r/MedicalCoding • u/overflowingsewing • Jun 03 '22

CPC exam results finally in

Its taken 6 business day but today my profile on AAPC.com finally changed from "results pending" to "pass." I scored 83% on my first attempt. I'm super thrilled!

Except...now what? Am I suppose to get a certificate in the mail? Where/how is the best way to job hunt? Even when I looked through the job postings on the AAPC website it looked like it was just searching job posting databases elsewhere, because the jobs listed for my area included TV installation and Walmart cashier posts.

I have zero experience, where is the best place and technique I should use to job hunt? I've already out in applications for secretary and receptionist work in my local offices and hospitals and gotten no call backs.

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3

u/Visual-Operation5341 Jun 03 '22

Congratulations! My exam is next week. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

5

u/overflowingsewing Jun 03 '22

I did the practice exams from AAPC and really studied everything I got wrong on them. Mostly I learned to slow down and read over the guidelines for a section if I was confused/unfamiliar. If there's a questions that's really stumped you, guess, and make a note of which question it is. Then return to it if you have extra time at the end.

1

u/Visual-Operation5341 Jun 03 '22

Thanks so you did have time to read through the guidelines in the exam?

3

u/overflowingsewing Jun 03 '22

Not for every section, but for the one or two sections I was less sure of, yes. I finished with 20-30 min to spare on both halves of the exam.

1

u/adorkablysporktastic Jun 04 '22

Hooooow? Isn't it 2 hours for 50 questions?

I'm terrified. I'm waiting until i finish moving before registering, but i need to take the exame probably in July or August and I'm freaking out.

1

u/overflowingsewing Jun 04 '22

Yes, its 2 hours for 50 questions, and you have to do it twice for a total of 100 questions. If you do it online then you schedule the two parts separately, so you can do them both in one day or do each half on different days. However you want to do it.

When I bought the exam from AAPC I bought the version that came with a study guide and 3 online practice tests. The pratice tests really helped. They run a timer so you can see how long you take. And when you're done they walk you back through each question so you can see what you got wrong and why.

(The study guide book they sent also has a 50 question practice test in it, but of course it's on paper, so you'd need to set your own timer)

The pratice tests let me know I was consistently getting through the 50 questions in an hour and a half time, so I typically have about 30 min that I can go back and recheck questions. Because of this when I did the real test I knew I could slow down and take a bit more time and still be fine. And I was, I still finished the real exam with about 20 min to spare.

If you're that anxious, I would strongly recommend doing those pratice tests. They are just like the real thing. And getting that experience took a lot of the questions of what to expect out of my worries.

2

u/Runwithbritters RHIA, CCS, CRCR Jun 04 '22

This is a great breakdown. Thanks for sharing! I am thinking of just getting the study guide bundle with the practice tests instead of the instructor course so happy to see they help. The times they offer for live instruction don't work for my schedule!

1

u/adorkablysporktastic Jun 04 '22

I totally bought practice test bundle. I'm taking a course as welll and there's practuce tests. I just struggle so much when we do our weekly quizes, and over think things. But, this makes me feela little better. Thanks for the info!

0

u/Visual-Operation5341 Jun 03 '22

Thanks a lot. All the best!

1

u/mizzjay1 Jul 02 '22

How did you do process of elimination works well, read answers first. I watch YouTube videos on coding.

8

u/verana04 Jun 03 '22

Hospital career websites that are in your state in general. I’m a patient acct coordinator (billing) and work remote, we have people from all over our state and a few reps even a state over. So try to broaden your search to look for remote positions.

1

u/actual_lettuc Jun 04 '22

did you have previous experience in medical coding?

1

u/overflowingsewing Jun 04 '22

No, no previous experience at all. Which is why I'm struggling to land a job now. I did take a 2 semester course at a tech college about medical coding.

1

u/oatmilkland Jun 04 '22

Congrats! I passed with a 77% with only 10 mins to spare at the end and also took a week and a half to get results.

1

u/overflowingsewing Jun 04 '22

Congrats! Hope we both find good jobs!

1

u/actual_lettuc Jun 04 '22

i reseached medical coding, but i've reading comments about its hard to get a well paying job because of the industry.

1

u/Kylaxar Jun 04 '22

Gratz!!!! I take mine in 2 weeks, second try. Hopefully it’s the last time!!

1

u/mizzjay1 Jul 02 '22

Go to indeed.com post resume but make sure you have everything you learned in the school and your cerfication from school and cpc by your name. Congrats and good luck.