials/Certification - student
Posted: Apr 30, 2015
Good evening coders :)
I have been reviewing many posts and notice a trend of sorts. Many posters feel that the AHIMA recognized RHIT credential is not sufficient to gain employment as a coder or that attending a 2 year AAS HIM program is not enough education to the ability to be a sucessful coder. I was curious about geographic location playing a role in these assumptions? As an employee in an HIM department, my director possesses the RHIT credential as well as majority of our coding staff. My interest has been focused on this board of late as I am near completion of my AHIMA credentialed 2 year HIM program and will sit for the RHIT and/or CCS. Not sure which one first since there is a signifigant fee associated with certification exams. I tend to lean toward the RHIT credential as I feel, in my opinion, this is a more all-encompassing certification that opens doors in many areas of HIM, not just coding. I have seen Andrews mentioned on multiple occasions and their program sounds wonderful. I guess, I was just wondering if anyone felt like sharing their education experience and subsequent credentialing story. Thank you! Oh, by the way my location is about 30 minutes from Pittsburgh.
What I have seen in my career is the CCS is better for an actual coding job - sm
[ In Reply To ..]According to the AHIMA salary study, RHITs don't make as much as a CCS and many don't have enough coding for an actual coding job that prefers a CCS.
If you want an actual coding job that makes good money, the CCS is the way to go, hands down from what I've seen. The income starts out good and goes up from there. It doesn't take years to get started if you get good training.
If you want to be a supervisor or manager, that will take an RHIA for a really good job, but the RHIT is a start on that. You will have more years of training. That means you will be shelling out more money and spending more years working toward your RHIA while someone with a CCS will be making money all that time.
A person studying for, passing, and getting a job with a CCS won't be eligible for some of the management jobs. If you want to be in management, that's an issue to consider. The person getting the CCS will make money years faster, so if making money is an important factor, the CCS comes out much better than the RHIT, and does well compared to the RHIA too unless that RHIA management job kicks in with a big salary at some point.
My thoughts - sm
[ In Reply To ..]It depends a lot on where you are. If you have a nearby RHIT program that produces good coders, fine. Not all do. We sure don't.
It also depends on the mindset of management. It is well-known that managers hire people like themselves. Your RHIT manager is going to prefer RHITs. She will also want to support the local college. Because she is the product of that system, she will think that the graduates are fine. She will accept their level of preparation.
Do you have any RHIAs? If not, I doubt if it is because none ever applied. Many RHITs will not hire RHIAs (too threatening) and many RHIAs will not take a job working for someone with lower credentials and less education. Other facilities headed by RHIAs may hire only people like themselves, especially if there are RHIA grads nearby.
My recommendation for you is to get the RHIT as soon as you are eligible during your last semester. If you get a job, then get the CCS quickly. You really cannot afford not to, because you never know when you will want to work for an HIM staffing company or get a job where someone prefers multiple credentials.
I urge you not to get in the rut of thinking that that one hospital is representative of the entire field. Look around at people who work for other companies. Notice how many have multiple credentials.
I am trying to steer you away from one-credential-is-enough thinking. Maybe it is for some, but the trend is toward more. More credentials is associated with more money.
The RHIT is a general credential. It does not communicate that you can code at more than a basic level. Sure, your HIM director might think you are fine, but try applying for a job in another state. You need a coding credential to communicate that you can CODE. The CCS is the pinnacle of coding credentials. Failing to get it actually sends the worrisome message that you couldn't pass it.
Maybe where you work no one has AAPC credentials, but they open doors to a whole world of consulting and auditing jobs that are not hospital-based and which pay really well.
What you get depends on what you want to do. Do not limit yourself. You are too smart for that. Spend the money you need to spend on credentials. You will get that money back.
You should go on to a 4-year degree as soon as you can, too. There is a world of difference having the RHIA, no matter what people say to the contrary.
Thank you - student
[ In Reply To ..]for the replies. They are appreciated. I do truly believe that our geographic location is the reason why not many RHIAs are around. We have two community colleges that offer AAS in HIM that are very well recognized for producing RHIT/CCS certified students. We get many RHIT applicants but not so many CCS certifications. I agree about the CCS being the pinnacle of the coding world, but in my opinion a student graduating from these local colleges can code as well as a CCS due to the level of coding that is taught. As far as the AAPC, I do not see many of those at all. It seems as though AHIMA rules our area. I am further educating myself on the benefits of AAPC credentials as I feel appropriate credentials are the ticket to high-dollar jobs.
You are correct. The RHIT credential is not very helpful - sm
[ In Reply To ..]The CCS is the most marketable coding credential as far as getting a coding job. Andrews would be the place to go to get that in about a year. If you want to spend 4 years and go on to an RHIA because you want to go into management, that will work too.
In other words, the 2 that you do not want are CCA and RHIT, because employers will have to teach you how to code. Those programs fall way short in that area.
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