Home >
News & Press > 14 Medical Coding Specialty Certifications
News & Press
AAPC Announces 14 Medical Coding Specialty Certifications
Specialty credentials ensure higher standard of coding
SALT LAKE CITY – Oct. 3, 2007 – In response to the growing demand in the medical profession for coders with individualized training in particular medical specialties, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC, aapc.com) is expanding its certification offering to now include 14 specialty-specific credentials. These certifications complement AAPC’s core Certified Professional Coder (CPC®), Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H®) and Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P®) certifications.
AAPC’s 14 specialty certifications include:
- Ambulatory Surgical Center (CPC–ASC)
- Anesthesia (CPC-ANEST)
- Cardiology (CPC-CARDIO)
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CPC-CTS)
- E/M Auditor (CPC-E/M)
- Family Practice Medicine (CPC-FP)
- Gastroenterology (CPC-GI)
- General Surgery (CPC-GENSG)
- Internal Medicine (CPC-INTMED)
- Obstetrics/Gynecology (CPC-OBGYN)
- Orthopaedics (CPC-ORTHO)
- Otolaryngology (CPC-ENT)
- Pediatrics (CPC-PEDS)
- Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery (CPC-PLRS)
AAPC’s specialty certifications are available for those individuals who already hold CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CCS, or CCS-P designations and wish to demonstrate superior levels of expertise in selected disciplines of medical coding.
“AAPC is recognized as the gold standard in medical coding for education and credentialing for physicians, outpatient hospitals and payers,” said Nancy Reading, RN, BS, CPC, director of educational services at AAPC. “We are expanding our body of certifications to continue in this tradition and further prepare coders to deliver unprecedented proficiency in medical and surgical specialty coding.”
In addition to completing a rigorous, in-depth exam, specialty coders are required to maintain their knowledge by earning additional continuing education units (CEUs) on a bi-annual schedule. They are required to keep current with their specialty and remain in good standing with their core credential.
For more information on specialty certifications, requirements for CEUs with specialty certifications and the exams, call Carrie Severson at 801-236-2223 or go online to http://www.aapc.com/certification/specialty-credentials.aspx.
About AAPC: The AAPC (www.aapc.com) is the nation's largest education and credentialing association for medical coders. The AAPC provides credentials to medical coders in physician offices, hospitals and outpatient centers. The three certifications AAPC offers are CPC®, CPC-H® and CPC-P® and represent the gold standard certification for medical coding. AAPC provides a wide variety of benefits to its more than 60,000 worldwide members. The AAPC’s Chapter Association (AAPCCA) is a nonprofit group that works with the local AAPC chapters.