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Has anyone completed the Career Step Coding - course? Opinons? Did you

Posted: Jan 17, 2015

feel you were adequately trained. How long did it take to complete? Any information would be appreciated.

I did - Should have known better

[ In Reply To ..]
I was working full-time as an MT while I did the course. It took me a year to complete. I would advise you to look elsewhere unless their program had changed. No instructor feedback, all on line, canned computer text, lots of errors in the content. I chose a different career path but I did not feel that I was adequately trained.

Agree - Not worth it

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree with the above poster. I felt inadequately prepared. I felt like I was telling the "instructors" about the constant errors I would find...major ones that were obvious to a newbie. Even after passing with high honors and getting certified as an CPC through AAPC, I never found a coding job. It was a waste of my time and money. I moved on. Currently of out MT work and pursuing becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).

that is the #1 complaint I hear. - see inside

[ In Reply To ..]
I finished my schooling, got certified but can't find a job. that is why I hesitate to recommend anyone spend money on a coding course. My sister in law is an RN and makes $21/hour working overnight at a hospital. Good luck to you!

Painting with a broad brush? - Was that Career Step?

[ In Reply To ..]
The OP asked about Career Step. Is that the course you took?

I have an issue with painting the entire career field negatively based on an experience with an unnamed school and some kind of unspecified certification.

My experience in coding has been very positive. I make 50% more than your SIL and I am not the highest-paid coder I know. However, I took a great course (Andrews), got appropriate certifications (CCS and CPC), and was willing to accept a trainee job to start.

So much for your claim that the entire field is a dud.

sorry if my post was confusing but no I didnt take career step course - that is the complaint I hear

[ In Reply To ..]
"I finished my schooling, got certified but can't find a job" These are people who are not involved in an online course but rather a local community college. It may be a job availability issue as well. But I will tell you as sure as the sun shines an employer will pick someone who has an education from a local college, a name they are familiar with, before they will hire someone who claims to have taken some online course.

I am being trained by my employer, there is no issue for me.

Thanks for clarifying (finally), but you are STILL - making blanket claims

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it is incredible that you are condemning a career field WHILE BEING TRAINED IN IT YOURSELF!!! Clearly, you know that it is a good field -- you just don't want to pay to learn it.
You are now insisting that "as sure as the sun shines" employers will pick someone from a local community college rather than "someone who claims to have taken some online course." This is more illogical jumping to conclusions and it is bizarre because you just said employers won't hire the coders from the local college!

It is also wrong. No, the fact that there is a local college does not mean employers will hire from it. In fact, they may NOT hire from it because the students are often not well enough prepared to work. Employers know this, having been burned by them before. Some employers also attended those colleges' RHIT programs and know how rotten the coding classes were.

Remember I said you did not tell us what certification your fantastic friends had? That has something to do with that. Colleges usually teach to the CCA, not the CCS. It is a credential that says the holder is sincere about wanting to learn coding on the job, basically. "I took a course and did not learn enough to pass the CCS, but I am sincere and want you to teach me what I didn't learn before and expect you to pay me while I do it." Yeah, that's going to appeal to an employer.

The truth is that employers care more about the credentials than the school. You know it, too, because that is why you don't have a problem with an employer-sponsored training program.

Agree. I think they hook people in with the - training program offered

[ In Reply To ..]
after graduation, but you have to apply for that and it is NOT guaranteed.

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