There’s nothing more exciting than deciding upon a new career path and sticking to your guns and if you decided upon becoming a medical coder then CPC Certification Preparation is highly important.
You know the road may be treacherous and full of challenge but you’re ready to take it on. Becoming a certified professional medical coder is at the top of the list for thousands of individuals.
Every year there are more high school graduates, college students, and higher degree holders that are looking to score in the already-overwhelmed market of certified professional coding.
In order to be successful in this endeavor you will need to know how to prepare yourself for the CPC exam and fully understand the requirements for the CPC certification.
Parts of the Whole: Understanding CPC Certification Preparation
Getting CPC certification has only two parts as dictated by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders):
* Part I: Gain 2 years of accredited, appropriate experience.
* Part II: Pass the CPC certification exam.
So the parts aren’t that complicated, but there are a few important things you need to know about each. When gaining your experience you can waive up to one year by taking approved courses by the AAPC. An 80 hour course will equate to 1 year of relevant experience whereas a 60 hour course will be 6 months. For the exam things get a bit more complicated for how to prepare.
Although you must apply for the exam prior to signing up for it (and the return process will take 6 weeks) you will need much more time than that to get ready. First you need to assess your current knowledge of the subject matter.
Professional medical coders work in Health Information Management and in back offices of medical institutions. They interpret documents, assign proper coding, and deal with medical claims, billing, and reimbursement. The process can be meticulous and tedious but overall it is a simple, routine task. So you need to find out how much medical terminology you already know.
Extras for CPC Certification Preparation
The AAPC has lots of information on their web page about things to do in order to prepare yourself. They suggest taking at least two courses (through them online) that deal specifically with medical terms and anatomy and physiology.
You can take these courses just about anywhere and you can compare course prices through the AAPC with your local community college. Other pertinent courses to take are the AAPC CPC preparation course which will give you confidence about the exam and go over exactly what it is you need to know.
This course can be done online in the comfort of your own home, so the extra advantage it will give you is definitely worth a few extra hours a week of studying.
Other things you can do are buy the required manuals you can use open-book on the exam to get familiar with how they are organized. Make flashcards of medical words you are having difficulty in remembering. Go through this process with a friend to make it easier on yourself and have a study buddy. Go to an AAPC review session. Take practice exams when you can. All of these things will help you become overly familiar with the CPC exam.
When the test day comes you will be fully prepared, knowledgeable on the subject matter, and poised in your timing. Although the exam is less than 6 hours, you will have taken so many practice versions that your mind will be able to pace itself within the time frame. You will now be able to become CPC certified with flying colors.
Leave a Reply