Question 1

What course or certification should I start with?

Accepted Answer

If you don’t already have 2 years of healthcare experience, you’ll need to start with the Essentials, which include anatomy, medical terminology, and pathophysiology. These are all available through one course we call Fundamentals of Medicine. If you have formal education or training in medicine or you have over 2 years’ experience working in the field, you can skip the Essentials and start your certification training.  

Next, if you want to become a medical coder, we recommend asking yourself: which type of medical coding do I want to do? The answer to this will help you know which certification to work towards. Consider one of our 4 main core certifications: the CPC, COC, CIC, and the CRC. Or, if you want to become a medical biller, look into the CPB. The most popular choices for a first certification are the CPC and CPC+CPB options.

Question 2

May I use education completed prior to obtaining my certification?

Accepted Answer

Credit will not be awarded for educational activities completed prior to certification.

Question 3

I would like to become certified as a medical coder. What are my options?

Accepted Answer

AAPC offers training courses for CPC, COC, and CIC certification preparation. The CPC Prep course teaches physician office coding and helps to prepare a student for the CPC certification exam. The COC Prep course teaches coding for an outpatient hospital/facility setting and helps to prepare a student for the COC certification exam. The CIC Prep course teaches coding for an inpatient hospital/facility setting and helps to prepare a student for the CIC certification exam. These are self-study courses in which students work at their own pace, from home, to complete each course within a 4-month timeframe or less. For students who prefer to take a classroom based course, many AAPC certified instructors teach AAPC curriculum throughout the US.

Question 4

What is the difference between CPB Medical Billing course and the CPC Preparation course?

Accepted Answer

The CPC Preparation course teaches physician office coding, such as how to assign the proper diagnosis and procedure codes from operative reports and patient charts. This course also helps to prepare you for the CPC certification exam. The CPB Medical Billing course emphasizes billing and only lightly touches on coding, and will prepare you for the CPB certification exam. This course teaches medical billing and reimbursement issues, such as how to take the codes that have already been assigned by the coder and process a claim form, and how to work with 3rd party payers to make sure the claim is processed correctly. It is important that a coder understands billing issues as it helps to decrease claim denials and increase reimbursement. An understanding of billing will also expand a coder’s career opportunities.

Question 5

Does taking a classroom course qualify for one year experience when applying to take the certification exam?

Accepted Answer

Completing an 80 hour or more classroom course will waive one year experience. A letter or certificate of completion indicating hours completed must be submitted to the AAPC to verify course completion.

Certifications

Featured

Train for an exam.

Schedule your exam.

Maintain your credential with CEUs.

Verify a certification.

All certifications

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)^® + Certified Professional Biller (CPB)^® dual certifications

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)^® certification

Certified Professional Biller (CPB)^® certification

Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)^® certification

Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)^® certification

Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)^® certification

Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA)^® certification

Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM)^® certification

Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO)^® certification

Certified Documentation Expert Outpatient (CDEO)^® certification

Certified Documentation Expert Inpatient (CDEI)^® Certification

Certified Evaluation and Management Coder (CEMC)^® certification

Not sure which certification is best for you?

Have a question?

Certifications

Featured

Train for an exam.

Schedule your exam.

Maintain your credential with CEUs.

Verify a certification.

All certifications

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)® + Certified Professional Biller (CPB)® dual certifications

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)® certification

Certified Professional Biller (CPB)® certification

Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)® certification

Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)® certification

Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)® certification

Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA)® certification

Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM)® certification

Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO)® certification

Certified Documentation Expert Outpatient (CDEO)® certification

Certified Documentation Expert Inpatient (CDEI)® Certification

Certified Evaluation and Management Coder (CEMC)® certification