Questions for CODER - MT

I have read many of your postings and find them all to be extremely intelligent, informative, and logical.  Here is my situation.  Seven years as MT (mostly acute care accounts with H&P's, discharge summaries, consultations, operations and procedures).  I have a BA in biology and a master's in ecology.  Was making good income until editing replaced transcribing, plus industry rates keep going down with constant buyouts/mergers.  I am 61 years old.

I have 2 major questions:

1.  Assuming I am able to study coding and pass CCS or CPC exam, is it at all likely that employers willl even look at my application when they see my age? This, of course, assumes that the employer is willing to hire someone credentialed but with no experience.  I am wondering if you think my academic degrees and MT experience plus the certification might get my application reviewed despite my age.

2.  If answer to first question is "yes" or "possibly," then:

A:  Is it likely that an intelligent person with formal biology background and 7 years of knowledge gained from being an MT could self-study by following the AHIMA course outline and pass certification exam?

B:  Would certification gained from self-study likely be devalued by potential employers or do they care as long as you have certification?

Any advice you can provide would be immensely appreciated.  You seem to have experience in coding that is both broad and deep, and I am hoping you can shed some light.  Thanks in advance.