I'm not an MD...
Funny how many people assume I am a doctor because of my log in name. I am not an M.D.; I am a Maryland resident.
(Sorry for the confusion!)
To clarify my predicament...I took trade school classes and passed my certification exam for ICD-9 in February 2012. I have not been able to find work as a CPC-A, so I have zero experience in the field, only knowledge attained from classes. I am trying to hold on to my credentials, but I fear they may be just about obsolete, with ICD-10 implementation rapidly approaching.
I really hoped that if I could pass the ICD-10 proficiency exam that the "Apprentice" designation would just go away, but I still don't know if that is true or not. (I understand the regular process for removing the "A" from my credentials, I just don't have the experience required to do so.)
I was hoping to somehow get into the field during this transition time, taking advantage of the fact that
no one is going to have years and years of experience with ICD-10. Doesn't this level the playing field a little bit more in favor of us newbies?
I fear my last opportunity might be to go back to school again, this time for ICD-10, but I am hesitant to do so, not just because of the time and expense involved, but because I anticipate having the same problem breaking into the job market when I am finished.
I am just about ready to give up on this industry that is extremely unwelcoming to new recruits. It's too bad, because I feel like I really have a knack for it.