Question 1

Should I take the self-paced or instructor-led course?

Accepted Answer

People who are juggling jobs, family life, or other demanding responsibilities often prefer the self-paced option. It offers the greatest flexibility to study on your own time, at your own pace. This option, however, requires a great deal of self-discipline. The instructor-led option is perfect if you’ll benefit more from a more structured, live classroom environment. This course format is more popular and has a higher pass rate. In the end, the best choice is the one you find most aligned with your goals and preferences. 

Question 2

When do I begin self-paced training?

Accepted Answer

As soon as you purchase one of our courses in the self-paced format, your enrollment begins. You’ll receive a welcome email that will include everything you need to access the course. You may need to wait for your textbook to be delivered to officially get started if your first course assignment requires reading. But, if your course has an online PDF textbook, as many do, you can begin as soon as you receive your login email. To find out what materials you’ll need for your course, make sure to check the course syllabus linked on the course page. 

Question 3

Do I need the pre-requisite training?

Accepted Answer

Training for an AAPC certification requires a foundation of knowledge in three subjects we call the Essentials — medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology. 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.  If not, you can take one long course we call Fundamentals of Medicine, which covers all three topics.

Question 4

Is the exam included in training course purchase?

Accepted Answer

When you purchase a CPC training package, included are two exam attempts, a study guide, practice exam, and an online review — all to help ensure you’re fully prepared for the exam. You’ll also get Practicode 2.0 software and student Codify, which gets you acquainted with coding software before you step into your first job. Finally, packages include a year of AAPC Membership, which comes with a slew of benefits and discounts.

Question 5

How do I locate a class?

Accepted Answer

Please use our Locate a Medical Coding Class tool. There you can search by state. Click on details and you will see the contact information. Call contact for additional details for course start date, length of course and cost.

Why Train with AAPC?

Choose a Training Program:

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)

Certified Professional Coder and Biller (CPC + CPB)

Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)

Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)

Which Certification Course is Right for You?

Not sure which certification is best for you?

Have a question?