Hello,
Congratulations on passing your exam.
Your initial question asked about the easiest specialty certification to obtain.
I would caution you to not look at the 'easiest' specialty versus looking at a specialization you might enjoy.
Nonetheless - Question: Are you a brand new coder with no coding experience?
If so, do you want to pigeon-hole yourself in a specialty without having really experienced it?
In the very early stages it is often usually best to take any coding job you are offered and stay at the position for 2-3 years.
But who wants to be stuck in something you don't like?
Ask yourself - Which specialty or focus area did I gravitate towards or seemed more interesting to me?
Sometimes we gravitate towards something and it's easy because we are naturally more gifted in understanding that area.
Other times something may be hard but it's interesting and the complexity drives us to conquer it.
And again, some chapters are closed. I trained in the laboratory but I will not apply to any position that is exclusively pathology coding. Been there, done that.
When I was asking myself which specialty certification to pursue, I pretended I was a doctor going through my rotations seeing patients and performing procedures. I researched each of the doctor's specialties, read the common illnesses they treat, procedures they perform and challenges they encounter as well as any breakthrough technologies or up and coming research for each specialty. I jotted down the specialties that seemed interesting in one column and the questionable specialties in another column.
I then pretended I was now married to a physician who worked in each of the specialties on my list.
How would I react to my spouse coming home from work sharing his workday with me?
Cringing, goosebumps, gagging, crying, hyperventilating, holding the body part being referred to even when it isn't even there and feeling phantom pain, putting my hand to my forehead and the other on a table to hold me up and praying - well, that specialty is an automatic NO.
This is how I eliminated orthopedics, OB/GYN, pediatrics, ophthalmology.
If I react to my doctor spouse by forcing a smile and feigning interest yet I am bored to death and am trying to find the tiniest lull in the conversation to change the subject, then that is an automatic NO as well.
This is how I eliminated neurology and hematology/oncology.
If I react by feeling like this spouse of mine is getting beaucoup bucks for this easy specialty and I am now 'treating' his patients in my mind, then that is an automatic NO. Some specialties are more straightforward and easier than others and I would be so bored that the money is not worth it to me.
This is how I eliminated dermatology and anesthesia/pain management.
If you are or want to be a 'see-it-all, know-it-all' then the following specialties tend to see a larger variety of problems within their specialty, in my humble opinion:
Emergency, Ambulatory Surgery, General Surgery, Family Practice, Interventional Radiology.
Plus, I believe risk adjustment coding (CRC) and inpatient coding (CIC) can be considered a 'see-it-all, know-it-all' type of specialty because of the large variety of problems addressed.
NOTE: I did not mention which specialties pay the most but I was told that if the physician specialty pays high then the supporting staff (including coders), will be paid accordingly.
I would not worry too much if you decide not to pursue a specialist credential or miss the deadline. I can assure you that AAPC will have numerous other specials. I have been a member long enough to notice this. Plus, they always have a year end special.