Wiki CIC or CCS

[scrawford1690@gmail.com]

Hi!!

I need some advice. I currently have the CPC certification. I'm studying for the CCS, but am now wondering if I should just go for the CIC.. so I wouldn't have to uphold both the AAPC credential and the AHIMA, and pay both fees. Which one is the better choice?

Thanks!

 

[carlystur]

Uhh .. you might be asking at the wrong place. I think the majority of users here on the AAPC forums would probably suggest AAPC is better or maybe they're equal. There are Facebook groups about medical coding that you could join and potentially ask your question there to see what they say. You might be more likely to get a slightly less biased answer than you would here.

I'm fully aware that I only have AAPC to go off of, so I wouldn't be able to give you any advice regarding that.

 

[Ashnic]

CIC test is an absolute nightmare.

Only a handful of coding questions, and a couple cases. The majority is memorizing ins rules and abbreviated names of different medicare divisions and what they do. I paid close to $700 for the CIC tests and study guides, and I have been coding ICD CM and PCS for traumatic injuries and procedures for almost 3 years and failed my first CIC test because of how heavy the test is on just memorizing medicare and other ins stuff.

If I fail again on my second try I will be getting my CCS and dropping AAPC altogether. CCS includes both inpatient and outpatient services, ICD-CM, ICD-PCS and CPT codes. It's kind-of an all in one coding cert. I have my CPC through AAPC and that test was challenging but passable. The CIC is the awful, and the study guide is all over the place with random info to memorize that you would have charts and programs for if you needed to classify something in real-life coding. One AAPC CIC practice test question asked me which MS-DRG a patient should have based on their dx; umm that's 767 options! How am I supposed to memorize which category that one dx falls into? Anyway, stick with CCS. Well recognized and more inclusive than CIC. I feel like I basically lit $700 on fire and watched it burn. I'm not optimistic about my next test.

 

[gingerschepis]

I agree with Ashnic. The CIC exam itself is terrible with Niche questions that have nothing to do with PCS. Why do I have to know the different types of DRG's when we only care about MS-DRG? I failed both exams and watched my $500 crash and burn. Very disappointed.