A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
Need direction - anon
Posted: Mar 17, 2015
After reading through this board I am totally confused about coding and what certification(s) I need. I am an MT, have been for the last 14 years. I never got certified, just landed a good job after I graduated college (with a nursing focus, so lots of anatomy, etc.)...I have been considering either Career Step or Andrews only because those are the main ones that come up when searching. But, what I need to know is what are these other certifications?? What courses/certifications do I actually need to find a job without experience? I am so confused and overwhelmed. Could someone please break it down for me?? What is the best/cheapest/quickest/most comprehensive route???
Having the right credentials means everything in medical coding - Mel
[ In Reply To ..]There is no cheap/quick way to do it. You need solid training.
The credentials you need are both CPC (outpatient) and CCS (inpatient).
Look at the web sites of any school you consider. Some courses just teach to the CCA, but employers don't respect it very much. A few courses teach at the CCS level, which is what you want.
AHIMA's own web site says that the CCA demonstrates a commitment to learn coding, but the CCS demonstrates mastery of it. Anything less than the CCS is inadequate. You're better off not to do it at all if you aren't going to do it right. I say that because I've seen too many people take easy, fast coding courses and come out with nothing, plus now they hate coding. Save your money until you can study in a solid course that both prepares you and qualifies you for the CCS exam.
I'm at Career Step - Ac
[ In Reply To ..]I've seen many grads get their CPC after finishing, but if you're wanting the CCS thats going to be a longer more expensive committment. You could always get your CCS after getting some experience. You can find a coding position with a CPC or additional training at least on the job that's paid. There is a company that is hiring career step grads as coding apprentices, and then you can get CCS after getting through their program. With ICD 10 there might be more companies doing this, such as mmodal.
thanks - anon
[ In Reply To ..]Thanks for the information. I originally looked into CareerStep on the recommendation of a coding company but the cost/time involved seems to make Andrews a better fit just because from what I have seen they apparently train you better to take the CCS after graduation. So what are the other certificates for coding....AHIMA? and
Coding - CodingStudent
[ In Reply To ..]When I first looked into coding, I contacted the hospital where I formerly did transcription until they went to EPIC. I wanted to know what direction to go for school, what I would need to be hired. They said as long as I was a certified coder, then I could be hired. They go off AHIMA guidelines. I think your decision needs to be made based on your long term goals, where you want to work. Personally, I am tired of being a faceless employee for a national company and would rather work at a local doctor's office or hospital in the billing department. Working at home is nice but pitting that against a secure job isn't that big of a consideration to me. The hospital said they let their coders work from home after 6 months, so we will see after I am done with school where I end up. You could also contact local hospitals and see what their requirements are.
The other certificates for coding - Answer to your question
[ In Reply To ..]You asked, "So what are the other certificates for coding....AHIMA? and"
The CCS credential that is really respected among employers is through AHIMA. So is the CCA, but you don't want that one.
The CPC is through AAPC. You do want that one. Having both the CPC and CCS (not just one of them) gives you many more job options. It makes you more marketable when you can do both outpatient and inpatient coding. Whatever you do, don't limit yourself. I have never figured out why people do that and then spend years on blogs and forums complaining that nobody will hire them. Just get prepared with both CPC and CCS and be done with it. That's the smart thing to do.
thank you - anon
[ In Reply To ..]You answered my question. So this now explains to me why Andrews may be/seem to be the best option and why there are so many successful students posting on this board. In talking with their student coordinator I learned that through them they most prepare you for taking and passing the CCS and CPC exams after course completion. Again, thank you so much for answering my question! I am a long-time MT looking to transition into coding and was really in the dark about what all is entailed...
The problem with "Guaranteed Jobs" and "Apprenticeships" - sm
[ In Reply To ..]There's a good reason why most graduates prefer getting real jobs instead of a so-called "guaranteed" job or "apprenticeships" after graduating, especially without credentials.
Legitimate companies can't hire or "apprentice" every graduate. On the other hand, there are companies that prey upon helpless graduates who had inadequate training. they offer them a deal that sounds too good to be true, and it is.
They end up working for a company that can't get credentialed coders. That tells you something right there.
Once you're in that kind of apprenticeship or guaranteed job, you're stuck there. You might be eligible after working there for 1-2 years to sit for the CCS exam, but you still won't be able to pass it. That's fine if you want to work for that company for the rest of your career, but you'd better love it, because nobody else is likely to hire you. Why? Companies know each other. They know the quality of work that comes from their competitors. They aren't going to want to hire people who were trained or apprenticed by companies who don't do quality work. So you'll be stuck there for the rest of your career, unless you get better training and credentials. You won't do that either, because they've got you where they want you, working for peanuts, no chance for advancement or raises. This is not a bargain. I would advise anyone to run for any guaranteed job situation and 99% of all apprenticeships or internships. Too many people get through them and nobody will hire them.
Guaranteed jobs - I would not rule it out
[ In Reply To ..]My thought is that it is better to have a job than no job at all and an apprenticeship to gain experience would be one way to remove the "A" from your CPC. No one is ever stuck and you don't know who will and will not be able to pass the CCS. I'm not sure that people in apprenticeship programs who get hired by companies can't code, 2 companies that I know who do this hire contract coders and consultants upon completion of their in-house program and also write training modules for other facilities. I say if you can get it, take it and if it is not to your liking, move on. I also disagree with your thoughts on internships. Some coders would love to have an internship and many get hired by the facility that trains them. I had an MT internship as part of my college program and was hired full-time by that hospital; best learning experience ever. I wasn't paid very well in that first job but quickly worked my way up the pay scale ladder, I've also had a lot of great jobs based on that early training.
I wouldn't rule it out either, as a last resort - sm
[ In Reply To ..]It's not very comforting to think that it might be the only option you have. That does happen though. We see it all the time on social media, people who got really poor training and have no good options. That's the best they can do with inadequate training. I'd rather get the credentials first and have better options from the start.
As far as the apprenticeship being one way to remove the "A" from your CPC, a real job can do that too, right?
Those of you who are MTs have seen enough people burned by companies who don't believe in quality. They will bring on people for little or no money and call it an internship, externship, apprenticeship, but what it really is, is free or near-free labor.
The better way is to get really solid training from the beginning, get your coding credentials, and get a real job.
Removing CPC-A - Ruling it out
[ In Reply To ..]The problem with removing the "A" from a CPC is that employers generally don't want to hire apprentices for "real" jobs. A company is not the only way to obtain an internship or externship, some hospitals offer them as well and many of those do lead to other employment. A foot in the door is a foot in the door, whether it is at a brick and mortar facility or working for a service. No one is going to allow people in an apprenticeship program to code without training or credentials if they want to keep clients. Treat it as a learning experience and go from there. It is not indentured servitude and you are not obligated to stay. Get the paid training and move on.
That is why you need the CCS - sm
[ In Reply To ..]It is not the A that deters employers ... it is the association of the credential with a 4-month quickie course that covers about 25% of the CCS.
The CPC is world's easier than the CCS and everyone knows it.
that may be - but I am getting the CPC anyway
[ In Reply To ..]and I wouldn't exactly call the class I am taking a "quickie."
No one said you should not get the CPC - CCS, CPC
[ In Reply To ..]No one said you should not get the CPC, nor did they call YOUR course a quickie.
They said the problem with the CPC was not the A. Most student coders think that is the reason they can't get a job. It is not that. It is the CPC itself, specifically the belief that it is easy to get and it's *association* with a 3-4 month course -- the AAPC CPC course -- that focuses on CPT, with little diagnosis coding, little A&P, and little of anything else.
I have a CPC. I have no problem with it. The A never hampered me. However, my income is better, and so is my job, and doors open for me mostly because of the CCS.
No one said you should not get the CPC. They just suggested that the CCS is a good thing to have.
I don't intend to get the CCS - old person
[ In Reply To ..]I'm old. I'll be satisfied with the CPC.
Well, if you do not get a job, you will not have to - blame it on age discrimination
[ In Reply To ..]It is not so much what YOU will be satisfied with, but what employers will be satisfied with.
Seriously, though, if you are not interested in working in a hospital or medical center, a CPC would be fine. Outpatient employers like physician offices are not that aware of AHIMA. They know about AAPC credentials and value them.
You can get a job with just a CPC. The new-CPC unemployment rate has dropped from 25% to about 10%, so that helps. It is just easier to get a job without experience if you have a CCS.
Your course may be a solid course - But there are many "quickie" courses - Out There
[ In Reply To ..]Your course may be just fine, a real solid course. Not saying it isn't. I hope you aren't one of the people roped into one that sounds great until you finish and find that it doesn't prepare you to pass employment tests, even if somehow it does get you through the CPC exam. Employment tests can be harder because employers need coders with really solid skills.
You can tell if a course is a "quickie" course if you are expected or encouraged to finish it in as little as 4 months. That's the industry standard for a "quickie" course. Everybody knows that if they have worked in coding very long. People from 4-month courses usually can't pass the tests and if somehow they do, they can't do the actual work. They don't keep the jobs.
If the material covered requires more than 4 months, has credentialed coders teaching it, uses actual professional code books throughout the course, then it wouldn't be considered a "quickie" course.
Keep in mind that employment tests are often much harder than the CPC exam, and a 4-month "quickie" course, and there are a lot of them out there, isn't enough to prepare for most employment tests.
Be sure to find out what creds the instructors have - See Message
[ In Reply To ..]The most important advice I can give you is to check out the instructor's credentials. Before you enroll, contact the school and find out what credentials the instructors have. Make sure they actually have the credentials you are going to want to get. I've seen some schools with no instructors at all. Other schools hire instructors who can't find coding jobs, because they work cheap. They can't pass the CPC and CCS exams, but they are supposed to be teaching you so you can. That obviously doesn't make sense. No wonder there are so many people posting on forums that they took coding courses and can't pass credential exams, can't get jobs, etc. They usually believe that everyone has that same problem; they don't. If you have the right credentials, the jobs are out there.
You could learn how not to learn coding by a program - My Personal Experience
[ In Reply To ..]My first coding training was from a coding computer program with no real books and no instructor. I had some poorly-written amateurish coding manuals, but not actual code books that a real coder would use.
We just plugged in what we were trying to code, with no books and let the program do the work. At least that was what it was supposed to do. That was actually fun for a few weeks until it was obvious that the coding program wasn't giving us the correct codes.
There was no instructor to help explain why it was right or wrong, although it was pretty obvious it was wrong.
We were not told that you can't use these programs when you apply for a job. We didn't know that you have to actually use real code books if you want to sit for certification tests.
That's my recommendation about how NOT to do it. I hope it's helpful to some of you so you won't make the same mistake.
good lord what program was that? - information please
[ In Reply To ..]Please give the name so we can all avoid it!
No Name But I Can Give You Some Questions To Ask To Avoid It - My Personal Experience
[ In Reply To ..]I'll give you some clues along with some other things that I've learned to avoid from what others have told me from their bad experiences. Some have had several bad experiences before finding a course that actually does a good job of training.
*Ask what credentials the instructors have and get specific answers, not generalities. For example, if they don't have both CPC and CCS they can't help you get those credentials. If they are able to pass those tests, they would have done it. So you don't want them teaching you if they couldn't pass the tests themselves.
It doesn't matter if they have a PhD, Masters in Education or anything else. Do they have coding experience? If not, that's a bad sign. Avoid it. They really can't teach you to do what they can't do themselves.
*Ask if those credentialed instructors will tell you not just what you did wrong, but why.
*Ask what books come with the course. If they are self-produced by the school, that's unacceptable. You want the same professional coding books used by coding pros on the job.
*Ask if the training is by book, not on an encoder or online software program. It has to be training to code using actual code books (not a self-produced one that the school puts together) if you are going to be prepared for employment tests and credential exams. If you are taught by encoder or a computer program instead of books, you are setting yourself up for failure. You'll be one of those people on here claiming that there are no jobs.
Don't tell me you were guaranteed a job. That's a red-letter danger sign that you want to avoid. That is almost like an admission that their graduates aren't able to find jobs on their own. No reputable company can guarantee to hire every graduate of any school. Those jobs will end up being with companies you don't want to work for in most cases, and nobody else will want you after you've worked for a company that doesn't respect quality. They know because they have hired people from those companies before and will tell an applicant that they don't have quality work experience and won't be considered.
*Ask if there are additional fees if you have a crisis and need extra time to finish.
*If they offer you special deals if you start now or discounts for all sorts of reasons to get you to enroll, that's not good. That's desperation. That's what I'm talking about. Just one more clue.
Most people at the schools are salespeople and don't know the answers - sm
[ In Reply To ..]You can try to get those answers, but most of the time you just get a salesperson who doesn't really know anything about medical coding.
Well, that's another bad sign! Along with ... - sm
[ In Reply To ..]That's another bad sign -- clueless recruiters. Here are a few more:
You have to pay extra for copies of the course materials if you don't want to print them out screen by screen.
Instead of instructors, they have a chat room where you can get help from other students.
There is basically no testing of consequence until the final exam, which you may have to pay to take over, and if you strike out a certain number of times, you don't graduate.
They put the entire responsibility for success on the student.
They give free stuff if you sign up by a certain time.
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