I would like to start taking classes, unsure of where to begin. any thoughts?
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where to start
- Thread starter jillyanrose@aol.com
- Start date
Pam Warren
True Blue
First ask yourself, what goal am I trying to reach? Coding? Billing? (compliance, practice management, auditing are roles for a more experienced candidate, but things to think about now).
Then do some research. Check to see what employers in your area are looking for in terms of education, skills and experience. Remote work is available, but it depends on the company and whether or not they will hire without experience, whether you are set up to work from home (my work requires a private office), and whether you can afford starting pay (which will likely include having to pay for daycare). Ask yourself if this kind of work is for you. Are you someone who likes to constantly read and research? Are you consistent, focused, and a problem-solver? Can you work under pressure and independently? Find your local AAPC Chapter and attend (virtually or in person) to meet people in the industry. Ask them about their jobs, whether they like the work they do, and how they got where they are now. There are a lot of sad stories on this forum from people who took the coursework, tested (sometimes repeatedly) and eventually passed, and then can't find work, for a number of reasons, while still having to maintain CEUs and pay for membership. In truth, there are great roles out there for entry level individuals working in healthcare revenue cycle, but education and certification are not a guarantee of a job, and I think people get angry because they have to start out in something that's not 'coding'. When I think of my self as a brand new coder, I was sure I was an expert. Ha. What a shock I got. I didn't know jack! 35 years later, know that I actually learned a couple of new things already this morning.
Is your past work experience something that you can parlay into a healthcare career? Some of my best coders worked in factory jobs, so skillset can sometimes be surprising. And finally, the test for coding/billing/management certification is very challenging. If you do decide to move forward with coursework, know that this is going to be the most difficult test you have ever taken in your life (physician coders tell me it was worse than the medical boards), and that you need to be very confident with the material, the resources and very judicious with your time (it's a timed test). I'm not trying to discourage you, but a lot of what I read on this forum with students who struggle is that they are either woefully unprepared as to how difficult this is, or they are not very good test-takers. There's a reason for that. Working in a production coding or billing environment is a timed test every day.
That's why I suggest you look further into this career path before signing up and paying for coursework. You want to be successful all the way around.
Then do some research. Check to see what employers in your area are looking for in terms of education, skills and experience. Remote work is available, but it depends on the company and whether or not they will hire without experience, whether you are set up to work from home (my work requires a private office), and whether you can afford starting pay (which will likely include having to pay for daycare). Ask yourself if this kind of work is for you. Are you someone who likes to constantly read and research? Are you consistent, focused, and a problem-solver? Can you work under pressure and independently? Find your local AAPC Chapter and attend (virtually or in person) to meet people in the industry. Ask them about their jobs, whether they like the work they do, and how they got where they are now. There are a lot of sad stories on this forum from people who took the coursework, tested (sometimes repeatedly) and eventually passed, and then can't find work, for a number of reasons, while still having to maintain CEUs and pay for membership. In truth, there are great roles out there for entry level individuals working in healthcare revenue cycle, but education and certification are not a guarantee of a job, and I think people get angry because they have to start out in something that's not 'coding'. When I think of my self as a brand new coder, I was sure I was an expert. Ha. What a shock I got. I didn't know jack! 35 years later, know that I actually learned a couple of new things already this morning.
Is your past work experience something that you can parlay into a healthcare career? Some of my best coders worked in factory jobs, so skillset can sometimes be surprising. And finally, the test for coding/billing/management certification is very challenging. If you do decide to move forward with coursework, know that this is going to be the most difficult test you have ever taken in your life (physician coders tell me it was worse than the medical boards), and that you need to be very confident with the material, the resources and very judicious with your time (it's a timed test). I'm not trying to discourage you, but a lot of what I read on this forum with students who struggle is that they are either woefully unprepared as to how difficult this is, or they are not very good test-takers. There's a reason for that. Working in a production coding or billing environment is a timed test every day.
That's why I suggest you look further into this career path before signing up and paying for coursework. You want to be successful all the way around.