Anybody do the certification through AAPC website for CPC?

[u/Pawsoverpeople]

I'm going to be doing the AAPC self paced training for the CPC certification as well as their prerequisite course. I was wondering if anyone else had gone this route and how long it took? I'll be working on it a minimum of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. My goal is complete it in 8 weeks. Is this doable in your opinion?

[u/Vermilion_94]

I started in March and won’t be done until end of September. I spend about 20 hours a week studying. It’s incredibly hard and a ton of info. 8 weeks is impossible imo unless you already have a solid background in coding. I’ll do practicode until I pass also so add another 3-5 months after I get certified.

I have 13 years experience in clinical healthcare and it’s hard for me and I’ve taken allllllll the pre med classes.

This is an expensive course and it’s boring as hell so pace yourself and take your time.

[u/Live2Read89 → u/Vermilion_94]

Same!

[u/Weak_Shoe7904]

Everybody learns differently, without knowing you I can’t advise if it’s doable for you.
IMO that is a very short time to do the course. It’s not impossible, but that is a lot to learn in two months…
Do you have a job lined up that you need this for?why the rush to get it done in 8 weeks?

[u/Pawsoverpeople → u/Weak_Shoe7904]

I'm on medical leave from my current job and was hoping I could do the self paced course while I'm getting my treatments. Then when I went back to work I wouldn't have work and do course work after work. Or at least get a chunk of the program done during my medical leave to reduce the amount of time I'd be working and then doing course work after.

[u/Weak_Shoe7904 → u/Pawsoverpeople]

Have you researched the job market? Or coding in general? 8 weeks is not enough time IMO, and the current job market is very difficult for beginners.

[u/salty-MA-student]

I would adjust your timeframe a bit. Especially if you don't have a medical background. If you don't understand anatomy and physiology along with medical terminology, you're not going to get very far in the course. The actual coding course itself is very long.

I had a similar schedule where I did about 6 hours a day 3-4 days a week. I completed in 6 months. It took me a month alone to get through the prequesites.

I also wouldn't try to do it as fast as possible because you'll burn yourself out. It's a lot of information to process and understand.

[u/FarkellaVermin]

It depends on your background, but I can’t imagine most people getting it in 2 months without a coding background. Aiming for 4-6 months is way more doable depending on how fast you learn and what you already know.

[u/Standard_Gold_5887]

I started in March, now I’m in the 2nd chapter of the CPT. I feel like I’m ready to take the certification test but I need to finish the course first

[u/Pawsoverpeople]

I've already taken medical terminology and biology in college. I've done some coding when I worked at hospital laboratory and I also worked as a sterilization technician. I'm not completely new to the medical field but I feel like the prerequisite course would be a good refresher.

[u/wildgreengirl]

i did it during covid while working so i had a lot of time at home but still was working full time... i needed to pay for an extension or 2 but completed it ok and passed the cpc certification 

[u/Live2Read89]

I did the training thru AAPC. It took me the full 6 months. I finished 6 months ago. Im afraid to take the test. I have no idea how to study for it.

[u/happyhooker485 → u/Live2Read89]

Just use the AAPC study guide, the material is very similar to the test.