Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)® Online Training Course
The COC Online Training Course teaches fundamental medical coding skills for outpatient hospitals and facilities.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to review and assign the correct procedures and diagnostic codes for patient encounters in a hospital or outpatient setting. This highly coveted skillset helps hospitals and facilities receive appropriate reimbursement and maintain compliance with coding guidelines and government/payer regulations.
When to enroll
This COC course is recommended for anyone who is preparing for a career in medical coding for an outpatient hospital/facility and ambulatory surgery center setting and who wants to earn the COC (formerly CPC-H® credential.
Value
AAPC trains over 20,000 new students annually for careers in medical billing and coding. Affirm your experience with employers and differentiate yourself for a career in hospital and facility coding.
Education and experience
Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology is required to successfully complete this course. AAPC offers the following prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Medicine - covers all three of the prerequisites below.
Anatomy (self-paced instruction), Medical Terminology (self-paced instruction), and Pathophysiology (self-paced instruction).
Course length
Self-paced: Average time to completion is 4 months or less. 6-month access to course materials with options for extensions.
Instructor-led: 16 weeks from start date to completion. New courses start every week.
Continuing education units (CEUs)
Receive 40 CEUs on successful completion. One-time use only. AAPC certified prior to enrollment; excluding CPCO, CIRCC, CPMA, and specialty certifications.
Course syllabus
Financial options
Pay in full: Price includes $500 pay-in-full discount
Pay over time: Make easy monthly payments over 12, 18, or 24 months
Learning methods
AAPC understands that students learn in different ways—that's why we allow you to choose a learning style that fits you best. AAPC offers the following learning methods:
Live instructor-led
Live instruction and classroom-paced training
16-week course via 1.5 hour online live sessions per week
Highest exam pass rate
66% better than no exam prep
New courses start every week
Self-paced instruction
Flexibility to prepare for the exam on your own time and pace with on-demand coaching
Up to 6-month access to course materials
50% better than no exam prep
What students are saying
Obtaining my COC credential was one of the best decisions I made in my coding career... I advanced to a supervisory role in an ambulatory surgery center.
Rhonda D. McCaskill, COC, CPC, CPB, MCS-P
Taking the COC course gave me thorough knowledge of APCs and payment indicators which was extremely helpful when taking the COC certification and passing on the first try.
Brenda Stevens, COC, CPC, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I CMC, CMIS, CMOM
I thoroughly enjoyed the COC course due to the outstanding content, flow of the material, and practice exams, passing the certification exam was just the cherry on top.
Julia Mitchell, MHA, COC, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CRC, LSSGB
Course curriculum overview
Understanding facility coding is vital when working in the hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) settings, where reimbursement is based not on professional services provided, but on the resources used during the patient encounter.
The COC training will cover coding fundamentals including CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II coding, along with the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and an introduction to ICD-10-PCS.
Outpatient coding training objectives
Understand outpatient facilities and their departments including outpatient services at hospitals, teaching hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities
Navigate the business side of hospital outpatient services and ASCs
Differentiate between inpatient and outpatient services and payment services (IPPS and OPPS)
Understand the difference between MS-DRGs and APC assignments, and how those services are reported
Develop an understanding of compliance in the outpatient hospital facility
Discuss documentation and coding standards for outpatient facilities
Code a wide variety of patient services using CPT®, HCPCS Level II, and ICD-10- CM coding guidelines and code sets
Apply coding and conventions when assigning diagnoses and procedure codes
Understand the UB-04 billing form and its proper use
Know what the charge description master (CDM) is, how it works, and how to update it
Be familiar with the outpatient flow of data through the facility pertaining to patient encounters and procedures
Course bundle includes
In addition to the actual course of interactive online lectures, step-by-step coding processes, and all training needed to pass the exam, you’ll receive:
Online practice exams (included in Self-Paced Max and Instructor-Led packages)
Three 50-question practice exams to help you determine your readiness for the exam.COC exam (included in Self-Paced Max and Instructor-Led packages — a $499 value)
The COC exam features 100 multiple-choice questions over 4 hours. Your package includes two exam attempts.FREE BONUS: Practicode COC Practicum (subscription included in Self-Paced Max and Instructor-Led packages — a $249 value)
Practicode is a coding practice tool that helps you improve coding, giving you hands-on practice with real-world (redacted) cases. The tool evaluates your progress and helps you identify areas of weakness.FREE BONUS: AAPC eBook
2024 Medical Coding Training: COC
FAQs: Get your questions answered
How do I become a certified outpatient coder?
If you want to become a certified outpatient coder, you should complete the COC training course so you can gain all the knowledge and skills needed for the role — and be ready to pass the certification exam. Once you pass the COC exam, you’ll become a certified outpatient coder (COC) — which enhances your credibility and value to employers.
How much does an outpatient coder make?
The median income for a COC is $64,267. However, typically the more certifications a person holds, the higher their pay. On average, medical records specialists with three or more AAPC credentials earn $71,361 per year.
What is the difference between a CPC and a COC?
The main difference between a CPC and a COC lies in the scope of their job duties and the settings in which they typically work. While CPCs are trained to assign accurate medical codes for both outpatient and inpatient services across various healthcare settings, COCs specialize in outpatient coding for outpatient settings specifically.
Is outpatient coding easier than inpatient coding?
Outpatient coding is often perceived as comparatively easier due to the narrower scope of services and more straightforward documentation. Outpatient coding focuses on treatment offered in a single visit, usually lasting only a few hours. Since outpatient visits are short-term, outpatient coding is relatively less complex.
Why train with AAPC?
Get certified in just 4 to 8 months — without spending a fortune on lengthy university studies.
Train with the same experts who created the exams. Why study at an institution that bases its curriculum on AAPC’s when you can train directly with us?
Highest pass rates of any medical coding and billing program. We provide the most trusted curriculum and top-rated training — and the proof is in our pass rates.
Any credential you earn through us will be recognized worldwide. Our education is trusted globally, positioning AAPC as a leader in training and certification. We created the industry’s accreditations for medical coders and medical billers — and have been teaching these programs for more than 35 years.
Exclusive AAPC member benefits: Free and low-cost CEUs, mentorship programs, national and regional events, discounts, and countless opportunities to network with over 275,000 other members.