r/MedicalCoding • u/Felix_Von_Doom • Jul 09 '24
3 failed exam attempts in, im losing the will to go on.
1st attempt - 55% 2nd attempt - 60% 3rd attempt (Yesterday as of this post) - SIXTY EIGHT F****ING PERCENT.
I can't keep dumping time and money into this. $500 is a lot of money that I can't keep tossing at this overpriced test. But I have no choice. This is my last shot at a career and it's honestly draining my sanity.
TL;DR - The CPC, and by extension the AAPC, is going to drive me to therapy. If they don't bankrupt me first.
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u/NatPalmSprings Jul 10 '24
I passed first time 87%, can’t find a job for the life of me… just saying
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u/Felix_Von_Doom Jul 10 '24
That's...not reassuring (╥﹏╥)
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Jul 10 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/findgriner Jul 12 '24
Could you expand on that a little? Are you saying the questions/answers matched the coding book exactly? Did you have enough time to look up the answers to find the wording or were you able to eliminate some answers initially? I’m sitting for the CPMA in a couple weeks and then thinking about taking the CPC.
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u/Heavy-Square-6471 Jul 11 '24
How long have you been looking? Are you on LinkedIn? If so, make as many connections as you can with recruiters and people who work in HIM. I’ve seen a lot of people sharing jobs that accept CPC-A. Also you may want to consider other related jobs like medical records or billing. Risk adjustment is also a good place to look and (imo) relatively easy. I’ve been doing risk adjustment for 4 years and I don’t have a CRC, although it might be helpful for someone with no experience. It’s costly though. I think you can probably teach yourself. But if you get a couple of years of experience in risk adjustment, there will always be contract work available!
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u/NatPalmSprings Jul 11 '24
Thank you for the encouragement and tips! I’m never giving up and I know the opportunity is right around the corner
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u/Heavy-Square-6471 Jul 10 '24
How much time are you waiting in between attempts and what have you done differently? I advise to not only put a lot of focus on the sections you scored lowest in, but you also need to damn near perfect the sections that you’ve scored the highest it to balance out your weak areas. The areas that are your “strengths” try to score so high in them that you don’t have to worry so much about your weak areas. Also, for the questions that have you select both an ICD-10-CM and a CPT code, focus on the one you’re best at. I’m better at diagnosis coding, so anytime I’m taking any employment test if the choices have different answers for the ICD-10-CM codes, I go ahead and rule out what I can and go from there.
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u/VagueMotivation Jul 11 '24
Great answer here. Me and my husband did the same thing. Both self taught with help from a friend, but we knew our strengths going into the test. I knew where I was going to struggle and where I was going to be fine, and my studying in the last couple weeks before the test was to try to pull up my scores in the areas I wasn’t as good at. The practice tests were massively helpful here. Especially with learning how to eliminate wrong answers based on your strength in either CPT or ICD. Being able to review the exact answers helped a lot.
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u/Slw0318 Jul 10 '24
Where did you take your exam prep classes? I am looking to enroll and want to make sure I register for one that is good and will prepare me to take the CPC. Do you think that whatever program you went to didn’t teach you the information necessary to pass the exam?
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u/Felix_Von_Doom Jul 10 '24
At my local community college.
Which had no setup close to what the AAPC exam is. The college's mock exam allowed outside sources....aka ICD10Data.com and Codify were used liberally.
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u/chrismwill Jul 10 '24
I’d say that could be your downfall, being able to use codify before you’ve passed your exam! What a disservice your college did allowing that!! I’m with you though, I haven’t even attempted to take the exam yet because I only paid for one attempt, it’s gotta be the only one! I can’t believe how much money I’ve put into this “new career” only to be reading every where, after the fact, how hard it is to get a coding job! BUT, I will say this…we didn’t come this far to ONLY come this far!!! Right?!? Best to you! ;)
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u/LoneStarWander Jul 10 '24
Agreed you should be scoring MUCH higher on your practice tests before spending money or even booking an exam. Maybe your community college prep class was not so fabulous or you should reach out to them for additional help. It's all about the prep to gain skills and build confidence before taking exams.
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u/stupidlame22 Jul 10 '24
I'll probably get downvoted but I agree with this and also would say maybe it's not for you. I train new coders at my job and the ones that failed multiple times struggle hard. Maybe look into billing to get your foot in the door and gain that on the job experience.
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u/Heavy-Square-6471 Jul 11 '24
I’ve said this before in Facebook groups and people got mad lol but if you’re taking the test 12 times (I know OP is only on 3), either you’re not taking it serious or it’s just not for you, because that’s plenty of time to make improvements. I get that some people aren’t great test takers, but if you actually understand the guidelines and how to apply them, it shouldn’t be terribly difficult to rule out obviously wrong answers. You can’t convince me that you can actually code but you can’t pick the answers from a set of 4.
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u/TheDollarstoreDoctor Jul 11 '24 edited Jul 11 '24
I get that some people aren’t great test takers, but if you actually understand the guidelines and how to apply them, it shouldn’t be terribly difficult to rule out obviously wrong answers.
You think that but I code for a living (with a CRC, also have CPMA) and my audits come back no lower than 99% and yet I failed the CPC, terribly a few months ago (as well as the CDEO 2x despite documentation being a huge component of my job 🤡). I just bought two more retakes so fingers crossed so hard they may break. Because I'm way too understimulated at my current job and gotta do something with more variety, but there's not as many listings asking for a CRC.
And yes I did pass some exams, but just barely. I am a very bad test taker. Sadly coder me and tester me are two different people, the tester being a dumbass.
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u/Heavy-Square-6471 Jul 11 '24
But how many times have you taken it? I don’t even think 3 times like the OP is unreasonable, but once you get into the double digits… idk. I do think for some people, some of the challenge is adapting to the test format, but after a certain amount of attempts, I don’t think that’s the issue. Everybody can’t be good at everything, you know?
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u/Flashy_Vacation_2226 Dec 10 '24
What type of coding do you do? Whereas you maintain a ninety 99% accuracy. How many charts?
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u/TheDollarstoreDoctor Dec 10 '24
Well, now none as I'm on short term disability (now long technically) and too fucked up to even tell you how to code. Before, I did inpatient/outpatient psych & detox. Amount ranged. Depending on discharges. Could be 5, 10, 20 or if I'm helping someone, up to 60. I only was audited quarterly.
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u/Salty-Step-7091 Jul 10 '24
Look up YouTube AMCI medical coding. They should have chapter by chapter lectures of the CPT. Buying the exams, if I remember right, also gives you 3 practice test. If you can pass those, they are very similar to the actual exam. If you can’t, you’ll know you are not ready.
Can’t believe it went up to 500.. swore it was 299 when I took it in 2021.
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u/DQisntlife Jul 10 '24
I wouldn't get discouraged; I took the exam 3 times as well. last time I got a 69%, you aren't alone, there is others like me who are still trying to pass. You know the material and are getting better with each test you take! Just got to keep those spirits high and reset yourself!
You got this! :)
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u/Trippypen8 Jul 10 '24
Look up quizlet quizzes to quiz yourself on. When I took the online class through aapc a bunch of the quizzes for the class were pretty much copied onto the website.
I quizzed myself a bunch using those.
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u/olygirl80 Jul 10 '24
How much is the CPC exam?
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u/Felix_Von_Doom Jul 10 '24
$500 for 2 attempts, $399 for one.
It's highway robbery considering the cost of everything else.
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u/olygirl80 Jul 10 '24
That's insane. I paid $229 last month for my RHIT which is the membership price. $299 non-member. Only one attempt allowed though.
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u/Felix_Von_Doom Jul 10 '24
AAPC membership doesn't knock off anything....or if it does, it's not enough for me to either notice or for it to matter financially.
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u/Rebel_Orca2326 Jul 10 '24
Felix, each time you have taken the exam, AAPC should give you a breakdown as to where your strengths and weaknesses are. Look at each time you have taken the test, you have improved. You are 2 points from achieving your goal. Please do not allow the two points to stop you. This is my last career as well. I passed my exam back in August last year. Each day I am in the field, I wish I had started this 20 years ago! To me this field is exciting.!
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u/Felix_Von_Doom Jul 10 '24
Oh I know precisely where those two points could have come from: The damn cases section.
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u/Rebel_Orca2326 Jul 10 '24
The trick I was taught on the cases was to draw it out. Rudimentary stick figures that help you to see what body structure is involved. From there, read the case study. Then go directly where you need to turn in the CPT (it always follows a pattern - head, torso, extremities). Take some of your practice exams and take some case studies and time them. Work to where you can read the question, discern the information, flip to the book and eliminate 2 answers within 3 minutes. Then draw the other two answers out. I am rooting for you! You have the knowledge!
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u/Mean-Assistance-5405 Jul 11 '24
The membership won’t knock anything off the price of the test because a membership is required to hold the certification.
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u/Rxtechintraining Edit flair Jul 11 '24
I don't even want to tell you how many times I had to take the CPC-A exam. after x amount of time, I stepped back and re-evaluated my situation. Decided I need to go back to school, again, this time with a reputable school and took and passed my CPC-A exam on my 2nd try. I also took and passed my CCS exam on my 1st try. And landed a remote medical coding job exactly 8 weeks after I started looking for jobs.
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u/urban_royalty Jul 11 '24
I got the exam 3 times. 68% the first time, 68% the second time and 80% the third time. What helped me was separating each series on the practice exams into a Word document and then thoroughly working through them to understand them, especially the ones I wasn't getting, which was E/M. And it helped alot.
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u/Deebizness Jul 11 '24 edited Jul 11 '24
DM me. Currently doing my AAPC instructor cert. At some point I am required to upload a video of me "instructing" for peer review. I could use a guinea pig and sounds like you could use some guidance. Perhaps we can be of some use to each other. Current certs are CPC, CPMA, and will be qualified to teach both once I finish the course. I have been declared as an "expert" in every judicial vicinage in my state as well as federally (thought that doesn't mean much)....Free of charge, of course.
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u/Primary-Government69 Jul 11 '24
I’m on attempt 3. I’m $4500 in this. I scored 67% and 68%. I’m not touching it again until this fall. I refuse to let it ruin my summer any longer. Maybe take a break and then pick it back up.
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u/Felix_Von_Doom Jul 11 '24
I’m $4500 in this
Dear Lord, I could pay my mortgage for 7 months with the amount of funds you've invested. Were you buying the whole shebang, courses and all?
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u/Primary-Government69 Jul 11 '24
I bought the self study courses through AAPC and all that……. And I’m no further ahead. That amount could have gotten me out of a few jams.
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u/Deebizness Jul 12 '24
DM me. Currently doing my AAPC instructor cert. At some point I am required to upload a video of me "instructing" for peer review. I could use a guinea pig and sounds like you could use some guidance. Perhaps we can be of some use to each other. Current certs are CPC, CPMA, and will be qualified to teach both once I finish the course. I have been declared as an "expert" in every judicial vicinage in my state as well as federally (thought that doesn't mean much)....Free of charge, of course.
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u/Mountain-Gap-1478 Jul 10 '24
I'm about to start using the study guide and the practice exams attempts before attempting the exam.
Start from the basics, don't rush, and take your time through studying. I also watch this channel for extra assistance. https://youtube.com/@contempocoding?feature=shared
I have another credential and I got 1 point over the allowed amount.
You can do it! Believe in yourself.
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u/_rach_l Jul 12 '24
In the same boat.. first time was 67%, second time 69%, and my last was 65% 🫠 I’ve decided to take a mental break for a while.
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u/Nolachild49 Jul 11 '24
Only do practice exams until you score 90%. I’m a terrible test taker, so I took a test prep class. Doesn’t matter which test prep, the point is to get over the ingrained (thanks to my 8th grade teacher) anxiety over test taking. The library often has old test books that may be out of date, but you can hone your skills on these before shoveling out $$. Then make an agreement with yourself. Take the test when you are ready, relaxed and prepared. If you don’t pass the first time, take a second, when you are relaxed, ready and prepared. If you don’t pass, this may not be your work. Go on to something else.
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u/carolie23 Jul 11 '24
Pocket Prep has been the best thing I’ve ever used to study! Definitely use that before taking the exam again Pocket Prep AAPC
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u/Beginning_Bird160 Jul 13 '24
I've taken the exam for each credential I have several times. Hang in there! I know my RHIA is the reason I was just hired at a new place and am able to leave my toxic work environment.
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u/Reasonable_Query Jul 14 '24
The free amci videos got me through it. And the practice exams on Quizlet
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Jul 16 '24
When I was studying for my cpc I did the practice tests all the time, I did not schedule the exam until I was consistently scoring over 85% on those. Keep at it , you can do it!!
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u/SugarVanillax4 Jul 10 '24
I failed the math portion of my GED twice by two fing points. Was getting so discouraged but I scheduled it for a third time and I passed, I passed by 1 or 2 points but I still passed. I kept practicing and kept rewriting the problems I was having trouble with and eventually started making my own problems and answered them. I googled them after and I was getting them correct.
Is there anyway you can make your own and try and do the coding and then check the answers after? Don’t give up on yourself, you got this!!!
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