I took my CPC exam in Dec 2023 and passed. Looking at the overview and breakdown of my exam i got a 100% in the 10000's, 40000's, coding guidelines, compliance and regulatory, HCPS, and ICD-10-CM. I am trying to figure out what kind of specialty certification to get and cannot for the life of me decide. I want to buy it before the end of the month so they are still on sale.
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Wiki What specialty certifications are the easiest to obtain?
- Thread starter Kyleighmaxey@yahoo.com
- Start date
mikhaila
Contributor
Hello,
Congratulations on passing your exam.
Your initial question asked about the easiest specialty certification to obtain.
I would caution you to not look at the 'easiest' specialty versus looking at a specialization you might enjoy.
Nonetheless - Question: Are you a brand new coder with no coding experience?
If so, do you want to pigeon-hole yourself in a specialty without having really experienced it?
In the very early stages it is often usually best to take any coding job you are offered and stay at the position for 2-3 years.
But who wants to be stuck in something you don't like?
Ask yourself - Which specialty or focus area did I gravitate towards or seemed more interesting to me?
Sometimes we gravitate towards something and it's easy because we are naturally more gifted in understanding that area.
Other times something may be hard but it's interesting and the complexity drives us to conquer it.
And again, some chapters are closed. I trained in the laboratory but I will not apply to any position that is exclusively pathology coding. Been there, done that.
When I was asking myself which specialty certification to pursue, I pretended I was a doctor going through my rotations seeing patients and performing procedures. I researched each of the doctor's specialties, read the common illnesses they treat, procedures they perform and challenges they encounter as well as any breakthrough technologies or up and coming research for each specialty. I jotted down the specialties that seemed interesting in one column and the questionable specialties in another column.
I then pretended I was now married to a physician who worked in each of the specialties on my list.
How would I react to my spouse coming home from work sharing his workday with me?
Cringing, goosebumps, gagging, crying, hyperventilating, holding the body part being referred to even when it isn't even there and feeling phantom pain, putting my hand to my forehead and the other on a table to hold me up and praying - well, that specialty is an automatic NO.
This is how I eliminated orthopedics, OB/GYN, pediatrics, ophthalmology.
If I react to my doctor spouse by forcing a smile and feigning interest yet I am bored to death and am trying to find the tiniest lull in the conversation to change the subject, then that is an automatic NO as well.
This is how I eliminated neurology and hematology/oncology.
If I react by feeling like this spouse of mine is getting beaucoup bucks for this easy specialty and I am now 'treating' his patients in my mind, then that is an automatic NO. Some specialties are more straightforward and easier than others and I would be so bored that the money is not worth it to me.
This is how I eliminated dermatology and anesthesia/pain management.
If you are or want to be a 'see-it-all, know-it-all' then the following specialties tend to see a larger variety of problems within their specialty, in my humble opinion:
Emergency, Ambulatory Surgery, General Surgery, Family Practice, Interventional Radiology.
Plus, I believe risk adjustment coding (CRC) and inpatient coding (CIC) can be considered a 'see-it-all, know-it-all' type of specialty because of the large variety of problems addressed.
NOTE: I did not mention which specialties pay the most but I was told that if the physician specialty pays high then the supporting staff (including coders), will be paid accordingly.
I would not worry too much if you decide not to pursue a specialist credential or miss the deadline. I can assure you that AAPC will have numerous other specials. I have been a member long enough to notice this. Plus, they always have a year end special.
Congratulations on passing your exam.
Your initial question asked about the easiest specialty certification to obtain.
I would caution you to not look at the 'easiest' specialty versus looking at a specialization you might enjoy.
Nonetheless - Question: Are you a brand new coder with no coding experience?
If so, do you want to pigeon-hole yourself in a specialty without having really experienced it?
In the very early stages it is often usually best to take any coding job you are offered and stay at the position for 2-3 years.
But who wants to be stuck in something you don't like?
Ask yourself - Which specialty or focus area did I gravitate towards or seemed more interesting to me?
Sometimes we gravitate towards something and it's easy because we are naturally more gifted in understanding that area.
Other times something may be hard but it's interesting and the complexity drives us to conquer it.
And again, some chapters are closed. I trained in the laboratory but I will not apply to any position that is exclusively pathology coding. Been there, done that.
When I was asking myself which specialty certification to pursue, I pretended I was a doctor going through my rotations seeing patients and performing procedures. I researched each of the doctor's specialties, read the common illnesses they treat, procedures they perform and challenges they encounter as well as any breakthrough technologies or up and coming research for each specialty. I jotted down the specialties that seemed interesting in one column and the questionable specialties in another column.
I then pretended I was now married to a physician who worked in each of the specialties on my list.
How would I react to my spouse coming home from work sharing his workday with me?
Cringing, goosebumps, gagging, crying, hyperventilating, holding the body part being referred to even when it isn't even there and feeling phantom pain, putting my hand to my forehead and the other on a table to hold me up and praying - well, that specialty is an automatic NO.
This is how I eliminated orthopedics, OB/GYN, pediatrics, ophthalmology.
If I react to my doctor spouse by forcing a smile and feigning interest yet I am bored to death and am trying to find the tiniest lull in the conversation to change the subject, then that is an automatic NO as well.
This is how I eliminated neurology and hematology/oncology.
If I react by feeling like this spouse of mine is getting beaucoup bucks for this easy specialty and I am now 'treating' his patients in my mind, then that is an automatic NO. Some specialties are more straightforward and easier than others and I would be so bored that the money is not worth it to me.
This is how I eliminated dermatology and anesthesia/pain management.
If you are or want to be a 'see-it-all, know-it-all' then the following specialties tend to see a larger variety of problems within their specialty, in my humble opinion:
Emergency, Ambulatory Surgery, General Surgery, Family Practice, Interventional Radiology.
Plus, I believe risk adjustment coding (CRC) and inpatient coding (CIC) can be considered a 'see-it-all, know-it-all' type of specialty because of the large variety of problems addressed.
NOTE: I did not mention which specialties pay the most but I was told that if the physician specialty pays high then the supporting staff (including coders), will be paid accordingly.
I would not worry too much if you decide not to pursue a specialist credential or miss the deadline. I can assure you that AAPC will have numerous other specials. I have been a member long enough to notice this. Plus, they always have a year end special.
amyjph
True Blue
@mikhaila has a great way of looking at it and great advice.
I understand what you are thinking, however simply "trying to obtain an easy specialty certification while on sale" is probably not the best idea, especially if you just obtained the CPC and are brand new. Also, you will find over time, there are always sales on here. That's their marketing. You will always be able to find deals and reduced fee offers for training and exams. None of the specialty exams are easy. They are meant for experienced coders. Take a look at the "prepare for exam" sections and the information in each specialty certification description. For example from the CEMC, "We strongly recommend that you have at least two years of experience in evaluation and management coding prior to sitting for the certification exam. Please be aware that these are difficult, high-level examinations not intended for individuals with little, limited, or no coding experience."
I would also suggest getting some experience and trying different specialties before "collecting" certifications. For example, each of my certifications were earned over the years (20+) depending on the job role I had at the time, I absolutely love orthopedics so the COSC and CSFAC were #2 & 3. Next, I had to learn, teach and manage others in E/M and I managed an A/R team and had spent years doing RCM so next was CPB & CEMC. I moved into auditing and had a large risk adjustment audit later on so #6 & #7 were CPMA, CRC. You can see it followed experience and job roles. As mentioned above though, it was also what I enjoyed.
If you are set on another, I would suggest the CPB if you have any Rev Cycle experience and/or want to learn about the billing and the claims aspect. This is a very valuable skill to have for a coder to understand the whole cycle and not just the coding piece. Understanding the revenue cycle process as a whole. Or, if you have any experience or would be interested in risk adjustment, the CRC. That is very, very specific though. I, personally, do not want to sit and just do ICD-10 all day. I felt it was one of the more difficult exams if you do not truly understand risk adjustment, diagnosis coding, and how it works. You also must be an expert in diseases, A&P, chronic conditions and how the guidelines work.
"Cringing, goosebumps, gagging, crying, hyperventilating," stated above was hilarious. If I had to code OBGYN or Peds all day I would want to poke my own eye out. However, others may love that.
I understand what you are thinking, however simply "trying to obtain an easy specialty certification while on sale" is probably not the best idea, especially if you just obtained the CPC and are brand new. Also, you will find over time, there are always sales on here. That's their marketing. You will always be able to find deals and reduced fee offers for training and exams. None of the specialty exams are easy. They are meant for experienced coders. Take a look at the "prepare for exam" sections and the information in each specialty certification description. For example from the CEMC, "We strongly recommend that you have at least two years of experience in evaluation and management coding prior to sitting for the certification exam. Please be aware that these are difficult, high-level examinations not intended for individuals with little, limited, or no coding experience."
I would also suggest getting some experience and trying different specialties before "collecting" certifications. For example, each of my certifications were earned over the years (20+) depending on the job role I had at the time, I absolutely love orthopedics so the COSC and CSFAC were #2 & 3. Next, I had to learn, teach and manage others in E/M and I managed an A/R team and had spent years doing RCM so next was CPB & CEMC. I moved into auditing and had a large risk adjustment audit later on so #6 & #7 were CPMA, CRC. You can see it followed experience and job roles. As mentioned above though, it was also what I enjoyed.
If you are set on another, I would suggest the CPB if you have any Rev Cycle experience and/or want to learn about the billing and the claims aspect. This is a very valuable skill to have for a coder to understand the whole cycle and not just the coding piece. Understanding the revenue cycle process as a whole. Or, if you have any experience or would be interested in risk adjustment, the CRC. That is very, very specific though. I, personally, do not want to sit and just do ICD-10 all day. I felt it was one of the more difficult exams if you do not truly understand risk adjustment, diagnosis coding, and how it works. You also must be an expert in diseases, A&P, chronic conditions and how the guidelines work.
"Cringing, goosebumps, gagging, crying, hyperventilating," stated above was hilarious. If I had to code OBGYN or Peds all day I would want to poke my own eye out. However, others may love that.