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Just to share my experience. I am a self-taught CPC course taker, and absolutely nothing prepared me more than taking the practice exams. I highly recommend going to the AAPC website and doing their practice exams, there should be four of them, and timing yourself with a goal of 80% or higher. With the CPC exam I took this December 2023, I passed on my first time with an 89. I can not express more to find local chapters near you and see if they have their own custom exam to gain more experience and practice. My local chapter opened my eyes to a lot and gave me great tips. All this information is found through the AAPC website. Good luck everyone!
Well, my situation was different because I had the liberty of taking a week off of work before the exam to study and focus. I did a 50 question practice exam everyday, timed. Sometimes I did 2 or 3 a day. Then I went over each question and wrote out, underlined, circled keywords to look for. I used quizlet to practice medical terms and made a system to remember each section of the books so I can go through the exam faster. In the end, repetition really helps you with recognizing keywords. I recommend learning how to skim through the answer choices because they always have 2 that are immediately wrong. Then, with the remaining time, figure out which between the two. In the end, its the best strategy from making it a 25% chance a guess, to a 50%. Also, as I mentioned, the AAPC practice exams had some questions that were almost word-per-word the same as the ones on the cert exam. The only difference where the specific injury placement or something similar, and gave me an upper hand because of it. Goodluck friend. @@user-we3mt6wc1c
I just took the CPC exam this afternoon and I passed the first time, with a much higher score than I expected. Thank you so much for making these videos! It definitely helped supplement what I learned through the AAPC course. What helped was going over case studies & tips & tricks for time management. Keep doing what you’re doing! You’re the best!
Thank you for this, Victoria. This definitely alleviated a lot of my stresses about the exam with all of the strict rules. Just hopeful that the people working there are nice!
Thanks so much 😊! Super nervous but excited about my further certification ❤! All your videos have been super helpful on getting me on the road of coding and billing!
Wow!! I'm glad that you had a great experience and a nice test center. The centers near me are old with broken chairs (but the staff was super nice). Unfortunately, my computer shut down at least four times on me and had to be restarted. Talk about stressful. Because of all the issues, AAPC cancelled the test and re-issued my voucher to re-take the test. There's not a lot of centers near me and I'm nervous about going back to the same center. I was not able to do any of the things on the "practice test". Ex..flag questions, see how many questions were left to answer, use the notes... This is a GREAT video for everyone with upcoming tests. Thank you for posting and congrats on passing your test.
b4 i saw this, i had to reschedule at my nearest testing center, but since they didn't show future dates, i called & they opened up a slot for me when they're doing other testing on the specific date i asked about! they were so proactive! ... asked if the test i was taking "was the one w/all the spiral bound books" & i said yes & they noted in their records that i'll need more space when i check in. didn't even know i'd need it until then & your video confirmed. yes, this testing center has lockers, so it's common. whew! thx for the excellent videos!!
@ContempoCoding I was just wondering how you would order your credentials if you have more than 1. Thank you for all of the information that you share.
I’m planning on sitting for the CCS-P in April myself. The AAPC exams sound more forgiving in that you can skip/go back to questions. Perhaps I should have looked into that more, but by now I’m so deeply entrenched in AHIMA there’s no going back 😂 Great video!
I had the same experience that you did. The instructions made it seem like I would have to go through security and metal detectors. I was worried about where I would leave my personal belongings, and I was also worried that the person checking me in would try to take my code books away. But the guy who worked at the exam center was so nice, check in was smooth, he gave me a locker, and he didn't even check my code books. He even gave me an extra chair to put my books on, like you mentioned. If I get another certification, I won't have to stress about the exam process.
I took my CPC exam online, and it was a nightmare because of the ADA accommodation, which I had submitted per guidelines well in advance. I’m visually impaired, and wear special glasses (you can google BITA telescope to see). My 5 hour exam(additional hour accommodation) turned into an 8 hour test, all because they weren’t sure what to do about my glasses. Given that experience I decided I will not be pursuing any other certification because I refuse to repeat that experience, and given your explanation about the glasses in your video, I certainly will not attempt testing at a center either. It’s a great deal more trouble when you can’t drive, rely on others for transportation, especially if you have to pay for it. Very disappointed the system is not more ADA friendly. If I had not had major back surgery the very next day, I would have pursued this matter “up the ladder”. Hope others will be aware that the supposed system that should be assisting those with additional needs makes it much more difficult instead of helping.
I'm really sorry to hear about the rough time you had with your CPC exam and the ADA accommodation issues. It's a bummer that the situation with your glasses turned the exam into such a marathon. That sounds incredibly frustrating, especially when you did everything right on your end. It's a tough spot to be in, and I get the disappointment. But, throwing in the towel on all the hard work you've put in over one bad experience might be something you'll want to reconsider. It's super important to advocate for yourself and ensure the testing center or online proctors are fully briefed on your needs ahead of time. Sometimes, it takes a bit of extra pushing to get things right. I hope you don't let this experience completely deter you from pursuing further certifications or goals in your career. It's definitely a setback, but your dedication and the effort you've already invested shouldn't go to waste. Maybe give it some time, then see if there's a way to tackle this with a fresh perspective. Take care, and all the best moving forward.
Victoria! Can I say, you inspire me! I've been watching your videos for months and I'm about to graduate from college for medical billing and coding. I'm obsessed with coding!!! Anytime I'm in a bind, I turn to your channel. Do you have any videos on ICD-10-PCS help? We are currently focusing on those, and I feel so lost. I found other RU-vid videos on the topic yet I learn best when you explain it. 😅
I recently went to a testing center for the CPB exam and had almost the same experience, it was very easy to navigate. I did not pass, but I do have another try so I will go back to the drawing board and study all I can on the AAPC website. In retrospect, I wish I had taken the instructor-based course in AAPC instead of the self-taught, as I did not feel prepared once I saw the first set of questions while taking the exam.
I do not understand why we can’t have scratch paper provided by the testing center and taken away when we leave???? I am studying for my exam now and I’m not sure how to prep for that, I always write down key words
I like the exam centers in my area. Sounds like the same sites AHIMA uses. The only difference seem to be you get your results right after you complete your test. So glad AAPC have decided to use testing centers. I find them to be less distracting. Thanks Victoria
Interesting that you were able to flag and move from question to question. Mind I did not have that ability So I wasn't able to flag question or know how many questions I had answered. Or how many left. I didn't pass my first attempt for the CPC. But now I know what to expect for 2nd attempt I am hoping to pass. I was totally surprised at getting my test results the day. That was nice. Also would have been nice to have a little more rest on the desk. I agree with you that tge testing center was great.
Did you try clicking on the various icons? The function wasn't explicitly labeled, so you may have had it but just didn't realize what that particular button did.
Hey thanks a lot .. now I am so relaxed cause I have my exam this weekend ❤just a one question could I bring with me ruler tab divider and a pen to do a little math is there . Thank you so much once again
No, you can only bring books and your photo ID. Nothing else. There is a calculator app in the exam platform and a notes app. Tabs are permitted in the book.
Hey Victoria, thank you for breaking down on the center exam process.. I understand we cannot bring pencil or pens and highlighters..I have a rubber finger that helps me flip through pages is that prohibited
Hi, Victoria! Thank you for the information. Did they check to see if you had earrings or anything? Reason being I have large ear gauges and nose piercings, and I’ve been stressing about that a bit. Thank you!
Hi Victoria thank you so much for the information I think a lot of people including myself are nervous the testing center. Are highlight features built into the exam or is they a built in note pad feature for notes.
My questions are: Do I have to purchase the $210 AAPC membership before I can purchase an Exam Voucher? You mentioned that I should have a choice to purchase the voucher with or without the second attempt? From what I can see my choice is $399 for a voucher or $499 for a voucher with a second attempt. This brings my total to over $600. Is this correct? And I just want to clarify that after becoming an AAPC Member I can play around with the practice Exams? And they will be actual CPC practice exams, not some Shakespear stuff?
I am a self-learner. I started the prerequisites 1/23. I took my CPC remote exam on 1/27/24 and I failed. The poor proctor watched me completely meltdown because I was running out of time. I desperately needed to pass and start working. Now I ran out of time and do not have access to the course material. I have wasted so much money trying to get certified and become a coder. I have a CBCS that is useless. I have the study guide and I am to study that. I hope I can pass it the second time. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't take so long on medical terminology and I would take better notes.
I agree, although medical terms are important to be able to map through the book better and have a better understanding, it will eventually come with time. I am sorry you failed the first one, but this second try will be better! Being self-taught is super hard, and takes a lot of dedication and focus. Studying sucks, but feels great once you know you have it down. You got this!! Goodluck!!
I took my CPC exam yesterday Feb 2, 2024. Our proctor said we are not allowed to use our coding books CPT 2023, HCPCS 2023 and ICD-10 2023. I was so mad and mumbling the whole time taking the exam. I know for a fact that I will fail the exam 100%. I took my exam at San Jose State University California.
Wait -- did she not allow you to use any books at all? Or did she say your books were not allowed because they were 2023? I would have pulled up the instructions for her on the website. Sorry this happened to you. Please notify the AAPC.
@@ContempoCoding We were 6 test takers that day and the Proctor took all our coding books from us without even checking them. I will notify AAPC for sure. Thank you.
Victoria, thank you for the information. I am taking my exam tomorrow -remote. I did see you replied to another questioneer regarding the order of the questions. My question is, for the more 'case like' longer questions, were those at the end of the exam like they were in the practice exams, or are they mixed through the exam? I'd prefer to tackle those first than after the 2 hour mark....brain gets too fried without a break. Thank you.
@ContempoCoding I took the exam today-remote proctoring. For me the questions were organized per category and the case questions were at the end. I didnt realize until I finished that you could jump around if you wanted to and to see the different sections and how many questions in each section. They werent numbered 1-100, which I found irritating 😀 but would start at one again when you finished and submitted a category. I wasnt sure if I was prepared, but apparently was. I finished in 2 ½ hours, i used the remaining time to look at most of the questions a second time. I was very surprised that I received my results in a few hours. I passed with 92% 🎉. I feel the aapc practice exams helped prepare me and i feel the practice exams were a little harder.
Is anyone else having issues with the preppy site? I can go the main page and see what they offer, but when you click on the actual class itself, it doesn't load. When refreshed I get a 404 error page.
I have a question...I am a member of AAPC and in the member forums they say that your Medical coding class counts as 1 year towards getting the "A" removed from your certification. I am doing my class through Preppy, not the AAPC. Will my class also count as 1 year towards removing my "A"?
Any honest opinion if medical coding can be replaced with AI? I have limited funds and I have no medical background, and I wanted to try out this career, but I'm having doubts if I should spend my already small budget in this.
Thanks for sharing your concerns. It's understandable to worry about AI in the medical coding field. However, it's important to remember that AI, like Maverick AI, is designed to assist and enhance the work of medical coders, not replace them. The technology helps automate certain aspects of the coding process, reducing the burden of repetitive tasks and allowing coders to focus on more complex cases that require human expertise and judgement. Moreover, the introduction of AI in the field opens up new opportunities for coders to upskill and work in areas like AI supervision, quality control, and more. So, rather than viewing AI as a threat, we can see it as a tool that can make our work more efficient and rewarding. Hope this helps alleviate some of your concerns! 😊
Most employers do not take the CBCS for coding positions. While it's great that they have a deal with that organization and offer it for free, I would go with the CPC.
Do you have further information on that study guide they sent you that they mentioned in the beginning of the video? Would it have been helpful if you got it in time for your exam? I just took an exam online last week and unfortunately did not pass but have another attempt. After I took the exam, they seemed to have updated what type of exam the voucher can be used for (online at home or at the testing site as you were talking about in this video) as I bought the vouchers before the new year and made the changes on how the exam could be taken. I’m curious if that study guide would be helpful as my next attempt will be my 4th time taking the CPC exam unfortunately (I’m not good with taking exams and get anxiety over it easily!!!!!!!) and I’m looking for more useful resources to help me prepare when I reschedule.
I did get the study guide by the second attempt. Keep in mind -- I was taking a dermatology exam and NOT the CPC so the information I can provide would not be pertinent to the exam you are taking. There is a CPC study guide available which is more or less an abridged version of the full training manual.
ill be taking my exam very soon. I'm so nervous about the notes I've taken in my book. I basically added functions of organs around the illustrations in my book and i added some of the modifiers with small example\definitions ... is this too much?
"Handwritten notes are acceptable in the coding books only if they pertain to daily coding activities. Questions from the Study Guides, Practice Exams, or the Exam itself are prohibited. Tabs may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued, or stapled in the manuals so long as the obvious intent of the tab is to earmark a page with words or numbers, not supplement information in the book. Altering, whiting out, painting, or printing over any pages within the code books (e.g., marketing pages, table of contents, reference pages, etc.) to supplement information is prohibited. No materials (other than tab dividers) may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued, or stapled in the manuals." Ref: www.aapc.com/training/cpc-exam-faqs.aspx
I took my CPC course in 2023 took my two attempts and failed first with 67% and second with 66%. I am so lost I don’t know if I should buy the books for 2024 or retry with my 2023 books that have all my notes. 😭
Sorry to hear you were not successful on your last exam attempt. I have a video where I discuss my best tips for how to tackle your next attempt: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VT05L6X0iUo.html I think you'll find it helpful. At this time, I am not offering individual assistance or tutoring.
"Handwritten notes are acceptable in the coding books only if they pertain to daily coding activities. Questions from the Study Guides, Practice Exams, or the Exam itself are prohibited. Tabs may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued, or stapled in the manuals so long as the obvious intent of the tab is to earmark a page with words or numbers, not supplement information in the book. Altering, whiting out, painting, or printing over any pages within the code books (e.g., marketing pages, table of contents, reference pages, etc.) to supplement information is prohibited. No materials (other than tab dividers) may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued, or stapled in the manuals." Ref: www.aapc.com/training/cpc-exam-faqs.aspx
"Handwritten notes are acceptable in the coding books only if they pertain to daily coding activities. Questions from the Study Guides, Practice Exams, or the Exam itself are prohibited. Tabs may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued, or stapled in the manuals so long as the obvious intent of the tab is to earmark a page with words or numbers, not supplement information in the book. Altering, whiting out, painting, or printing over any pages within the code books (e.g., marketing pages, table of contents, reference pages, etc.) to supplement information is prohibited. No materials (other than tab dividers) may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued, or stapled in the manuals." Ref: www.aapc.com/training/cpc-exam-faqs.aspx
Omg idk where to start. Im a beginner and i am a Revenue Cycle Specialist. Should i try for a CCS, CPC or CPB certification?? Anyone pls feel free to answer, thank you!
The exams get a refresh every January 1st to reflect the current calendar year's code sets. Feel free to use last year's books, but just know you might be at a slight disadvantage. For the full scoop, check out AAPC's official guidance: www.aapc.com/certification/faq.aspx " What year's books should I use? All AAPC exams are based on the current calendar year’s code sets, so we strongly suggest you use the current year’s books. The previous calendar year’s books may be used on an exam, but you would be at obvious disadvantage doing so. The upcoming year’s books are not allowed for exam use. The exams are updated every January for the new code sets."
No, a lot of people were not understanding and spreading incorrect information. Some people thought that because all the exams were going to be "online" (on a computer) and not with the chapter, that meant only the remote proctored exams. But the exam can also be taken on a computer at the exam center. :)
The exams get a refresh every January 1st to reflect the current calendar year's code sets. Feel free to use last year's books, but just know you might be at a slight disadvantage. For the full scoop, check out AAPC's official guidance: www.aapc.com/certification/faq.aspx " What year's books should I use? All AAPC exams are based on the current calendar year’s code sets, so we strongly suggest you use the current year’s books. The previous calendar year’s books may be used on an exam, but you would be at obvious disadvantage doing so. The upcoming year’s books are not allowed for exam use. The exams are updated every January for the new code sets."
Absolutely, pursuing a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) certification is a fantastic move for your future, especially if you're already investing time in coaching. The demand for skilled medical coders is growing globally, including in India, as the healthcare industry expands and becomes more complex. Holding a CPC certification can open doors to various opportunities in medical billing and coding, enhance your credibility in the field, and potentially lead to higher earnings. It's a solid step towards building a career in healthcare administration and coding. Keep up with your coaching, and best of luck with your certification process!
Mam,I doubt that there are so many types of Coding like Hcc, Mcc, Ip, Op, E and M Which is the best as fresher and what are the types, Also could you tell me like which one is harder and what should we choose to kickstart a career.
Starting with a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) certification is an excellent foundation for any coding career. It covers a broad range of topics, including E/M (Evaluation and Management) coding, which is fundamental. As a fresher, focusing on CPC gives you a solid base and makes it easier to branch into specialized areas like HCC, MCC, IP, and OP later on. The CPC is widely recognized and can kickstart your career by opening up various opportunities in the medical coding field. Go for it, and best of luck!
I'm recently wrote the 2nd time CPC exam, unfortunately i did not pass cpc exam😢. Please suggest me. Can i take 3rd attempt cpc..? and 3rd attempt how much cost..?
Sorry to hear you were not successful on your last exam attempt. I have a video where I discuss my best tips for how to tackle your next attempt: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VT05L6X0iUo.html I think you'll find it helpful. At this time, I am not offering individual assistance or tutoring.
Am 31 years.And i have a goal to be a medical coder.i have done my Post graduation in 2019 .Now can i get this job.Is there any age limit or gap issue,plz rply mam
Thanks for reaching out. As you can imagine, I get many requests for job seeking advice so I’ve compiled all of my best tips in this RU-vid playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLPHIVqUe1ntwWk43D_3ULgmATJ-XZ5Q52 I think you’ll find it very helpful. I am not currently offering individual assistance on job searching at this time and do not have any job leads to provide for you. Best of luck!
The AAPC has stated they will let everyone know well in advance when and IF fill-in-the blank comes out, but it was NOT in the 2024 study materials. They had previously indicated the study materials would be changed prior to adding in any fill-in-the-blank questions. For the most accurate information regarding the current format of the CPC exam, please reference the AAPC website here: www.aapc.com/resources/cpc-exam-faqs
