I have been on these forums for a number of years now, and have seen similar posts by frustrated new-grad CPC-As. When I got my certification, I didn't go to coding school, or take any online courses. Instead I had my coding books. the CPC study guide and the online practice exams. I also had a job doing coding, while studying to become a medical coder, and getting a CPC was a requirement to continue my job at that company. I realize that I had a significant advantage of having a coding job with my CPC right off the bat, however my previous medical experiences allowed me to even get that job in the first place (I started out in Admitting).
Are coding instructors promising a guaranteed job right out of coding school? Do they promise that clinics, hospitals, doctors, etc are just waiting for you with open arms? If that is the case, then they have reality skewed as is obvious for the folks with CPC-As that are still stuck without a job. However, what about those new CPC-As that actually do land their first coding jobs? I don't see many posts from them on the AAPC forums. Do they have a "secret" trick in their sleeves which allows them to lure employers to hire them right off the bat?
Here is how I see it. Medical coding is NOT AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION. There, I said it. This means some related prior experience is expected in even CPC-As. If you didn't know this, you were either misled or didn't do your research thoroughly enough. Yes, it sounds harsh, but that's the fact of the matter. Look at Nursing. Most, if not all Nursing schools now require some sort of clinical medical experience before you can even apply for an AS or BS in Nursing now (usually best with CNA experience). Physician Assistant Schools require 1-2 YEARS of prior clinical experience of some form (EMT, CNA, etc). Medical School is also asking for prior clinical experience, and there is of course the years of Residency you need to complete before any hospital/clinic will even look at you once you get out of medical school.
My point here is that requiring some past work experience is not totally unheard of, as this is often requested in so many other positions. Yes, it can be rough to break into, however once you have your foot in the door then landing your first job becomes much easier.
AAPC is also not unique to require membership dues from their members. Pretty much every medical organization or board requires a similar fee (although I don't know the actual dollar amount for RNs, MDs, RTs, etc), so this practice is also not too crazy. Yes, it's unfortunate and annoying to have to fork out the money yourself, if your job doesn't cover that fee but it's not an uncommon practice.
You state that you are not working in the Coding Profession and have held the CPC for almost 6 years in December. You also mention that you have tried to get a coding job. My immediate questions that pop into my mind are: What was your job searching process? Did you have your resumes peer-reviewed? How many interviews did you have? What was your job search parameters? Did you have any medical office experience prior to looking for coding jobs? And perhaps more importantly, why did you stop searching?
Every situation is different, and in my experience I have noticed that getting a job has a lot to do with timing. Are you doing everything in your power to make that first job happen? Are these employers ready to hire you and are you the right fit for that position/is the company the right fit for you (goes both ways).
I think it is unfair to defame the medical coding profession based on your unfortunate experiences, however there are so many details undisclosed here. I really hope you are not throwing in the towel completely, but that you are willing to give your hard-earned certification another chance and really grind to start your path on what can be a very rewarding career. Yes, getting through the gate can be hard and even tricky, but once you get there you will be greeted by a completely new world.
Hope this was helpful, as my comments were meant to help and not tear you down.
So wage hike for yours truly. I know my situation is different from others, but just know that in this field alittle hard work and alot patience is the key .