The Difference Between AAPC CPC and AHIMA CCS-P – There’s a Surprise at the End

On the subject of medical coding, there are two medical coding certifications which might be identified to be extra outstanding and widely known than others. AAPC’s CPC and AHIMA’s CCS-P are the 2 most widely known medical coding certifications. CPC is an acronym for Licensed Skilled Coder supplied by the American Affiliation of Skilled Coders (AAPC). CCS-P stands for Licensed Coding Specialist-Doctor, which is obtainable by the American Well being Data Administration Affiliation (AHIMA).

On the subject of selecting between these two well-known medical coding certifications, there are some elements to be thought of to allow you make the only option. Beneath are a few of the main similarities and variations between AAPC’s CPC and AHIMA’s CCS-P.

Coding is understood to be of two varieties, that are Facility coding and Skilled coding. The very first thing you should do when selecting your most most well-liked coding certification is to resolve which of those coding varieties appeals to you essentially the most. Facility coding has to do with the kind of coding carried out on inpatient providers. These are principally sufferers who’re on admission in hospitals. Facility coders are identified to work primarily in hospitals usually. Each have their challenges and benefits, so it actually relies on which surroundings and abilities you would like to amass in your medical coding profession.

After we discuss {of professional} coding, we imply the kind of coding carried out on outpatients as a part of outpatient providers. A few of these outpatient providers that require skilled coding embody; emergency drugs, surgical procedure facilities, non-public practices, and so forth. Skilled coders are identified to work primarily in docs’ workplaces.

On the subject of the 2 forms of coding certifications principally used, the CPC medical coding certification could be stated to be roughly knowledgeable coding certification. This makes it best suited for people who find themselves contemplating careers in surgical procedure centres or in medical non-public practices.

The CCS-P medical coding credential on its half is understood to be roughly a facility coding certification. This makes it superb for folks with desires of pursuing careers in hospitals.

One other necessary issue worthy of notice are the certification exams. For each the AAPC and AHIMA, you will want to take a seat for and go a really prolonged examination as a mandatory requirement. The usual in medical coding is excessive and there’s a big demand for extremely certified and proficient coders.

For the CPC examination, you’ll have to sit for a 150 a number of selection query examination. To take a seat for this medical coding certification examination, you should be a member of the AAPC with an annual membership payment of $120.00. The payment for the CPC is estimated at $300.00 and lasts for about 340 minutes. You can be supplied two possibilities to take the CPC examination.

For the AHIMA CCS-P examination, you’ll have to sit for the 4 hour examination in two components. The primary a part of the examination requires you to aim 60 a number of selection questions in a single hour. The opposite a part of the examination will take you 3 hours that requires you to aim actual medical file coding. Coding these data precisely is a mandatory requirement for passing this second half. Sitting for the CCS-P doesn’t require AHIMA membership, although you’ll find yourself paying a better examination payment in case you are a non-member.

The membership payment for AHIMA is $165.00 and to take a seat for the CCS-P exams as an AHIMA member, it’s essential to pay a $320.00 examination payment. The examination payment for non-members is $405.00. This payment gives you just one probability of sitting and passing the CCS-P exams whether or not you’re a member or a non-member.

The CPC examination is arguably the simpler between the 2, however under no circumstances it is a pushover. Each examination passing charges could be miserable information for first time exam-takers, however with the correct teaching, follow, suggestions and methods most will have the ability to go the examination the primary time. It is not uncommon for medical coding college students to get each coding certifications to offer them an edge over different medical employees with one coding certification. With each CPC and CCS-P certification, you may transfer between facility {and professional} coding with out a lot fuss and make your self extremely fascinating as an authorized medical coder.

Should you’ve made it this far on this put up, congratulate your self as a result of here is the excellent news: you should utilize sure examine guides to arrange your self for the AAPC CPC examination in addition to the AHIMA CCS-P examination. Not any examine information will do, because it must be complete sufficient to accommodate each certifications.

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