Is Medical Billing and Coding School Worth It?

[@LadieBjj]

I am going to a school online….well, this is hard and definitely not for everyone. It’s hard. The beginning is so easy and then, BAM!!! You get hit with reality.

[@MrHankc1949]

I started the Medical Coding program at Preppy after watching your KZbin videos. I have been doing the course for about 3 weeks now and I am enjoying it. I am 75 year old retiree and I want to work remotely to supplement my retirement income. I am a US Expat currently living in the Philippines and about to relocate to Japan. I really had looked at doing Medical Coding about 10 years ago but the cost was too prohibitive. Thank you for recommending Preppy. I hope that I am not fooling myself about finding employment considering my advanced age.

[@ContempoCoding]

I'm so glad you're enjoying the course! Age is just a number, and with your dedication and the flexibility of remote work in medical coding, hopefully you'll find great opportunities.

[@angiezhang3134]

@@MrHankc1949 hi there! How long it takes to complete the course ?

[@sandrachavez4236]

Since you’re already in the Preppy program can you let me know if they give the actual books. I see they give the ebooks but I would like the books to flip the pages and get used to it since we can use them for the exam. Thank you in advance

[@jujubee7549]

I went to school for billng & coding probably 10+years ago, never took the exam to be certified though...im currently a claims examiner and have clearer understanding of how everything works on both sides. I want to get back into billing & coding, your video has helped and motivated me alot. Thank you for doing these.

[@Bonjovi19]

I wish I had found you sooner! I have learned more watching your videos than I have learned in the four weeks I’ve been doing an online Saturday class for medical coding and billing. It’s very hard and I have been in the medical field in some type of job for 35 years from billing to unit clerk, desk ops in an eye clinic to hospice office coordinator and this is hard. I don’t feel I get any support from the lady running the class. Thank you for these videos.

[@Bgwerra]

I’m in the Education field I’m looking forward to making this change! Glad I watched this video I will definitely checkout your Masterclass!

[@realhousewifeoftransylvania1.0]

Its a good thing community college is free, cause my teacher doesn't teach shite. Have to figure everything out on our own and she just gives us crazy long assignments and wrong info for the assignments.

[@jillchilds6356]

Hi and thanks for the concise information. I am a part time pharmacist and looking to supplement my income now that my kids are mostly grown up. I don’t want to change my job to work more hours in my current career because I would lose my PTO, and frankly I’m getting burnt out. My question is pursuing this certification, while not hugely expensive, it’s not something as a single mom that I have money for, would it be something I could work at part time remotely?

[@rbiamonte8267]

Hello Victoria,👋 and thank you so much for all of your helpful Coding videos! Is Penn Foster ok for the Medical Coding Professional program? They are an accredited school but I noticed on their website that the program itself is no accredited. What’s your opinion on this? The program includes a lot of things including two exam attempts with AAPC and Practico. Please share your thoughts on this. Thanks. 😊

[@Mr123adwood]

Could I pass the CPC exam if I study for it without going to school?I do have a little knowledge in the administration medical field as I have worked at a hospital as a unit clerk and in registration years ago. I appreciate your response in advance and thank you for your informative videos.

[@MemphisLex901]

I’m still struggling to find a job in this field/ any assistance in the right direction is appreciated

[@meditationmusic4relaxation]

I want to take medical coding classes; however I was watching another KZbinr who said not to take fast- track courses because it will take time to learn properly. She mentioned that it is best to take at least a year to learn the program. Would you please give me more clarification about it? Thank you,

[@nicolebrennon6124]

@@meditationmusic4relaxation so, actually spoke with a rep at Preppy and he said some finish in 4 to 6 month however you have a year to complete. It depend on the student. Some finish sooner and do fine. However I like having the option to take my time if I need to.

[@meditationmusic4relaxation]

Thank you for the information. It’s good to know that there’s flexibility in the program. It is reassuring to know that I have up to a year to complete it at my own pace.

[@ContempoCoding]

Most medical coding programs typically take about 6-9 months to complete, not a full year. While it's important to take the time to fully understand the material, it can be accomplished in less than a year. There are, however "fast track" courses that are weekend bootcamps that I would not recommend. The key is choosing a reputable program that offers quality instruction and support, no matter the length.

[@meditationmusic4relaxation]

Thank you for the clarification! I agree, it is essential to choose a reputable program that provides quality introduction and support, regardless of the duration.

[@H880]

I'm glad I got my CC paid for because I can't get a job. It would have been my money flushed down the toilet

[@melvasalman5305]

I totally get it.

[@asaly5348]

Can you do medical coding and billing while you are living outside the U.S or plan to move outside the U.S?

[@trylenecarr8854]

Make sure enter in the college that is going take your career into a field you want to go into, Madam.

[@ContempoCoding]

While it's important to choose the right path for your career, just to clarify, you don’t need a college degree to get into medical coding in the US. Certification like the CPC is all you need to get started in the field.

[@angiezhang3134]

Hi Victoria, just wondering how long it usually takes someone to complete the billing and coding class ? Months or years?

[@ContempoCoding]

Usually 6-9 months.

[@jamimelton4108]

My local community college has an online class. I've been debating taking it because 1. Everyone says its incredibly hard and most people dont finish and 2. Once you do finsih, you cant find a job because all employers want people with like 3 years of experience. Anyone have experience with finding a job with no experience, just the certification? I mean ive taken lots of healthcare related classes, but nothing that would actually show on a resume so i dont know if its a good idea or not to spend the money on it and it be for nothing.

[@ContempoCoding]

It's true that medical coding can be challenging, but with dedication, you can definitely succeed. Many new coders do start without direct experience, but having your certification and tailoring your resume to highlight your healthcare-related classes and transferable skills can help. Networking, internships, and entry-level positions like internships or apprenticeships can also open doors, so it’s worth considering if you’re serious about the field.

[@jamimelton4108]

@@ContempoCoding I'm still debating. Right now it's between coding or CMA. Or maybe I'll do both, just don't know the order. I've taken the CMA class before, I just didn't take my certification because COVID hit and I had two babies. Right now, I now stay home with them. They are almost old enough to start school so I've been thinking about classes a lot lately.

[@JennyK-hm9me]

@@jamimelton4108 I got my CPC last year and I’m still on the hunt. I tried getting a job in sterile processing to get my foot in the door and it didn’t work out for me. I put in over 100 applications to foot in the door jobs, it doesn’t help that a majority of the healthcare jobs were at the hospital I worked at in sterile processing lol. And that hospital has expanded into neighboring towns. In March I got a job as a direct support professional, kind of a foot in the door job but I know it’s going to be a while before I can get into billing or coding

[@corrinebrackney7679]

Fortunately, thanks to this gal, I found "Preppy", which has been great so far!!

[@AprilBattles-w1g]

@@corrinebrackney7679I was wondering how good Preppy is. I looked on their website