FAQ

Our page on the revenue cycle has tons of information to help you learn about the importance of the business side of healthcare!

No matter which credential you choose, the titles of medical coder or medical biller are only your entry point to the wider industry of the healthcare business. Think of these roles as the first steppingstone on your journey to a fulfilling, financially secure career.

Certified coders have an array of high-level specialty certifications to achieve. In a few short years of your career, you can branch into a wide variety of medical specialties such as outpatient or pediatric coding. You can also choose to become an auditor, compliance or documentation specialist, or instructor.

Certified billers also have a variety of additional certifications to include on their resumes. Besides joining a management track, you can choose to branch into auditing, compliance, documentation, practice management, and more.

The past decade has seen incredible growth in the population of seniors requiring complex medical care, greater numbers than ever of people seeking comprehensive mental health services, and more demand for primary care services. As new physicians, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare specialists join the industry to meet this growing demand, so too do new opportunities for certified coders and billers. No healthcare system can function without their expertise.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts much larger growth in the healthcare industry than almost any other over the next several years. In fact, the predicted job outlook is 9% higher between 2023-2033 than average for certified coders and billers! This translates to nearly 15,000 job openings each year. You can find more information on the BLS website or through AAPC’s annual salary survey.

While it can be a challenge to break into any industry, certified coders and billers provide vital revenue cycle services to a variety of healthcare businesses. Due to their educational training and the industry-leading recognition of quality that the AAPC credential provides, newly certified individuals can land their first role with greater ease.

Pro Tip! The AAPC membership included with every training course allows you to access their career resources and monthly chapter meetings, which can be great for networking with employers in your area!

While AI is rapidly developing into a powerful tool in the healthcare industry and beyond, most aspects of the revenue cycle require the thoughtfulness and experience of a human being. Though these roles may evolve over the next decade due to AI, the revenue cycle career path is very unlikely to disappear entirely.

Another thing to consider is that the skills you can learn today can lead you further along the career path to roles that are further insulated from the reach of AI, such as auditing, practice management, EHR (electronic health record) analysis, and compliance management.

Detailed anatomical knowledge and awareness of medical terminology is a fundamental skill set for any certified coder or biller. A+ Revenue Cycle Training highly recommends taking an introductory anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology course if you don’t have prior healthcare experience or haven’t previously taken a college-level anatomy class. Our Foundations 3-in-1 course can be bundled with any training course and includes short lessons that can be completed before or alongside the training course.

A+ Revenue Cycle Training believes that students who are eager to learn and advance their careers can perform exceptionally well in revenue cycle roles, regardless of their higher education status. Many certified coders and billers do not hold a college degree; however, degree holders can expect additional advancement opportunities.

Pro Tip! If you’re considering obtaining a college degree, many employers in the healthcare industry offer education reimbursement perks that may pay for all or a portion of your degree program while you work full time, both saving and making you money in the long run.

Yes. High school seniors who are on track to graduate and are at least 18 years of age are welcome to take a course.

The CPC® Bootcamp was created with you in mind! This 3-day, intensive exam prep course will solidify your knowledge to help you pass the exam. A+ Revenue Cycle Training recommends taking this course within 1 month of your scheduled exam.

A+ Revenue Cycle Training offers multiple avenues for those with prior healthcare experience to pivot to a rewarding career in the revenue cycle. We offer complete training courses that teach the basics from A-Z, 3-day bootcamps for those who feel confident with the basics but need a study boost, and 1-on-1 tutoring that can be scheduled alone or alongside the other programs we offer. If you need help deciding what training solution is right for you, contact us!

Detailed anatomical knowledge and awareness of medical terminology is a fundamental skill set for any certified coder or biller. A+ Revenue Cycle Training highly recommends taking an introductory anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology course if you don’t have prior healthcare experience or haven’t previously taken a college-level anatomy class. Our Foundations 3-in-1 course can be bundled with any training course and includes short lessons that can be completed before or alongside the training course.

While it’s not a requirement to be certified, those without a credential will struggle to prove their skills to employers that must hire only professionals who have a firm grasp of coding compliance knowledge. Most employers require a coding accuracy rate of 95% or higher.

Medical coding mistakes can be incredibly costly. In cases of fraud or abuse, even if accidental, it can be the end of a clinic and can expose the coder or biller to federally imposed fines. The coder or biller can also be banned from billing Medicare, Medicaid, and some commercial insurance companies. Most companies will steer clear of an individual placed on the exclusion list for fraud or abuse.

A+ Revenue Cycle Training partners with AAPC because their credentials are recognized by the majority of employers throughout the industry. However, students are more than welcome to consider obtaining a AHIMA credential following one of our training courses.

Yes, upon course completion with a grade of at least 70/100 on all graded submissions, you will receive a certificate of completion that can be submitted to AAPC through your member account to satisfy 1 year of your apprenticeship.

In addition to a course workbook, you’ll receive current-year copies of the AMA CPT Professional Edition manual, the AAPC ICD-10-CM Expert manual, and the AAPC HCPCS Level 2 Expert manual. You may choose to receive your books as physical spiral-bound editions or eBooks.

Your access to the training course through Blackboard will begin on the scheduled first day of the course. You will have 12 months total to complete and submit all graded assignments. Extensions are available and subject to an additional fee. Please contact your instructor if you need an extension.

Foundations 3-in-1 access starts on the first day you access the course and lasts 4 months. You may start Foundations as soon as your instructor enrolls you in the course (usually within 1 week of purchase) or you can wait until you’re ready to begin. Extensions are not available for Foundations.

Bootcamp access is available only on the scheduled dates of the training session. No extensions will be given for bootcamp sessions.

Our page on Apprenticeship has everything you need to know about why apprenticeship is importantand how to complete it!

All live online courses have a small 10:1 student to instructor ratio in order to maximize your time with your instructor. You’ll never need to worry about not getting a question answered timely.

We want you to succeed on your credential exam, however we know that the first attempt can be overwhelming to new coders. Should you fail your first exam attempt, we are happy to offer you 1 free hour of tutoring with an available instructor. Your instructor will ask that you share your exam results so that they can create a custom study plan that targets your areas of weakness and will review this study plan with you in your free tutoring hour.

If you would like, your instructor can also create a tutoring plan for you that continues your training one-on-one with the instructor for a flat rate fee.

You will need a desktop computer, laptop, or Chromebook that can access the internet, along with a microphone to communicate with your instructor during live sessions. A webcam is highly recommended but not required.

A+ Revenue Cycle Training does not recommend using a mobile phone or tablet to access our training courses, as you may experience difficulties in accessing or utilizing course content in the Learning Management System. Our training courses cannot be accessed through the Blackboard mobile app.

A mobile phone or tablet is acceptable to access tutoring or other services through Microsoft Teams or Zoom only.

Please contact your instructor directly, or you can contact ad***@***********le.com.