Wiki Steps with CPC-A

[hannahc.torres@outlook.com]

Hello everyone, glad to find support and community here on the forums.
Like a lot of others here, I've recently earned my CPC-A and I'm having trouble finding a job that doesn't require 2+ years of coding experience. The prospect isn't very encouraging. I did have a temporary position for half a year in an optometry office while I was still in school, and did everything from preliminary testing, receptionist work, billing and coding claims, but it still isn't enough for most employers these days.

So I'd like to ask slightly different questions besides "how is everyone finding jobs with an apprentice label": What other things are you currently doing to keep your certification relevant? Are there other things you're exploring or learning that you think might help you reach your career goals in the future? How have you connected with other coders if your local AAPC chapter isn't very active? What other good advice or tips do you have for others who still have the A attached to their certification? What are some things you think all coders, apprentices or otherwise, would benefit from in the future?

Thank you for any help, and I wish all of you the best in the last few months of this year!

 

[Pam Warren]

You can "attend" other virtual chapter meetings in order to network.
Apply for entry-level positions--front desk, patient access, pre-auth, billing, medical records, etc. I like to tell the story about a CPC-A I hired who was working in the hospital cafeteria. I needed a data entry person, and she was already certified. She eventually became one of my very best ED coders.
Attend any day-long workshops within a reasonable driving distance, sponsored by other local chapters.
Consider attending HealthCon virtually. Yes, it's a lot of $$, but I guarantee you will have multiple networking opportunities.
Have your resume reviewed, (send it to me....I'll take a peek) Pamela.Warren@mainehealth.org, and practice interviewing with a colleague. Sometimes it's not the CPC-A....it's knowing how you sell yourself. At the entry level, hiring managers like me figure that everyone has the same coding experience (virtually none).....but we're looking for someone who will be a good fit to the team.
Good luck.

 

[nastar2208@gmail.com]

You can "attend" other virtual chapter meetings in order to network.
Apply for entry-level positions--front desk, patient access, pre-auth, billing, medical records, etc. I like to tell the story about a CPC-A I hired who was working in the hospital cafeteria. I needed a data entry person, and she was already certified. She eventually became one of my very best ED coders.
Attend any day-long workshops within a reasonable driving distance, sponsored by other local chapters.
Consider attending HealthCon virtually. Yes, it's a lot of $$, but I guarantee you will have multiple networking opportunities.
Have your resume reviewed, (send it to me....I'll take a peek) Pamela.Warren@mainehealth.org, and practice interviewing with a colleague. Sometimes it's not the CPC-A....it's knowing how you sell yourself. At the entry level, hiring managers like me figure that everyone has the same coding experience (virtually none).....but we're looking for someone who will be a good fit to the team.
Good luck.

I have been attending my local chapter meetings and I just got my RHIT and I am still a CPC -A and I am having problems getting a coding position . I am current a Auditor . Any suggestion

 

[Pam Warren]

I have been attending my local chapter meetings and I just got my RHIT and I am still a CPC -A and I am having problems getting a coding position . I am current a Auditor . Any suggestion

When you interview, have you gone back to the interviewer to learn why you didn't get the position?

I think you should consider not looking for a coding position at this time. Start applying for entry-level jobs; I think you'll have better luck.

 

[akheidiol@yahoo.com]

As an inpatient Obstetrics/Newborn nurse for over 25 years, I thought with my CPC-A it would be a little easier to get a job or at least get an interview. Well after applying for over 20 jobs and not getting one call, I decided to go back to nursing. Ironically I got a job in an OB/Gyn clinic and we have to ICD and CPT code for all procedures/charges/orders along with all the nursing duties. I don't know if in the future this will help, but I do feel that the difficulty in getting a job in coding instead of all the job opportunities out there should have been emphasized. The program was a lot of work while working nights full time and money. I don't know about others, but I have to have a job and can't spend my days just networking and/or working for $15/hour at an entry level job. I guess I will just have to see if obtaining my certification was worth if or a waste of time. My goal had been to obtain a coding job I could work into retirement.
Good luck to all with their goals and job opportunities.

 

[amyjph]

As an inpatient Obstetrics/Newborn nurse for over 25 years, I thought with my CPC-A it would be a little easier to get a job or at least get an interview. Well after applying for over 20 jobs and not getting one call, I decided to go back to nursing. Ironically I got a job in an OB/Gyn clinic and we have to ICD and CPT code for all procedures/charges/orders along with all the nursing duties. I don't know if in the future this will help, but I do feel that the difficulty in getting a job in coding instead of all the job opportunities out there should have been emphasized. The program was a lot of work while working nights full time and money. I don't know about others, but I have to have a job and can't spend my days just networking and/or working for $15/hour at an entry level job. I guess I will just have to see if obtaining my certification was worth if or a waste of time. My goal had been to obtain a coding job I could work into retirement.
Good luck to all with their goals and job opportunities.

If are a nurse and have a CPC, I consider that highly desirable. Here are some links to other places we have discussed. (Note some of the job links may be outdated but the idea is the same). You would be valuable as a CDI expert and/or working in billing compliance or auditing in a large hospital system imo. Be sure to look at the "other side" of coding, not just for a provider or facility but the payer side. Highlight your clinical experience and nursing background. Translate it and connect to understanding clinical practice and especially A&P when it comes to coding. You can interface with providers unlike other coders who are not clinical.

Wiki - RN and CPC-A. Currently pursuing CRC Certification. Seeking Risk Adjustment Coding position

Experienced as a Risk Adjustment Coder and Registered Nurse has equipped me with a well-rounded skill set, demonstrating proficiency in the utilization of ICD-10-CM codes in Risk Adjustment Coding, along with a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. I am actively...

www.aapc.com

Wiki - RN looking to transition into coding

I'm currently a RN but am really interested in transitioning into medical coding. The only coding experience I have is with ICD-10-CM Z codes (social determinants of health, nonbillable) that I use on patient care plans. I do have concerns with what appears to be the difficulty obtaining a...

www.aapc.com

This is an old CPC-A thread where I had added some links, again they may be old, but the idea is the same.

Wiki - CPC- A need jobs

I have been a CPC-A since 2006. I have been keeping up my certification, attending meetings, took the ICD-10 exam, and remaining a member of AAPC. No one has answers to get with obtaining a job, after inquiring several times. Every one want you to have 2 yrs of experience, how do you obtain...

www.aapc.com

This was an old post I answered from 2022, but same idea again:

Look at the payer and data analytics/medical review side of things. RN coders are in high demand (even if newly certified CPC). In hiring, I would disregard a coding experience requirement in some cases, as the RN trumps it if you have a basic understanding of coding and earned a CPC. Utilization review, quality review (reviewing med records prior to coding), medical necessity, etc. (As suggested by the post above) I would also recommend applying for what you think would be a good fit even if it says you need experience, doesn't hurt to try. I have gotten roles that said in the paperwork you needed a few things I did not have, yet I still got the job. Large hospital systems also want RN coders to work in compliance, quality, auditing and CDI type roles. Clinical (RN, LPN, MA, CNA, PT, PTA, MD, etc.) coders that have worked directly on the clinical side are 100% more desirable in my opinion.

Examples:
Nurse Reviewer (Registered Nurse) - Remote in US
Clinical Appeals Reviewer - Remote
14 CPC RN jobs in United States
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/searc...words=CPC&location=United States&refresh=true
https://careers.unitedhealthgroup.c...esolution-analyst-cpc-required-remote-remote/
https://careers.unitedhealthgroup.c...ment-ed-medical-coder-national-remote-remote/
https://careers.unitedhealthgroup.c...pro-fee-medical-coder-national-remote-remote/
Just google RN Coder or RN Medical Review, etc.