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| Medical Coding Certification |  Getting Medical billing and coding certification can give you a competitive edge in the job market. Many employers prefer to hire certified candidates, as it gives them the assurance that a job candidate has the right skills and professional qualifications to do the job. Certification can also help boost your career. For many professional coders the only way to promotion in the field is through management positions or jobs that require specialty expertise.
There are couple variations of medical billing and coding certification.
Recently the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) initiated medical coding certification exams for coders in physician practices and the facility environment. This is the first certification program and exams for medical coders that recognize them in the payer community. The purpose of the AAPC certifications is to test the candidate’s knowledge of coding principles and experience in coding accurately and efficiently. This examination is evaluating a coder’s skills of both coding accuracy and efficiency.
There are only two kinds of medical coding credentials recognized by employers, payers and government agencies, including the Department of Labor. They are: AAPC’s CPC certification credential for physician and outpatient coding, and AHIMA’s CCS for impatient coding.
Identification: those who pass AAPC certification exams will receive recognition in the Coding Edge within three months after examination date and will receive a diploma suitable for framing.
Medical Coding Certification Requirements:
- It is recommended to have associate’s degree
- Pay examination fee at the time of application submission
- Provide yourself with current membership with the AAPC
Another company that offers evaluation of medical coders is American Health Information Management Association. It proposes the following credentials:
1. Certified Coding Associate (CCA). Earning CCA shows the commitment to coding even for those who are new in the field. CCA holders demonstrate their competency in the field.
2. Certified Coding specialist (CCS). CCSs are professionals experienced in classifying medical data from patient records, generally in the hospital setting. Besides they are well-informed in medical terminology, disease processes and pharmacology.
3. Certified Coding Specialists-Physician-based (CCS-P). It is a practitioner with expertise in physician-based setting such as physician offices, group practices, multispecialty clinics or specialty centers.
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