Are you drawn to the healthcare sector but prefer a role away from direct patient care? Do you seek a career that’s both quickly accessible and financially rewarding, without the burden of exorbitant educational costs? If so, a career in medical coding might be the perfect fit for you.
If the prospect of medical coding intrigues you, or if you’re at the starting point, unsure of how to begin your journey towards becoming a medical coder, we’re here to illuminate your path. This guide will provide you with a clear roadmap on how to get started in a medical coding career.
Mapping Your Course: From Career Choice to Landing Your Dream Job
Becoming a certified medical coder is a pivotal step that unlocks numerous job opportunities and establishes you as a recognized professional in the healthcare industry. Medical coders are indispensable to physicians and healthcare organizations, including hospitals and surgery centers.
Their daily responsibilities are crucial in ensuring accurate payer reimbursement, maintaining regulatory compliance, and upholding the continuity of patient care – all paramount aspects of healthcare operations. Beyond revenue and patient care, the work of medical coders has a significant impact on broader healthcare initiatives, contributing to:
- Monitoring public health trends
- Enhancing data for epidemiological research
- Evaluating patient outcomes and healthcare delivery
- Determining the medical necessity of healthcare services
Your Journey: Steps on How to Get Started in Medical Coding Career
- Self-Assessment: Is Medical Coding Right for You?
- Enroll in a Medical Coding Training Program
- Prepare for the CPC Exam
- Ace the CPC Certification Exam
- Engage and Network Locally
- Secure Your Medical Coding Position
- Advance Your Expertise with Further Certification
- Achieve Advanced Certification for Career Growth
Step 1: Self-Assessment – Is a Medical Coding Career the Right Path for You?
Before committing to a career, it’s wise to engage in some self-reflection. For medical coding, a fundamental question to ask yourself is: Do I have a genuine interest in healthcare? While you won’t need extensive medical school or a life sciences degree, some related coursework is necessary to grasp the language of medicine.
Medical coders analyze clinical documentation, essentially doctor’s notes, and convert diagnoses, procedures, and supplies into standardized medical codes. These codes are then used for billing and insurance claims with commercial and federal payers. Therefore, familiarity with medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology is essential.
Consider these questions:
- Am I willing to learn the necessary prerequisite subjects?
- Does a career that requires knowledge of anatomy and medical terms sound interesting?
- Would working alongside healthcare professionals be motivating for me?
A medical coding career in healthcare offers personal fulfillment, professional growth, financial stability, and ample opportunities for career advancement. It’s a profession to be proud of. However, it’s important to recognize that medical coding isn’t for everyone.
If science isn’t your passion, it’s highly recommended to take an extra step in your initial assessment: speak with current medical coders. Gaining firsthand insights into their daily tasks and experiences will solidify whether this career path aligns with your aspirations.
Step 2: Enroll in a Medical Coding Training Program
Like any specialized profession, thorough training is vital to excel as a medical coder. Your next crucial step in how to get started in a medical coding career is to enroll in a comprehensive medical coding training program.
It’s important to know that there are four primary types of medical coding certifications. Choosing the right one initially depends on your preferred work environment, such as a doctor’s office, outpatient clinic, inpatient hospital, or insurance company. This initial choice isn’t restrictive; it simply serves as a starting point in your career trajectory.
Core Medical Coding Certifications
Training programs for each core certification are tailored to the specific reimbursement systems used in different healthcare settings. These certifications typically include:
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC): Focuses on physician practice and outpatient coding.
- Certified Outpatient Coder (COC): Specializes in hospital outpatient coding.
- Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC): Concentrates on hospital inpatient coding.
- Certified Professional Biller (CPB): Expertise in medical billing processes.
Why Choose AAPC for Your Medical Coding Training?
AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) is recognized as the gold standard in medical coding and has established the industry’s professional certifications. AAPC specializes exclusively in healthcare business education, and their highly-regarded training programs consistently demonstrate superior pass rates compared to other medical coding schools. Choosing an AAPC-approved program is a strong step in learning how to get started in a medical coding career effectively.
Step 3: Prepare for the CPC Exam
Given that many aspiring medical coders begin by pursuing the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification, we’ll focus on this path to simplify the subsequent steps. However, these steps are broadly applicable to all core certifications.
Passing the CPC exam—or any medical coding certification exam—is a significant achievement, known for its rigor. This is why employers often favor certified coders over those with just a degree. The CPC credential signifies a demonstrated level of skill and reliability.
Thorough preparation is key to exam success. Alongside your coursework, consider utilizing study aids to reinforce your medical coding knowledge.
Recommended Study Tools for the CPC Exam
- AAPC Practice Exams: Developed by the creators of the CPC exam, these practice exams are invaluable for simulating the actual exam environment and identifying areas for improvement. Many successful candidates credit these practice exams as crucial to their preparation.
- The Official CPC® Certification Study Guide: This comprehensive guide reviews each section of the CPC exam, offering practical examples and effective test-taking strategies. It includes over 200 sample questions with detailed answers and rationales.
- AAPC’s Online Exam Review: This concise review course targets the most challenging coding concepts on the CPC exam, addressing frequently missed questions and reinforcing critical knowledge areas.
Step 4: Ace the CPC Certification Exam
After completing your CPC training, the next step in how to get started in a medical coding career is to schedule your certification exam to formally validate your expertise.
What to Expect on the CPC Exam
The CPC® exam evaluates your proficiency in accurately applying ICD-10-CM, CPT®, and HCPCS Level II codes across a broad spectrum of medical services, including evaluation and management (E/M), anesthesia, surgery, radiology, pathology, and medicine. Achieving correct answers requires:
- Strong command of anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical terminology.
- Practical knowledge of medical coding guidelines and regulations.
Exam Day Tips
Adequate study, consistent practice, and sufficient rest before exam day are crucial. In-person certification exams are comprehensive, with 100 questions to be completed within four hours. With solid preparation and the right support, passing your CPC exam is absolutely achievable.
Step 5: Engage and Network Locally
Networking is a highly effective strategy for job hunting. Aspiring CPCs should proactively engage with their local AAPC chapter even before certification.
Local AAPC chapters are invaluable resources for both certified coders and students, providing updates on industry trends and local job opportunities. Participation facilitates connections with experienced professionals, mentors, and peers. Chapter meetings often feature guest speakers and offer opportunities for leadership roles once certified.
A significant benefit of local chapter meetings, whether online or in person, is the chance to announce your job search. Fellow members are often supportive and may offer leads or recommendations when coding positions become available within their organizations.
Additional Networking Opportunities
Beyond local chapters, consider attending industry conferences, joining online medical coding communities, and connecting with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn to expand your network and uncover more opportunities in your How To Get Started In Medical Coding Career journey.
Step 6: Secure Your Medical Coding Position
For those seeking their first medical coding job, AAPC membership provides access to exclusive job-hunting resources. Effectively utilizing these resources is key to successfully how to get started in medical coding career and landing your first role.
AAPC Employment Tools:
- AAPC Career Center: This online job board lists medical coding and related positions from employers actively seeking AAPC-certified professionals.
- Resume Building Resources: AAPC offers templates and advice to create a compelling resume that highlights your skills and certifications effectively.
- Career Coaching: AAPC provides access to career counselors who can offer personalized advice and strategies for your job search.
Fast-Track Your Coding Apprenticeship
Upon passing the CPC exam, newly certified professionals initially receive the CPC-A credential, where “A” denotes apprenticeship status. Typically, removing the “A” and achieving full CPC status requires two years of practical coding experience.
However, CPC-As can accelerate their professional development through Practicode. This hands-on coding practice program provides concentrated, real-world coding scenarios. Successfully completing all three Practicode modules is equivalent to one year of on-the-job medical coding experience, allowing CPC-As to fast-track the removal of their apprenticeship status and advance their careers quicker in their how to get started in medical coding career path.
Step 7: Advance Your Expertise with Further Certification
For medical coders with a few years of experience looking to advance, expanding your skill set with a second core certification can be beneficial. For instance, a CPC might consider obtaining the COC certification, especially given the increasing integration of hospitals and physician practices.
If career advancement is your goal, consider roles such as coder II, coding supervisor, coding educator, or specialized coder. Medical coders with a specialty credential typically earn an average annual salary of $64,712, which is 11% higher than the median salary of $58,055 for non-specialized CPCs. This demonstrates the financial benefits of specialization in your medical coding career.
Step 8: Achieve Advanced Certification for Career Growth
Beyond specialty coding, certified professional coders can pursue advanced healthcare business roles, such as:
- Auditing: Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA)
- Risk Adjustment: Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)
- Compliance: Certified Healthcare Compliance Officer (CHC)
- Clinical Documentation Improvement: Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS)
These advanced certifications not only enhance your expertise but also significantly boost your earning potential and open doors to leadership positions within the healthcare industry, further solidifying your career in medical coding.
Your Medical Coding Career Starts Today
AAPC provides complimentary career counseling to help you make informed decisions tailored to your individual situation. You can reach out by calling 877-290-0440 or schedule a consultation to discuss how to get started in medical coding career.
If you feel ready to take the next step, explore the medical coding programs available and enroll in the certification training of your choice by visiting AAPC’s certification training page. Remember, the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll be starting your fulfilling career as a medical coder!
