Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)® Online Training Course

Exam preparation
Save 35% on everything you need to pass the COC exam. 0% APR available for a limited time. Offer expires March 29th.
Self-paced
  • Self-paced Training Course

  • 3 practice exams

  • 40 CEUs on successful completion

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Now $2,199 (a $4,724 value)

Most flexible
Self-paced Max
  • Self-paced Training Course

  • 3 practice exams

  • 40 CEUs on successful completion

  • 1-year Practicode by AAPC subscription

  • 2 certification exam attempts

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Now $2,450 (a $5,522 value)

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Instructor-led
  • 16-week instructor-led Training Course

  • 3 practice exams

  • 40 CEUs on successful completion

  • 1-year Practicode by AAPC subscription

  • 2 certification exam attempts

Save 35% through 3/29

Now $3,150 (a $6,162 value)

The COC Online Training Course teaches fundamental medical coding skills for outpatient hospitals and facilities.  

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to review and assign the correct procedures and diagnostic codes for patient encounters in a hospital or outpatient setting. This highly coveted skillset helps hospitals and facilities receive appropriate reimbursement and maintain compliance with coding guidelines and government/payer regulations. 

When to enroll

This COC course is recommended for anyone who is preparing for a career in medical coding for an outpatient hospital/facility and ambulatory surgery center setting and who wants to earn the COC (formerly CPC-H® credential.

Value

AAPC trains over 20,000 new students annually for careers in medical billing and coding. Affirm your experience with employers and differentiate yourself for a career in hospital and facility coding.

Education and experience

Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology is required to successfully complete this course. AAPC offers the following prerequisites:

Course length

Self-paced: Average time to completion is 4 months or less. 6-month access to course materials with options for extensions.

Instructor-led: 16 weeks from start date to completion. New courses start every week.

Continuing education units (CEUs)

Receive 40 CEUs on successful completion. One-time use only. AAPC certified prior to enrollment; excluding CPCO, CIRCC, CPMA, and specialty certifications. 

Financial options

Pay in full: Price includes $500 pay-in-full discount 
Pay over time: Make easy monthly payments over 12, 18, or 24 months 

Learning Methods

AAPC understands that students learn in different ways—that's why we allow you to choose a learning style that fits you best. AAPC offers the following learning methods:

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Live Instructor-led

  • Live instruction and classroom-paced training

  • 16-week course via 1.5 hour online live sessions per week

  • Highest exam pass rate

  • 66% better than no exam prep

  • New courses start every week

Self-paced Icon

Self-paced Instruction

  • Flexibility to prepare for the exam on your own time and pace with on-demand coaching

  • Up to 6-month access to course materials

  • Average 80% exam pass rate

  • 50% better than no exam prep

What students are saying

  • Rhonda D. McCaskill testimonial photo

    Testimonial

    Obtaining my COC credential was one of the best decisions I made in my coding career... I advanced to a supervisory role in an ambulatory surgery center.

    Rhonda D. McCaskill, COC, CPC, CPB, MCS-P

  • Brenda Stevens Testimonial Photo

    Testimonial

    Taking the COC course gave me thorough knowledge of APCs and payment indicators which was extremely helpful when taking the COC certification and passing on the first try.

    Brenda Stevens, COC, CPC, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I CMC, CMIS, CMOM

  • Julia Mitchell testimonial photo

    Testimonial

    I thoroughly enjoyed the COC course due to the outstanding content, flow of the material, and practice exams, passing the certification exam was just the cherry on top.

    Julia Mitchell, MHA, COC, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CRC, LSSGB

Course curriculum overview

Understanding facility coding is vital when working in the hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) settings, where reimbursement is based not on professional services provided, but on the resources used during the patient encounter.

The COC training will cover coding fundamentals including CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II coding, along with the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and an introduction to ICD-10-PCS.

Outpatient coding training objectives

  • Understand outpatient facilities and their departments including outpatient services at hospitals, teaching hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities 

  • Navigate the business side of hospital outpatient services and ASCs 

  • Differentiate between inpatient and outpatient services and payment services (IPPS and OPPS) 

  • Understand the difference between MS-DRGs and APC assignments, and how those services are reported 

  • Develop an understanding of compliance in the outpatient hospital facility 

  • Discuss documentation and coding standards for outpatient facilities 

  • Code a wide variety of patient services using CPT®, HCPCS Level II, and ICD-10- CM coding guidelines and code sets 

  • Apply coding and conventions when assigning diagnoses and procedure codes 

  • Understand the UB-04 billing form and its proper use 

  • Know what the charge description master (CDM) is, how it works, and how to update it 

  • Be familiar with the outpatient flow of data through the facility pertaining to patient encounters and procedures

Course bundle includes

In addition to the actual course of interactive online lectures, step-by-step coding processes, and all training needed to pass the exam, you’ll receive: 

  • Online practice exams
    Three 50-question practice exams to help you determine your readiness for the exam.

  • COC exam (Included in Self-paced Max and Instructor-Led packages - a $499 value) 
    The COC exam features 100 multiple-choice questions over four hours. Your package includes two exam attempts.

  • FREE BONUS: Practicode COC Practicum (Subscription included in Self-paced Max and Instructor-led packages - a $249 value)
    Practicode is a coding practice tool that helps you improve coding, giving you hands-on practice with real-world (redacted) cases. The tool evaluates your progress and helps you identify areas of weakness.

  • FREE BONUS: AAPC eBook
    2024 Medical Coding Training: COC

FAQs: Get your questions answered

How do I become a certified outpatient coder? 

If you want to become a certified outpatient coder, you should complete the COC training course so you can gain all the knowledge and skills needed for the role — and be ready to pass the certification exam. Once you pass the COC exam, you’ll become a certified outpatient coder (COC) — which enhances your credibility and value to employers. 

How much does an outpatient coder make?  

The median income for a COC is $64,267. However, typically the more certifications a person holds, the higher their pay. On average, medical records specialists with three or more AAPC credentials earn $71,361 per year. 

What is the difference between a CPC and a COC? 

The main difference between a CPC and a COC lies in the scope of their job duties and the settings in which they typically work. While CPCs are trained to assign accurate medical codes for both outpatient and inpatient services across various healthcare settings, COCs specialize in outpatient coding for outpatient settings specifically. 

Is outpatient coding easier than inpatient coding? 

Outpatient coding is often perceived as comparatively easier due to the narrower scope of services and more straightforward documentation. Outpatient coding focuses on treatment offered in a single visit, usually lasting only a few hours. Since outpatient visits are short-term, outpatient coding is relatively less complex. 

Why train with AAPC?

> Be career ready in 6 months or less — without spending a fortune on lengthy university studies. 

> Train with the same experts who created the exams. Why study at an institution that bases its curriculum on AAPC’s when you can train directly with us?

> Highest pass rates of any medical coding and billing program. We provide the most trusted curriculum and top-rated training — and the proof is in our pass rates.

> Any credential you earn through us will be recognized worldwide. AAPC is known as the industry gold standard. We created the industry’s accreditations for medical coders and medical billers — and have been teaching these programs for more than 30 years. 

> Exclusive AAPC member benefits: free and low-cost CEUs, mentorship programs, national and regional events, discounts, and countless opportunities to network with over 250,000 other members. 

Not sure which certification is best for you?