What are cpc credentials?

At the same time, these two designations are also very different. Understanding these differences is important for anyone who is interested in beginning a career in medical billing and coding, or someone already working in the field who is looking to boost their career through one of these certifications. Before we explore some of the differences, let’s first explain what each coding certification is.

CPC stands for Certified Professional Coder. This medical coding certification is offered through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and serves to provide a sort of evidence that you have the knowledge and skills needed to work as a professional coder.

This is a good certification for those who are just beginning their career in medical billing and coding, or for someone who is interested in working solely as a medical coder.

To earn this credential, you must pass the CPC exam. This is a 150-question multiple-choice test designed to assess your knowledge in 17 different areas, some of which include anatomy, medical terminology, radiology, and medicine.1 The certification exam also assesses your ability to properly apply diagnostic, procedural, and treatment codes using the standard medical coding systems, which are:

Candidates have 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete the CPC exam and must provide the correct answer to at least 70% of the questions (which means answering at least 105 questions accurately) in order to earn a passing score.

If you take the CPC exam online, the cost is $299 and you have one attempt at passing it. Take the exam in person at one of the assigned testing locations and the cost goes up to $399, but candidates have two attempts to earn a score of 70% or higher. AAPC membership is required to take the exam, which is another $180.

You must have a minimum of two years of coding experience to earn the CPC designation. If you don’t have this experience, you may still be able to take the test. However, if you pass, your designation would be CPC-A, which stands for CPC apprentice.

Once you have gained two years of experience, you can request that the “A” be removed from your CPC designation. This is achieved through the submission of two letters of recommendation that verify that you have met this minimum time requirement.

CCS stands for Certified Coding Specialist. This coding credential is provided by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). It signifies that you have met the standards as set forth by this organization to provide services as a medical coding specialist. These include having skills needed to maintain data quality and ensure data accuracy, also indicating that you’ve met a certain level of proficiency in medical coding.

This exam may be best suited for those with medical coding experience who are looking to advance their careers and/or earn a higher salary. Generally speaking, the CCS certification exam is more difficult than the CPC certification exam. It also has more stringent eligibility requirements.

The CCS exam consists of two sections. The first section includes answering multiple-choice questions. The second involves answering questions about medical scenarios (inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department). In total, there are between 115 and 140 questions on the CCS certification exam.

Should you decide to take the CCS exam, you have four hours to complete it. It covers four domains: coding knowledge and skills (51.9%), coding documentation (10.1%), provider queries (8.9%), and regulatory compliance (29.1%). You must earn a score of 300 or higher to pass, and this exam has an 83% pass rate for first-time test-takers.3

The cost of the CCS exam is $299 for AHIMA members or $399 for non-members. AHIMA membership ranges from $49 annually as a student to $199 per year for a Professional – Premier member.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you can apply to take the CCS exam. To apply for the CCS exam, you must either:2

There are several key differences between AAPC’s CPC certification and AHIMA’s CCS certification. They are:

Both of the CPC and CCS medical coding certifications can show potential employers that you have the knowledge and skills needed to work in a medical coder role. The one that is best for you can vary based on your specific situation and medical billing and coding career goals.

One strategy that some in this field pursue is obtaining their CPC certification first, then pursuing their CCS certification later — after gaining some experience. Whether this is also a good strategy for you depends on a number of factors.

To help you make the best decision for you when choosing between a CPC or CCS designation, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Answering questions such as these can help you determine which certification may be best for you based on your circumstances and goals.

Although neither the APPC nor AHIMA requires a formal education in medical billing and coding, both indicate that having knowledge and training in this field can be beneficial. At a minimum, having the proper education can help give you the best chance at passing both the CPC and CCS certification exams, which is especially important since you have limited attempts with each before having to pay for a whole new test.

If you’d like to learn the skills necessary to work as a medical coder or medical biller and coder, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers two options: an online Medical Billing and Coding diploma and an online Medical Billing and Coding associate degree. The online Medical Billing and Coding diploma program can be completed in 11 months3 and includes courses that teach about diagnostic coding, procedural coding, anatomy, medical terminology, claims processing, and more.

CPC stands for Certified Professional Coder. This medical coding certification is offered through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and serves to provide a sort of evidence that you have the knowledge and skills needed to work as a professional coder.

This course is Going PRO eligible. Results in 6 credits towards a degree at Davenport University (if the CPC® credential is earned.)

Medical coders are required in virtually every private practice, hospital, and clinic. They are essential members of the healthcare team. Without proper medical coding, hospitals and physicians would not be properly reimbursed by insurance companies and patients could be saddled with large medical bills. CPC® stands for Certified Professional Coder. This medical coding certification is offered through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and serves to provide a sort of evidence that you have the knowledge and skills needed to work as a professional coder. By passing the Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) exam and earning the right to append the CPC® acronym to your name, you become a healthcare professional recognized for reliable mastery of medical coding. This includes coding patient symptoms and diagnoses, as well as diagnostic tests.

The 13-week Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) Course was designed by medical coding experts to introduce and strengthen medical coding skills to help you successfully pass the CPC® certification exam offered by AAPC. The course covers CPT, HCPCS and ICD-10-CM coding with hands-on practice coding real world. Prepare to sit for AAPC's CPC® certification exam, an industry-recognized certification, with Davenport University.

The Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) Certification Course is offered in a live-virtual format (using Blackboard Collaborate).

There is an incredible need for more medical coders nationwide - and with recent industry changes that need is only going to increase. According to the AAPC, certified medical coders earn an average 20% higher salary than non-certified medical coders do. Many healthcare employers now require a medical coding certification for medical billing and coding positions.

To receive a certificate of completion, you must receive a passing score of 73%. Visit AAPC.com to learn more about the CPC credential. Each code set is updated annually, and CPC examinees should use the current year code books when taking the CPC® certification exam.