Getting Certified FAQ

What does 'getting certified' mean?

The same way having a driver's license is evidence of completing initial training, passing an exam, and completing ongoing exams, a Medical Coding or Billing Certification (a.k.a. credential) is evidence that a person has undergone the basic education, completed a rigorous exam, and maintains their skill through ongoing education.

There are several organizations that certify billers, coders, and other HIM professionals:

AAPC - American Academy of Professional Coders - https://www.aapc.com/
AHIMA - American Health Information Management Association - http://www.ahima.org/
AAHAM - American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management - http://www.aaham.org/
HFMA - Healthcare Financial Management Association - http://www.hfma.org/
NHA - National Healthcareer Association - http://www.nhanow.com/

Each of these organizations has multiple credential options, see the List of Certifications.

How do I get certified?

The three E's, Education, Experience, and Exams. While each certification has it's own set of requirements, the basic path is always the same: complete a training course, acquire related experience in the field, and pass the exam.

The training program options include:

Online training directly through a certifying body

AHIMA is partnered with the National Cancers Registrars Association to offer their "Coding Basics" program to prepare for the CCA - http://www.cancerregistryeducation.org/coding-basics
AAPC offers a CPC Prep Course - https://www.aapc.com/training/cpc-online-medical-coding-training-course.aspx

Online training through an approved educator

Career Step is both AAPC and AHIMA approved - https://www.careerstep.com/
Certification Coaching Organization is an AAPC approved educator - https://www.cco.us/

Getting a vocational certificate (or degree) from an accredited college

AHIMA's CAHIIM approved schools can be found here: http://www.cahiim.org/directoryofaccredpgms/programdirectory.aspx

Do I need a degree?

No. Entry level certifications do not require a degree. Some do not even require any billing/coding training, though a basic course is always recommended, and you will most likely not pass the exams without some form of preparation. If, on the off chance a person with no training or experience passes the exam, they will likely have difficulty being successful in a day-to-day job.

More advanced certifications could require two-year and even four-year degrees.

Check the Common Certifications Chart to see which credentials require degrees or experience.

Which certification is best?

No one certification is better than another, which one you choose depends on your personal goals.

For example, AHIMA is aimed at a broader scope, addressing all aspects of health information, whereas the AAPC is more concentrated on the coding aspects of the revenue cycle. AHIMA certification could lead to careers in HIM management, or HIM law where AAPC certification could direct you to careers in coding auditing.

How long does it take to get certified?

How long it takes to complete the courses depends on which program path you choose. As stated above, it is recommended that at least a basic training in billing/coding is completed before taking the exams.

Program	Time
Online training through AHIMA, AAPC, etc	Weeks - Months
Vocational certificate from college	12 - 18 months
Associate's degree	2 years

How much does it cost?

As with everything else, this depends on which certification and which training option you choose. At bare minimum, the cost for the exam is around $300, pretty much across the board. Online training can run $1500 - $2500, depending on the organization. There are often sales and discounts or price-reduction packages. Colleges will be even more expensive, but financial aid, grants, and scholarships will be available.

In addition to the initial cost of training, future billers and coders need to know that they will have ongoing costs for their annual membership (to maintain their credential) and continuing education units (CEUs).

What are CEUs and how do I get them?

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are a biller/coder's way of staying up-to-date in the ever changing field of HIM/Revenue Cycle. CEUs can be earned through reading articles and taking quizzes, attending in-person or online training, etc.

Some organizations (AHIMA and AAPC) offer CEUs as part of their membership. You will have to supplement these in order to reach the total required CEUs for your credential. The CEU requirements vary by organization, credential type, and the number of credentials.

How much do billing and coding jobs pay?

Salary varies widely by certification type, employer type, level of experience, and location.

You can see some recent salary studies here:

Can I work from home?

Yes, however, first time coders should not expect to be able to get a remote position right off the bat. Since you will be completely unsupervised, remote positions often require more experience than an in-office position would.

What other advice can you offer?

happyhooker485 [RHIT, CCS-P, CFPC, 10yrs exp] -

I (and most of this sub) do NOT recommend for-profit career colleges as they are money pits. Never sign up for a program that isn't endorsed by either AHIMA, AAPC, or the organization you're going to get certified by.

If you don't have any experience, try to get an entry level HIM/MR position while you are doing your training, something like file clerk or front desk, this is 'related experience' that will help you with your training and exponentially increase your chances of getting hired after you get your certification.

Want to add a comment or recommendation to this FAQ? Click here to send a message to /u/happyhooker485 on reddit.