Apprentice Removal Requirements

To remove the "A" designation from your CPC-A or COC-A credential, the AAPC requires verification of at least two years of on-the-job experience, which may include externships. There are three ways to meet the experience requirement:

Option 1:  2-year employment verification  

This option for apprenticeship removal utilizes 2 years of on-the-job coding experience. Employment verification from previous employers, current employers, externships, or a combination of all three are accepted. Professional coding experience both before and after certification applies.

Submission requirements:

• Employer(s) verification of at least 2-years on-the-job experience using the CPT, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS Level II code sets.
• Only employers, supervisors, or an HR department can verify time spent coding within an organization. 
• Letter(s) of verification employers and externships must meet these requirements:
  • Include coding experience achieved, provided with start and end dates of employment or externship
  • Submitted on company letterhead
  • Hand signed, dated, and include current contact information for verification purposes
  • Provided in a non-editable format (pdf) for member to upload
  • Optional employment verification template

Option 2:  1-year employment verification AND completion of 80-hour coding preparation course or completion of AAPC’s Practicode  

This option for apprenticeship removal combines 1 year of on-the-job-experience plus completion of AAPC’s Practicode program (included in most AAPC training packages) or of AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course (or an equivalent course from an instructor or school)

1-year employment verification  

Employment verification from previous employers, current employers, externships, or a combination of all three are accepted. Professional coding experience both before and after certification applies. 

Submission requirements: 

• Employer(s) verification of at least 1-year on-the-job experience using the CPT, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS Level II code sets.
• Only employers, supervisors, or an HR department can verify time spent coding within an organization.  
• Letter(s) of verification employers and externships must meet these requirements:
  • Include coding experience achieved, provided with start and end dates of employment or externship
  • Submitted on company letterhead
  • Hand signed, dated, and include current contact information for verification purposes
  • Provided in a non-editable format (pdf) for member to upload
  • Optional employment verification template

Practicode completion or 80-hour coding course

Submission requirement for AAPC’s Practicode program, or AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course:

Submission requirements for AAPC's Practicode program:

• A minimum of 600 cases with an overall score of 70% or higher to demonstrate proficiency.
  • For AAPC students only: Documentation proving completion of AAPC’s Practicode program is not required as the system recognizes member accomplishment.
  • For students who did not purchase Practicode directly from AAPC :
    • Download the Coder's Performance Profile Report and then upload all verification documents via the Apprentice Removal Application and expect 2-4 weeks for processing.

Submission documentation options for 80-hour coding course from instructor or school:

• Instructor letter on school letterhead verifying completion of at least 80 contact hours (not CEUs).
• Certificate/diploma stating at least 80 contact hours
• Unofficial school transcript showing at least 80 contact hours

Option 3:  80-hour coding course completion AND AAPC’s Practicode completion 

This option for apprenticeship removal combines the completion of AAPC’s Practicode program (included in most AAPC training packages) plus AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course (or an equivalent course from an instructor or school).

AAPC’s Practicode completion 

Submission requirements:

• A minimum of 600 cases with an overall score of 70% or higher to demonstrate proficiency. 
  • For AAPC Distance Learning students only: Documentation proving completion of AAPC’s Practicode program is not required as the system recognizes member accomplishment.
  • For all other students:
    • Download the Coder's Performance Profile Report and then upload all verification documents via the Apprentice Removal Application and expect 2-4 weeks for processing.

80-hour coding course completion 

Submission requirements:

• For AAPC Distance Learning students only: Documentation proving completion of AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course is not required as our system recognizes member accomplishment.

If another course is to be utilized, the following must be provided:

• Instructor letter on school letterhead verifying completion of at least 80 contact hours.
• Certificate/diploma stating at least 80 contact hours (not CEUs)
• Unofficial school transcript showing at least 80 contact hours