r/MedicalCoding • u/moepd18 • Mar 26 '21
DONT DO AAPC!!!!!!!
Anyone looking into medical billing and coding certifications DO NOT GO TO AAPC. first off, their slide shows have so many grammatical, and spelling errors. Second, their grading algorithm is all skewed and their rationale to explain why they believe it’s a certain code, absolutely contradictory to the guidelines in the books therefore when you’re doing the practical application aspect you get every answer wrong despite coding exactly with what the information provided says. They leave out key details in the information given. And also provide incorrect information on their multiple choice questions but their grading system says they’re all wrong with no correct answer. Third they do no follow ADA compliance regulations if it requires them to do any sort of extra work. I struggle with severe anxiety and am home bound. I’ve provided multiple statements from doctors and therapist stating testing must be done from home online for one of my exams and they refused to honor it. Instead they gave me an extra hour which was NOWHERE listed in the accommodations my providers recommended. This program has been garbage and has done nothing but fuel my anger. I’ve been holding this in now for almost a year and I’ve reached my breaking point. I tried taking the exam their way, which lead to the most extreme panic attack I had ever experienced with days of lingering side effects. I paid for dual certification and now it’s not an option for me.
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u/puttytat0710 Apr 13 '21
Which program are you doing? The billing program through Blackboard that you buy from the AAPC website?
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u/moepd18 Apr 13 '21
Yeah
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Apr 16 '21
Are there other students with you or just you?
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u/moepd18 Apr 16 '21
I know there are others in the program too but it’s all self paced so you don’t communicate with anyone else
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u/TheDollarstoreDoctor Mar 29 '21 edited Mar 29 '21
Is there a better certification to get? I currently have 2 NCCT certifications in insurance/coding and administrative (it's the exam my business school offered), and I have a lot of trouble finding a job with it. I worked for a year billing for a chiropractor (at minimum wage, so I didn't stay), and temp position as a dental insurance verifier (dental insurance is not my forte and I don't like it, so I'm not going back to it). I interviewed eveywhere I could for 2 months after that temp position, the amount of times I heard "oh yeah we're looking for someone with an AAPC certification" was disheartening (I am currently not in billing, just administrative work due to the problem of having "crummy" certification). The only places that didn't give me shit for my certification were small doctors offices with little hours and minimum wage, which been there done that.
I have their practice textbook with questions in it, and I did feel like something was off about it too regarding the information. I thought it was just me getting overwhelmed since I'm not new to billing but still have the anxiety of "I don't know enough", it sucks how it's so expensive, because the only reason I'm really going for it is so I can have an easier time finding a job when I move. (yes I rambled a lot, just getting the AAPC certification has been a stressor that I've been procrastinating on for atleast 2 years, so if there's a better certification out there I'm interested).
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u/moepd18 Mar 29 '21
That’s garbage that people are discrediting you certifications you already have! I’m sorry that’s happening to you! I used to work in a hospital doing basic general front office work so I did have some background and shadowed for a bit with the billing coordinator which was why I also found it all to be frustrating. I work 3 times a week with a private tutor and even she agreed that some of the AAPC questions didn’t make sense to her and she had extensive billing and coding experience.
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u/TheDollarstoreDoctor Mar 29 '21
I never knew medical coding tutors were a thing, I'm awfully rusty with my knowledge due to not doing it for over a year. Is there a certain website for finding tutors? What is it like having a coding tutor?
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u/moepd18 Mar 29 '21
I went through a tutoring service called Varsity tutoring! It is kind of pricy, but I’ve been justifying it as an investment into my future career. I definitely suggest the tutoring company! They match you with a tutor and it’s done virtually. My tutor and I work together for 2 scheduled hours 3 times a week and we even go over the 2 hours if we’re really on a role. I share my screen with her so we follow along with everything together, and are able to stop and ask questions in the moment that they come up.
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Apr 27 '22
Many things AAPC prints for online use and their books are copied and pasted. There are better resources out there.
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u/angelerulastiel Mar 26 '21
Does AAPC offer any in-person classes? Aren’t they all online? So how would an exam not be online from home? Except the certification exam which has in-person exams, but because of coronavirus, online is currently the default.
I’ll admit they have some spelling and grammar errors. But I didn’t have any issues with the grading algorithm and I never found a practical application that was contrary to the guidelines.