What is a CPC-I?

CPC-I stands for Certified Professional Coding Instructor.

This esteemed credential is awarded by the AAPC to individuals who are considered experts in the medical coding field.

Individuals who hold a CPC-I are authorized and endorsed by the AAPC to teach medical coding to individuals and prepare them to sit for the CPC exam.

While it is not required to take a medical coding course taught by a CPC-I it is encouraged. Taking a medical coding course taught by a CPC-I not only provides individuals with a proper coding educaiton which is backed by a long standing and trust worthy organization, but also provides students with multiple other benefits.

 

CPC-I, AAPC, PMCC....

There are many abbreviations, acronyms, and eponyms in the medical coding field. These are a few that you will need to know in order to fully understand the CPC-I credential.

CPC-I: Certified Professional Coding Instructor
AAPC: American Academy of Professional Coders
PMCC: Professional Medical Coding Curriculum
CPC: Certified Professional Medical Coder

 

When an individual is seeking an education in medical coding and desires to sit for the CPC exam they are confronted with an over whelming number of education options.

There are numerous schools and organizations offering medical coding training, courses, and certifications. All courses and medical coding certificaitons are not created equal though.

The CPC-I credential was created to help individuals select the proper educational course when preparing to sit for the CPC exam.

Certified Professional Coding Instructors are taught directly by the AAPC, and given multiple resources to help them teach medical coding to others.

Any individual who holds the CPC-I credential is fully prepared to not only teach medical coding, but to specifically prepare students for the CPC exam.

How is that possible? The AAPC created a medical coding curriculum called the "Professional Medical Coding Curriculum" (PMCC). This curriculum was constructed with the CPC exam in mind and only a CPC-I is authorized to use the PMCC.

The PMCC includes slide shows, practice exams that reflect the CPC exam, practice work, simulations, and more.

Advantages of CPC-I Lead Coding Courses

The majority of medical coding courses offered to the public are not usually taught by a Certified Medical Coding Instructor. There are many advantages to taking a medical coding course that is lead by a CPC-I though.

1) CPC-I holders have the ability to offer AAPC membership at a discounted rate to their students ($70.00 vs $125.00); If a student plans on sitting for the CPC exam they must become a member of the AAPC.

2) CPC-I holders teach from the PMCC. Because the AAPC has created both the PMCC and the CPC exam, and the main purpose of the PMCC is to prepare student for the CPC exam, there isn't a better curriculum to follow. The PMCC even includes a mock exam with some of the questions taken directly from the real CPC exam.

3) CPC-I holders are not only instructors, but well seasoned coders as well. They are a wealth of knowledge and have lots of experience (a minimum of five years is required for the credential). They are an invaluable resource for students.

4) If for some reason a student does not pass the CPC exam with their two attempts it may be possible for the CPC-I to get the student one additional attempt (for free).

5) Because CPC-I holders are directly plugged into the AAPC, and are often very active in their local coding community, they are a great resource for current job opportunities and internships.

6) A CPC-I is authorized to provide the AAPC with one letter of recommendation for students who complete their 80 hour coding course. This letter is viewed by the AAPC as one year of coding experience.

7) A CPC-I is knowledgeable in what type of notations are and are not approved for coding manuals, how to submit AAPC paper work and schedule examinations, how integrate new coders into their local AAPC chapter, CEU accumulation tips, and more.

 

Earning the CPC-I Credential     

Teaching others a trade successfully must be done by an individual who has first succeeded in that trade themselves.

Earning the esteemed CPC-I credential and the AAPC's endorsement is something that is accomplished through hard work and dedication. The AAPC demands that only the best teach the upcoming generation of coders and so they set the bar high.

In order to become a Certified Professional Coding Instructor an individual must first possess the CPC and the CPC-H credentials. In addition to these two credentials individuals must also possess a minimum of five year of medical coding experience (2 yrs. as a CPC and 3 yrs. as a CPC-H). Individuals must also have a minimum of 6 months of teaching experience and be an AAPC member in good standing.

Once these requirements are met an individual will be granted the permission to apply for the CPC-I certification. If the individual's application is accepted they must then earn the credential.

Earning the CPC-I credential starts with a five week, online, interactive course. This course includes lectures, group discussions, and practice modules. Once the course is completed and passed, the individual may sit for the CPC-I exam.

The CPC-I exam consists of two parts:

1) 50 question multiple choice exam

2) Oral presentation

If the individual passes both the written and oral portions of the exam they will be awarded the CPC-I credential.

This process is difficult, but for a good reason. Students deserve to have confidence in their medical coding instructors. By choosing a medical coding course that is taught by a CPC-I,  students can be sure that the instructor is not only very knowledgeable, but also capable of transferring their wisdom.

 

 

 

Medical Coding Scams Focus on Education and Training

Many individuals are drawn to the medical coding field because of the opportunity to work from home.

Home based medical coding jobs do exist; however, this aspect of the medical coding career has been over sold as well.

The large amount of individuals who are attempting to enter the medical coding field must seek education first, and this had drawn the attention of some deceitful individuals who are now taking advantage of aspiring coders through education scams.

Education and medical coding training scams often sell an overpriced education package, which are often in adequate training programs as well. These organizations also oversell the medical coding career, making claims that right after graduation you can work from home, or they guarantee job placement.

Any institution making such a claim should be scrutinized and avoided.

It is also not necessary to take a medical coding training course at an associate degree level, or to take an education program that spans several years.

Courses of this duration usually cost thousands of dollars in education. Individuals who have invested in such an education often find themselves with more debt than an entry level coding position can pay for.

Medical coding training courses may also boast things like "national certification", this is also a useless claim. There is an organization that certifies individuals in multiple areas of expertise and they have coined the title "National Certification". Employers do not recognize such certifications however.

If an individual aspires to be a medical coder, the only two medical coding certifications that are recognized nationally by almost all employers are the CPC and the CCS certifications.

A proper medical coding training course or education program will specifically prepare individuals for one of these two certification exams.

Courses should run between 6 months and 1 year in length. Medical coding training courses shorter than this have a lower success rate on the certification exams and in the job market. Due to the large amount of information and practice required shorter courses tend to force students to "cram" instead of learn the material.

Medical coding training course costs should range between $1200.00 and $2000 for an adequate course as well. These courses should either include or require a pre-requisite of gross anatomy and medical terminology as well.

Course curriculum should follow either the CPC exam format or the CCS exam format, depending on which certification students are sitting for.

Curriculum should also include lost of practice material and timed examinations, since both the CPC and CCS exams are timed.

Choosing a Medical Coding Training Course

Medical coding is one of the fastest growing industries in the job market right now.

The ability to telecommute and work from home has drawn the attention of many individuals, while the aging population has increased the need for skilled workers in this field.

Once an individual has educated themselves on what medical coding is, and once they have decided this is the career option for them, the next step is to obtain a proper education.

Medical coding training is offered by numerous organizations and establishments and the choice can become overwhelming. It is important to know that not all courses are created equal. If an inadequate course is chosen you may find yourself at a loss of money and time and no closer to your goal.

Medical coding training is offered in a traditional class room setting at many community colleges and continuing education schools. Medical courses that are offered are often "introductory" courses though.

This type of medical coding training is usually a short compact class that may run for a few weeks or one quarter/semester in length. These type of classes are usually required for individuals seeking larger degrees, such as a nursing student or medical assistant.

Taking an introductory medical coding training course is a good idea if you are new to this field and are not positive that this is the right career move for you. An introductory course should explain the basics of medical coding and perhaps the basics of medical billing. You should also understand how to use the medical coding books by the end of such a course.

Taking an introductory course should be avoided, however, if you are certain in your career choice. If a career in this field is what you are seeking you must obtain certification first, and an introductory medical coding course will not be enough to prepare you for a medical coding certification exam.

Medical coding certifications are offered by many different organizations but there are only two that are nationally recognized by employers. An organization that states it offers "national certification" at the end of its course should be scrutinized a little. Although "national certification" sounds good it honestly does not mean much.

There are only two organizations (and two certifications) that are recognized by employers nationwide, these are the CPC (certified professional coder) offered by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) and the CCS  (Certified Coding Specialist) offered by AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association).

While you do not have to get your education through these two organizations, any education you do obtain should prepare you for their certification (the CPC or CCS).

If you look through the local classified and you will be able to determine which of the two certifications the local employer's prefer. This is a good way to determine which certification to prepare for.

In addition to preparing you for either the CPC or CCS certification exam, medical coding training courses should also include the following:

- Basic medical terminology and basic human anatomy should either be incorporated into the course or be a pre-requisite to taking the course.

- A good medical coding training course should be around 80 contact hours (or more), and should not be condensed into less than six months. There is a very large amount of material to cover and absorb, classes of less than 80 hours and shorter than six months usually produce poor statistics when students attempt to pass the CPC exam.

- Medical coding training courses should prepare the student completely for either the CPC certification through the AAPC or the CCS certification through AHIMA. Any other certification through any other organization will not be recognized in the medical coding community among employers.

- It is of great benefit to have a coding course instructor who is a CPC-I, however, if they are not a CPC-I they should have the minimum of either the CPC or CCS certification.

- Many medical coding courses cover only two of the three medical coding books. Make sure all three coding books are covered in the medical coding training course. Book should include: ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS

- Timed examinations are important in preparing for certification since both certification exams are timed. Not having enough time to complete the exam is the largest complaint among examinees. Taking timed examinations in advance has been proven to increase success as well.

A good medical coding course should offer all of the above and run between $1,500 - $2,500. Most of these courses will not include the cost of medical coding books, AAPC or AHIMA membership, or examination fees.

Also, once certification is obtained it is important to know that you will be required to earn CEUs (continuing education units) every year and pay an annual membership fee (to either the AAPC or AHIMA).


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