Complete your CPC^® or COC^® apprenticeship

When you pass the CPC or COC exam, you receive your CPC-A or COC-A credential, which signifies apprenticeship standing. You remain an apprentice until you fulfill a 2-year experience requirement, at which time you will submit proof of meeting the requirement, and your A will be removed.

Experience requirements

Due to the level of expertise required of medical coders, AAPC expects certified coders to be able to perform not only in an exam setting, but also in the real world. To graduate as a CPC or COC and remove your A, a combination of the following experience and education must be submitted as proof of completing the equivalency of 2-years experience:

• Verifiable coding work experience

• Completion of AAPC's Practicode program

• Completion of AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course or an equivalent course from an instructor or school.

Apprenticeship removal options

Below are the three options for apprenticeship removal and their respective submission requirements.

Removal option 1: Employment

This option for apprenticeship removal utilizes 2 years of on-the-job coding experience. Employment verification from previous employers, current employers, externships, or a combination of all three are accepted. Professional coding experience both before and after certification applies.

Submission requirements:

• Employer(s) verification of at least 2-years on-the-job experience using the CPT, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS Level II code sets.

• Only employers, supervisors, or an HR department can verify time spent coding within an organization.

• Letter(s) of verification must meet these requirements:

  • Include coding experience achieved, provided with start and end dates

  • Submitted on company letterhead

  • Hand signed, dated, and include current contact information for verification purposes

  • Provided in a non-editable format (pdf) for member to upload

  • Optional employment verification template

Removal option 2: Employment + education

This option for apprenticeship removal combines 1 year of on-the-job-experience plus completion of AAPC’s Practicode program (included in all AAPC training packages) OR of AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course (or an equivalent course from an instructor or school)

1-year employment verification

Employment verification from previous employers, current employers, externships, or a combination of all three are accepted. Professional coding experience both before and after certification applies.

Submission requirements:

• Employer(s) verification of at least 1-year on-the-job experience using the CPT, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS Level II code sets.

• Only employers, supervisors, or an HR department can verify time spent coding within an organization.

• Letter(s) of verification must meet these requirements:

  • Include coding experience achieved, provided with start and end dates

    • Externships must provide start and end dates

  • Submitted on company letterhead

  • Hand signed, dated, and include current contact information for verification purposes

  • Provided in a non-editable format (pdf) for member to upload

  • Optional employment verification template

Practicode completion or 80-hour coding course

Submission requirement for AAPC’s Practicode program, or AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course:

Submission requirements for AAPC's Practicode program:

• Documentation is not required as our system recognizes member accomplishment.

• A minimum of 600 cases with an overall score of 70% or higher to demonstrate proficiency.

Submission documentation options for 80-hour coding course from instructor or school:

• Instructor letter on school letterhead verifying completion of at least 80 contact hours (not CEUs).

• Certificate/diploma stating at least 80 contact hours

• Unofficial school transcript showing at least 80 contact hours

Removal option 3: Education

This option for apprenticeship removal combines the completion of AAPC’s Practicode program (included in all AAPC training packages) plus AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course (or an equivalent course from an instructor or school).

AAPC’s Practicode completion

Submission requirements:

• Documentation proving completion of AAPC’s Practicode program is not required as our system recognizes member accomplishment.

• A minimum of 600 cases with an overall score of 70% or higher to demonstrate proficiency.

80-hour coding course completion

Submission requirements:

• Documentation proving completion of AAPC’s 80-hour medical coding course is not required as our system recognizes member accomplishment.

If another course is to be utilized, the following must be provided:

• Instructor letter on school letterhead verifying completion of at least 80 contact hours.

• Certificate/diploma stating at least 80 contact hours (not CEUs)

• Unofficial school transcript showing at least 80 contact hours

Apprentice removal application

Proof of education or experience should be submitted to via the Apprentice Removal Application once all apprentice removal requirements have been met. Processing takes between 2-4 weeks. Use our optional employment verification template for easier submission and faster processing.