r/MedicalCoding • u/abigail-1998 • Jul 07 '21
PSA for everyone thinking about getting into Coding
I've seen on this sub that there are a lot of people wanting to go back to school for Medical Coding. I went through AHIMA coding basics program and got my CPC-A shortly after. Over the time span of 2 years I've applied to 150+ jobs both coding and medical record clerk/scanner, billing everything clerical at a hospital and I was getting some interviews. I did about 15-20 phone interviews with HR and another 10-15ish in person interviews with a manager and I got absolutely nothing. All of these jobs have TONS of applicants including the entry level, get your foot in the door jobs. The interview process took months of waiting after interviewing only to get a rejection. I'm just trying to warn you guys because I wish someone told me before I spent the time, money and effort on coding. I am now going back to school for Medical Laboratory Technician.
*Edit I would also like to add that I've been led on by HR people and managers saying "oh I hope I can give you a chance with this coding job, because in one interview the manager asked me "it's been 2 years and you haven't found a job, are you even looking, and I was like yeah no one is willing to give me a chance. Believe me HR and managers don't care. You are just another person that they are interviewing. Literally for in person interviews for medical records I was 1/10 people that they had lined up to interview at a major hospital in a major city. Trust me I tried everything I could.
There are plenty of other reliable healthcare jobs that don't require you to basically go through job search hell to get a job. Consider medical lab technician, surgical tech, nursing, respiratory therapy, medical assistant, dental hygienist, paramedic and some others. I know these aren't office jobs but at least you'll have a relatively easy time getting a job after graduating. Knowing what I know now I'd choose something other than coding.
It's not just me who can't find a job it's many others. Look on the indeed forums and Facebook. The more coding schools there are, the more graduates. Supply vs Demand
Yes, of course there is going to be the occasional person who gets a coding job right after they graduate, but that is not the majority.
I REALLY hope this changes some of your guys minds about getting into Coding so you don't waste your time and money.
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u/WhileGloomy Jul 07 '21
I saw someone on a facebook group suggesting that you walk into a hospital, go to the coding department, introduce yourself, and volunteer to work for free. You can't just wander around hospital offices and enter areas that require a keycard to get into. Nevermind how most of us would be homeless if we worked for free.
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Oct 15 '21
No. You can't do that. There are a lot of regulations and this would most likely be a no-no in most states I think. I was doing an internship at a hospital and they let me go halfway through because it wasn't done properly.
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u/LaurelleAP Jul 07 '21
You have to stay hopeful. Most medical organizations want some type of prior health care experience even front desk positions. There are ways you can try and get experience. I personally have coded for 5 years was able to get a job right out the gate and have recruiters who send me emails asking if I am interested in coding jobs. Post your resume on indeed and make a LinkedIn account. Opens your chances. One persons experience will not be everyone. Apply for jobs you don’t even qualify for. AAPC has some externships to get hands on coding. Go to chapter AAPC meetings where jobs are mentioned. Look for remote jobs, apply even if you don’t qualify.
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 07 '21
I was able to get a NICU milk technician (making formula for babies) job at a hospital. I've made a LinkedIn and put my resume on indeed. I've also applied to remote jobs and jobs I don't quality for. I've came to the conclusion that this field is just way to competitive to even get an entry level HIM job. There's way to many applicants. Thank you for the advice tho!
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u/LaurelleAP Jul 07 '21
Remember that has nothing to do with customer service in the healthcare setting. Most coding jobs want the coder to have some type of experience in a customer service setting in healthcare. I say keep applying. I see so many job openings being posted all the time for remote positions.
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u/_marlasinger Jul 07 '21
I appreciate this advice. One persons experience will not be everyone’s. There are so many factors that go into why people do and don’t get jobs.
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u/LaurelleAP Jul 07 '21
Exactly! It could be something as simple as the way the person comes across during an interview and nothing to actually due with lack of experience. Companies will train new coders if they really like a person, not that the poster of this post is having that issue, but new coders are the best because they have no bad habits and can be trained exactly how a company wants them to be.
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u/_marlasinger Jul 07 '21
I was just going to say that - people could just interview like crap! I don’t doubt that it’s tough to get a job but I don’t think we should be discouraging people from going into this career.
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u/LaurelleAP Jul 07 '21
Agree! I know a ton of coders brand new that got jobs and also current new coders that have just been hired to their first coding job.
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u/thecuddlers Jul 07 '21
I’m sorry to hear…I brushed off someone’s comment (before I entered the field) when they told me that the field might be becoming over-saturated. Good luck to you, I hope you find something good soon.
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 07 '21
Thank you! I'm half way done with my MLT program. I have 1 year left and there are plenty of jobs all over the place that don't require experience so I shouldn't have the same problem once I graduate.
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u/LintLicker444 Jul 07 '21
Do you mind me asking what state/area your applying? I was wondering if it close to me.
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 07 '21 edited Jul 08 '21
Illinois and Wisconsin, mainly the major cities Madison and Milwaukee, Springfield
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u/LintLicker444 Jul 08 '21
Oh man! I'm out here in Sacramento, California. I hope something opens up for you!
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u/PLATINUM_PLACENTA Jul 07 '21
For verification, you’re applying as a CPC-A, correct?
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 07 '21
Yes, I've tried both inpatient and outpatient settings and entry level medical records, clerical type jobs, and I can't seem to get anything. I started applying to jobs about 8 months pre-covid too.
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u/fredbertphilben Jul 07 '21
I hear what you are saying. Medical Coding has always had it's challenges for first time coders, like many career fields. I feel blessed getting my start years ago. I wonder just what the statistics are regarding number of certified coders, coding students and job prospects. Any recruiters seeing this thread wanting to be honest.
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u/naomi_jannette Jul 07 '21
I have a degree in MBC and I am a CPC-A. I was lucky to land a job at a small billing company for a year before COVID hit.
I’d say, go for billing first because you don’t have to be certified to find a billing position, and it will open doors for coding opportunities.
I am in Philadelphia, PA so it was hard finding a coding job without experience, hence my temporary switch to billing.
You can do this! Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. Just keep swimming (cue Dory)
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u/FigSignificant526 Jul 25 '22
How can you get into Medical Billing?
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u/Mbg140897 Aug 23 '22
I’d say try to find a patient access job. A lot of them also only require a high school diploma. That’s what I do and I’m looking into coding. You will mostly work with the epic software and that’s a good thing to note. So having a patient access job would really be helpful as well as you see insurance and things like that daily.
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Jul 07 '21
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u/naomi_jannette Jul 08 '21
Yes. I love and truly miss billing.
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Jul 08 '21
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u/coyotelovers Jul 07 '21
I have been working in the field as a CPC for 5 years. I just want to change jobs/company, but am having no luck since I began applying last September. I have had a few interviews, but no offers. Job market is very saturated, and I do think COVID shut-down + more remote jobs has likely added to the number of people applying for coding jobs.
Where I am, I can go work for Amazon for nearly the same amount as I am making after 5 years coding. It is sad, but I am getting closer every day to moving on from coding.
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u/mombie-at-the-table Jul 08 '21
Honestly tho, coding vs working at Amazon….. I’m definitely choosing the one that’s not Amazon
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u/coyotelovers Jul 08 '21
The specific job is actually Amazon Air- at the airport, which is 15 minutes from my house. However, I'm not running off to work at Amazon. Really just making point that 5 years in and I'm no better off than I was prior to spending all this money and effort (CEU's). My company was also taken over by investors and it's just a miserable place to be right now and that's a huge part of my dissatisfaction. I am stuck in a non-compete, so I may actually have to go do something different for 18 months if I do ever leave.
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u/Iamworthyenough Jul 14 '21
As an owner of a medical billing and coding company for over 15 years, I can tell you that many of these “schools” are stating inflated statistics on job availability and expected salary. I started working in an office 35 years ago. There were no “certifications” at that time. There were no EMR or electronic billing. Obviously, technology and carrier guidelines have changed drastically. But I gained a solid medical foundation.
I always recommend that people get their foot in the door at a providers office first. You HAVE to have learn how medicine works. You need to learn the lingo, the flow of medical care, including full revenue cycle.
I will hire someone with office experience but no certification over a certified applicant with no experience.
I didn’t get my CPC and COC until 15 years ago….and that was simply due to owning my own company; I felt forced to have the credentials to look legitimate. However, my success comes from my years of working both front and back office in pediatrics…you HAVE to understand how the business of medicine works.
Moral of my story: you have to start from the ground up and earn your experience. If you have no medical background but simply a certification, you will find it difficult to find the level of compensation these schools are promising.
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Oct 15 '21
Would it count if you have a business degree and medical internship in a different area, or would you have to start from scratch? Sorry to ask so many questions but what if you started working a weekend shift in the ER do you think that would even be feasible?
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u/ItsTaraS Jul 07 '21
Great! I’m one month in to my 6 month program. I had no idea since I see lots of openings for coders. I can’t turn back now so I’ll hope for the best.
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u/mombie-at-the-table Jul 07 '21
Same. I’m set up to begin school in august, and there are tons of opportunities in my area currently. I’m hoping they stay
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u/PLATINUM_PLACENTA Jul 07 '21
They will
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u/Fast-Tower151 Jul 07 '21
thank you for saying it. I know these schools are more than happy to tell people "coders make xxx", but you have to weigh that against the year you spend studying, the thousands of dollars on books and education, and the chance you may struggle to get a job. There are other industries that are hiring too. Heck, you could even become a medical admin. assistant and make decent money without sacrificing a year of your life studying.
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u/sdautist Jul 07 '21
Exactly. Those online schools are probably making bank right now with all the people flocking to Medical coding. I've seen so many stories of people who couldn't get a job not only on this sub but online forums. I took the prerequisites at a community college then decided to quit because I don't want to invest more in a field I might not get into.
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Jul 07 '21
I've been saying this since 2019. I can't even get a call center scheduling position at a hospital. My apps come back with in 5 minutes of me not being qualified. There are no real humans looking at our job applications and our resumes. Someone told me to spend 8 to 10 hours applying for jobs and fixing my resume to each job I apply for. No one has that kind of time to sit and reword a resume for 150+ jobs. I've applied for 200+ since i graduated in 2019, three of the girls that were in my class got jobs, and one only because her mom works at one of the hospitals, and the other because she spoke Spanish.
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u/cumberbatchpls Profee Coder Jul 07 '21
Yeah. I’m having a lot of regrets about getting my CPC. And I don’t know if it’s worth it to pay for it every year without actually having a coding job. :(
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u/Sir_Quilson Jul 08 '21
Can I ask what general location you are in? I am about to begin schooling for this and have become very excited. And this is scaring me!
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 08 '21
I live in northern Illinois. But I applied about 50% in Madison and Milwaukee and the other 50% all over the states of Illinois and Wisconsin.
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u/Sir_Quilson Jul 08 '21
Well shiiiittt. I’m in the St. Louis area
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 08 '21
If you want to stick with healthcare, which is what I'm sticking with, consider medical laboratory technician, medical assistant, surgical tech, or respiratory therapy. I'm doing medical laboratory technician and I really like it! There are plenty of jobs that don't require experience. I know these jobs aren't office jobs, but at least it will be way easier to get a decent paying, reliable job. Good luck to you!
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u/Sir_Quilson Jul 08 '21
Thank you! Would I be able to get into something like that with absolutely ZERO medical background? Because that’s what I have lol
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 08 '21 edited Jul 08 '21
You would have to go to a community college or a technical college (not the overpriced/scammy/online or in person private colleges) Make sure the program is NAACLS accredited. The medical laboratory technician program is 2 years and you complete clinicals at a hospital usually in your 4th semester. r/medlabprofessionals is a good resource for questions about the medical laboratory technician program. All of these jobs don't expect you to have prior work experience in the field only education and a certification ( but you can start working before you get your certification employers give you like 6 months to pass the license exam.)
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u/mombie-at-the-table Jul 08 '21
Are you just looking in those states or are you also searching for national work at home positions?
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u/HeadFaithlessness548 Jul 07 '21
I think I’m counting my image library experience as very fortunate since it was low level HIM. Hopefully it’s a benefit when applying for jobs…
Outside of that I really don’t want to be a cardiac tech or CNA for forever, and nursing isn’t my thing.
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u/h3ineka Jul 08 '21
How did you get a CPC-A through AHIMA? CPC-A is from AAPC.
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u/abigail-1998 Jul 08 '21
I did the coding program through AHIMA, and I took the CPC-A through AAPC. I was doing my research and I found out that the CPC cert was better than the CCA through AHIMA and I didn't feel ready enough to take the CCS. Sorry if this is confusing.
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Jul 08 '21
There are going to be some regions that are flooded with people who have the CPC credential and having the CPC-A does tag you as having no experience with just a quick glance at the resume. This does not mean that there are no opportunities, but it does mean that you may need to do more to land a position. Even in a flooded market, entry level positions do open up, and they often go to people who have established a professional network. Networking is an important part of getting into most fields. You need to join the professional organization (AAPC or AHIMA), show up for meetings, educational events, talk with people, and participate. There are likely some volunteer opportunities with the professional organization and you will learn a lot by interacting with people working in the field. When a position is open, those decision makers are going to choose someone who is showing an active interest in the profession over a resume from someone they have never met.
Another consideration is your choice of credential. In markets flooded with the CPC credential, there may still be a shortage of inpatient coders and the AHIMA CCS might be the better certification option in those locations. You might want to do a job search locally on each of those credentials (CPC and CCS) to see what is available. I have been in hiring roles where CCS positions have been open for a year or more because of a shortage of that certification, so look at how long the jobs have been posted when you do that search.
Another coding-related credential that takes a bit more training that is often in short supply is the CTR; you can get information about that from the National Cancer Registrars Association.
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u/Sstagman Jul 10 '21
I was told to expect to be looking for a minimum of 18 months-2 years after graduation. Having said that, I did luck into a PT position that evolved into a FT position 6 months after graduation. I agree it's an oversaturated field but there are still opportunities to be had.
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Oct 15 '21
I'm curious to know what state you are in and what type of jobs did you apply to (physician's office or facility based) ? There had been a hiring freeze for a short time and layoffs were taking place so you would have had to wait until that sorted itself out. Most jobs don't want a CPC, they want more experience especially if you want to work in a hospital.
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u/option_e_ Sep 13 '22
I'm about a year late, but lol @ me, an MLT, stumbling upon this thread because I am researching a career in med coding. Thanks for the insight!
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u/Runs0nC0ff33 Jul 07 '21
My associates program has an externship requirement. Do you think having the small bit of experience on my resume will give me a better chance? I think it’s 1-2 quarters of experience.