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

Job Availability for New Coder - Bizzi One

Posted: Feb 09, 2011

I am planning on enrolling in Andrews School to begin a new career in medical coding and also plan to become certified following that. While looking at job opportunities, I see that most ALL job openings require 2-5 years experience in this profession. On the other hand, I also read where this field of work is in demand of more coders. Obviously, after finishing my course and becoming certified, I don't expect to walk right in and nail down the first job or two that I apply for, but if the medical coding field is going to be "in demand" of coders (even today), will there be opportunities for "new coders" to qualify for these job openings - or do you think we all will need to start at just getting our foot in the door of a hospital/clinic at a very low salary and work our way up to an average salary. The reason I ask is, I currently work full time (yes, for the government), as well as part time doing medical transcription, but am wanting to take early retirement from my government job and change careers to medical coding. I am single, own my home - with monthly house payments, and have bills to pay. One thing I know for certain is that I cannot leave my current job with my current salary ($44,000 per year), and think that I can start a new job in medical coding at $29,000 (more/less) and be able to live on that income. I can take a somewhat of a cut, and certainly understand that I will have to do that - just not a HUGE cut.

Can anyone give me any advice about the job market/salary outlook and is there anyone else who may be in my shoes also.

Thanks so much!

coding - Elsa

[ In Reply To ..]
Without coding experience the coding certificate will not get you a coding job. I've had my certificate for 7 years but it always comes down to 'we don't want to spend the time training.' They always want somebody with 2 or more years experience AND the coding certificate. If I knew then what I know now I would have saved the money I spent on the coding programs.

Elsa - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you very much for your honesty. I'm a student just finishing my program and find what you say to be true. The ads that I have seen want experience plus certification. I'm hoping to get hired by my current employer where I work as an MT, they will take on new coders and let them train, otherwise I don't think my chances will be too good unless I take an entry level job and work my way up, I do find that they want you to come in and be ready to go, but I think employers in all occupations look for that. I didn't go to Andrews, maybe that would have made a difference. I want to stay in transcription as long as there is a job for me anyway. You didn't say, but are you currently working as a coder?

coding - elsa

[ In Reply To ..]
Nope, still working as a transcriptionist.

Certificate versus certification - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I had no experience, but I got a job, and I know lots of people who had no experience, but got jobs. I don't know anyone, in fact, who had experience coding before getting a job in coding. Virtually EVERY coder out there once had no experience, yet GOT A JOB. How else would it happen???

Just to be clear, there is a huge difference between a certificaTE and a certificaTION. A certificaTE saying you finished a program isn't much help in getting a job, that's true. However, a certificaTION from AHIMA or the AAPC is entirely different.

I am pretty sure you are not an AAPC or AHIMA-certified coder because if you were, you would have phrased your email differently. You would have said something like "I'm a __(fill in the certification and organization)__," rather than "I've had my certificate for."

It can be difficult for anyone to get a job, but sometimes it's not the career field that is at fault. In your email, you project a negative attitude and a lack of understanding of coding, of certifications, and of what employers want. You might be so discouraged now that this would be expected, but it's probably what has kept you from getting a job. Employers may have picked up on misunderstandings. If they are telling you that they don't have time to train, then they have pegged you as a person who NEEDS training and needs more than they can afford. They're telling you that they don't think your preparation is adequate, not that they don't hire people without experience.

I agree - ....

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree. On the AAPC website under job postings, I am totally shocked at the number of people replying to a post with misspelled words, bad grammar, and unable to follow directions of the poster. I am currently enrolled at our local college in a coding program and will sit for the certificaTION exam (either CPC or CPC-H) later this year. I am planning on offering to intern (for free) a couple of hours a day at local clinics and/or hospital to gain hands on experience and have successfully lined up a couple already. Being in MT, I can adjust my schedule to accommodate a couple of hours a day to intern and hopefully will prove that I am quite capable of coding.

Outlook - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Not ALL jobs REQUIRE 2-5 years experience. Some might, but the rest of them would be hard put to fill their jobs because there aren't enough experienced coders to go around. Something like 1/3 of all coding jobs sit around empty because there just aren't enough coders. Most employers will say they PREFER experience, but they will still hire without it, especially if the coder has an AAPC or AHIMA certification.

And, franky, with one or both of those, you shouldn't avoid applying even if they say experience is required--you need the experience of applying and interviewing. You need to learn to write a resume that will convey your seriousness and competence. You need practice presenting a polished professional image, too.

It is so possible to get hired without experience that some people start looking early and get easy coding jobs or jobs doing something in coding, but maybe not full-fledged coding, while they are still in school.

Do I think you'll need to start at a very low salary? No, I don't. I don't think that because I've seen the salary surveys. One is on the AAPC website. You should be able to find it.

To Coder - Bizzi One

[ In Reply To ..]
Coder - Thanks for your reply. You've given me some encouragement to proceed forward with my plans. I've been a state employee for 27 years, and it's just a little nerve racking to switch gears into a new career at my age with the hopes of "surviving" in this day and age. In hind-sight, I should have gone into the medical field 30 years ago - but didn't. I love learning all I can about it....

Thanks again!

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