What is the American Academy of Professional Coders and why is a certificate from this organization a good choice?  There are many great programs out there and many that offer a more diverse training experience than the AAPC Certificate.  The challenge is that most practices and hospitals still recognize the AAPC certificate or CPC (Certified Professional Coder) designation as being the most advanced coding certificate.

The AAPC certificate provides broad based coding training on things like ICD-9 application, CPT code bundling, and Modifier application.  The problem is that it lacks any formal training in the other vital offices within a billing department.  This failure can present a certified coder with challenges when they are faced with an organization that is requesting more from them than just coding.  Taking this into consideration is important when deciding on your coding or billing certification.  If you plan on doing just medical coding, and feel comfortable that your employer will feel the same way, then the AAPC certification may be the right fit for you.  If not, then you may need to look at some other options.  Check out the links on this site and see what programs might fit your future and current requirements best.

Remember to check back often as we will soon be posting an article on certification and training prerequisites.  We also have some great links below that provide more information on certification.

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