There are many complications regarding the compliance, efficiency, and accuracy, professional credibility involved in the financial reimbursement process of any medical specialty, and it is critical for the entities involved in it to overcome them in a very professional way as the financial health and practice revenue is dependent upon it. Having said that, if you acquire CPC (certified professional coder) certification, you will have enormous benefits in your career as it demonstrates that you maintain a high level of proficiency in medical coding and billing, which are critical skills for those who are working as healthcare administrative partners. Moreover, medical organizations require their practice revenue experts to follow specific billing and coding guidelines to receive payment from insurers; this certification lets you train to adhere to the required regulations, which ensures that an organization remains in compliance.
As far as career development is concerned, if you are looking to build your career as a healthcare administrative partner, many employers in the healthcare industry prefer or require employees to have a CPC certification. Earning this certification can make individuals more competitive in the job market and open up new career opportunities. In this context, this post aims to make you aware and acknowledge the relevant information regarding this certification, including the examination cost you will get charged.
Although the CPC exam is not easy to clear and pass, you can pass it if you understand CPT and ICD guidelines entirely. Let’s dive into a detailed discussion of it.
CPC stands for “Certified professional coder” and is given explicitly to medical coders when they pass the CPC exam. As the most widely recognized certification in the industry, the CPC is a great beginning point. CPCs can assist your medical practice in:
Prep your medical code books:
The CPC test is an open book, meaning that you may utilize specific books to obtain the answers to
those questions requiring codes or information. The more familiar you are with your coding books,
the quicker you will be able to find information to answer correctly. The AAPC also suggests that
you should familiarize yourself with these publications to swiftly identify codes, directions, and
recommendations while providing answers. Underlining or highlighting important information in your
books will assist you in many ways.
Use CPC study guides:
To assist students in reviewing their knowledge and getting ready for the exam, the AAPC publishes
official study guides for the CPC examination. Candidates will get advantages after using these
guides.
Keep solving model Certified Professional Coder (CPC) papers: Practice is the key to accuracy, and it is said that practice makes a man perfect. So never enter an exam room before you practice the model paper. The CPC Certification is the gold benchmark for medical coders in primary healthcare centers.
If you want to earn a CPC certificate from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), you must give and pass the test or exam. In addition to undergoing yearly modifications to account for changes in codes and recommendations, certification exams at the American Academy of Professional Coders are also subject to ongoing evaluation. With such methods, candidates are guaranteed to have their abilities fairly assessed and possess the skills required for entry-level positions with particular businesses or government organizations.
Format: In this test, 150 MCQs will be given to you from approximately 17 subjects/topics, including Anesthesia, radiology, medicine, anatomy, laboratory, musculoskeletal system, pathology, Nervous system, integumentary system, Pathology, digestive system, medical terminology, CVS, etc., to evaluate your knowledge and capability about applying valid codes. You should be ready with an understanding of all different codes, including CPT, HCPCS Level II, ICD-10-CM, and surgical codes.
Time and passing marks: To qualify for this certificate, you must attempt at least 70% of your answers correctly within 5 hours and 40 minutes.
Online or in-person options:AAPC offers both options (in-person and online) for ease of candidate.
Moreover, for an online exam, there would be two sessions of around 2 hours and 45 minutes. You will be provided with the result within 4-5 working days.
The examination cost for CPC is different for both online and in-person exams:
If you are a member of AAPC, the cost will be reduced. An applicant can pay the examination fee using the AAPC website. After submitting the payment, the applicant has a time limit of one year to attempt this test.
The prerequisites for appearing in the CPC exam are as follows:
Experience:The candidate does not become a CPC if he does not have previous experience. Instead, he will be designated as a certified professional coder-Apprentice (CPC-A). The CPC exam requires candidates to have prior expertise of 2 years in the discipline of medical coding.
Letter of recommendation:The coders must also provide the AAPC with two letters of recommendation, another requirement.
AAPC membership: Candidates must have current AAPC membership to be eligible to take the examination.
CPC certification has a validity time period of 2 years. After two years, a candidate is required to renew the certification. You must meet two prerequisites to accomplish this:
Studying for this exam requires discipline and time; hence, you should make strategies before studying:
After earning the CPC certification, you can serve as a coding and billing specialist in a doctor’s office. The CPC certificate covers coding and all facets of working as a medical coder or biller. CPC certificate credentials have several roles in the medical industry since it is the most generally recognized medical coding qualification. Moreover, it prepares for competitiveness, accuracy, and professionalism in medical coding fields for different sections. Employers prefer CPC credentials in comparison to non-CPC credentials.
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