CPC Certification: The Next Step in Your Medical Coding Career

Read full article here...

 

By earning your designation as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), you will show potential employers, as well as your peers, that you have the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career as a medical coder. Not only do you demonstrate professional competency in the field, but you also prove that you have what it takes by passing the rigorous exam which is sponsored by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

Having your CPC certification makes a strong statement in today's health care environment that speaks even louder than words to an employer. It indicates that you have relevant work experience as well as a thorough understanding of coding and a commitment to further growth and development in your profession.

Prior to taking the examination, it is highly recommended that you complete a comprehensive medical coding program. Those without prior experience may sit for the exam, though the credential awarded will be designated as Certified Professional Coder-Apprentice (CPC-A). Once you submit two letters of recommendation confirming two years of on-the-job experience, or complete a minimum 80-hour coding course and submit one letter verifying at least a year of experience, your CPC-A will be replaced with the full CPC credential.

The CPC exam measures your proficiency and knowledge of the correct application of CPT, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes and ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes that are used for billing professional medical services to payers. In addition to coding guidelines, this comprehensive multiple choice-format test, which is 5.5 hours in length, evaluates a physician practice coder's knowledge of some 25 areas, from anesthesia, radiology and pathology to respiratory, cardiovascular, and maternity and delivery.

 

Read more about medical coding employment