MEDICAL CODING CPC CERTIFICATION GUIDE
You may have seen an ad or job listing about becoming a remote Medical Coder CPC® (AAPC Certified Professional Coder) and now you have many questions.
Here is some information that may be helpful for you to know before you decide to become a medical coder.
There is often the misunderstanding that you can get certified and get hired instantly working remotely with a flexible schedule for a higher-than-average wage. The reality is often very different and when a new coder realizes this, they can sometimes become very discouraged as it is not always realistic to expect a high starting wage with a flexible remote job as a newly credentialed coder with little to no real on-the-job experience.
Many new coders do get jobs coding with little to no experience, but these are entry-level and sometimes difficult to find as many employers would prefer a medical coder that has experience. Employers may not find that perfect candidate and sometimes they will take a chance on a new medical coder or one with little to no experience depending on their skill set and experience that relates to the job.
You may wonder if you can also do child or dependent care while working from home but be advised that most employers will require you to sign a waiver stating you will not provide care for any dependents while on the clock upon being hired for employment as you will be paid to do a job not provide dependent care to others during working hours. Also, medical coding pays much attention to detail & takes focus to do in a timely manner and there are usually productivity requirements that are mandated and need to be met daily. Plus, there are still HIPAA (privacy) laws to consider while you are working remotely with patient EMRs.
Whatever new career field you transition to you will still encounter the obstacle of not having experience in that field. For example, just because a student passes an exam the reality still exists that they have no real experience in that field and will still need to complete a resume to get interviews that can lead to becoming hired.
You may find you have many skills that can transition into your new career field of interest and perhaps getting your resume done professionally can help highlight those skills when it comes time to look for employment.
The reality is many newly credentialed coders start in a position that is only related to coding. Being hired at a hospital is a foot-in-the-door position you can sometimes use to be promoted from within as people already employed in an organization have first precedence for job openings that become available. You can also network with coders and coding managers and perhaps get an opportunity to express to them your interest and qualifications for a coding job should one become available. If they know you desire that job, they can perhaps help you get an interview with advice and recommendations. If you have a lower expectation than what the national AAPC salary survey says is the average or what your first job title will be then you may have more success finding your first job and eventually your dream job working from home remotely earning a good salary/wage. Or perhaps consider applying for in-person jobs as well to broaden your options.
What is medical Coding:
A medical coders job consists of using medical coding manuals or encoders to determine the most specific and correct medical codes for maximum reimbursement to a provider for the medical care of a patient.
A CPC medical coder will use the 3 coding manuals to code medical records.
- ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases) ICD-10-CM is for diagnostic coding relating to why a procedure was needed.
- CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) CPT® is for procedure coding relating to what was done to treat the diagnosis of the patient.
- HCPCS Level ll (Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System). HCPCS is used to code for supplies, products, and services not in the CPT®.
Are medical coding & billing the same job:
Medical coding and medical billing are two different processes that are related to each other. Medical coding is the process of translating a patient’s health information into a universal code. Medical billing is the process of submitting claims to insurance companies for payment.
Medical coders work with patient data to assign appropriate codes and process claims. Medical billers interact directly with patients and are responsible for collecting payments and processing insurance claims.
Medical coders provide the most complete picture possible of a medical encounter. Medical billers focus on providing accurate and timely reimbursement based on the codes used.
Medical coders enable communication between billing and insurance teams. Insurance companies rely on medical codes to understand which services a patient receives.
How to become a medical coder:
Most medical coding students will want to take an instructor-led course and pass a coding certification exam that tells a potential employer you are prepared to start your medical coding career.
You should take the prerequisite course in medical terminology and anatomy which is very helpful in aiding you to accurately read and interpret a patient’s medical record and correctly extract the pertinent information to code for maximum reimbursement to the provider.
Extensive knowledge of the coding manuals is essential to pass the certification exams and to code correctly for maximum reimbursement to the provider as there are many guidelines, rules, and instructions for medical coding and even for specific codes themselves so attention to detail is very important.
Why you Should get a medical coding course with a certified Instructor:
It is not only about how to prepare for the CPC exam but who can help you prepare for the CPC exam so you feel confident you can pass your certification exam with ease the first time.
You may need guidance from someone who can explain complicated concepts, so they are easier for you to understand.
A medical coding course makes sure that you do not miss any important learning concepts you may need to code correctly or to help you pass the CPC exam.
https://codingclarified.com/the-importance-of-formal-instruction-in-medical-coding/
How long will you need to study to prepare for the certification exam?
Most students can complete an 80-hour course in approximately 4-6 months on average depending on the student’s schedule and their commitment to learning.
Many students aim for the completion of at least 1 chapter/module a week dedicated to their studies.
Students also seem to spend approximately 2 weeks to 1 month on average preparing for their certification exam.
Which Certification to choose:
The main credentialing agencies AAPC & AHIMA have 1 core credential each that are recommended frequently as your first credential AAPC CPC® and AHIMA CCS. AHIMA’s CCS Coding specialists are skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, often in a hospital setting but also in a variety of other healthcare settings so it is widely accepted by employers. The CCA credential is considered by employers to be much like a permanent AAPC CPC-A credential, that you cannot remove the A (apprentice status) from and the requirements to take the AHIMA CCA exam are a high school diploma & a coding course is only recommended and this is why employers prefer the AAPC CPC or AHIMA CCS credentials.
AAPC’s CPC® credential is physician office coding and is considered the most popular first credential as AAPC has specific outpatient/ COC®, inpatient/ CIC®, and CRC®/risk adjustment credentials.
NHA, AMBA & other credentials are less likely to be asked for by potential employers according to medical coders who were surveyed in my Facebook groups.
Many potential employers will require you to be certified before being hired or request you become certified within a specific time frame to keep a new coding job.
AAPC also has 18 specialty credentials for those with expertise in specific fields of medical coding.
- Ambulatory Surgical Center – CASCC™
- Anesthesia and Pain Management – CANPC™
- Cardiology – CCC™
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery – CCVTC™
- Dermatology – CPCD™
- Emergency Department – CEDC™
- Evaluation and Management – CEMC™
- Family Practice – CFPC™
- Gastroenterology – CGIC™
- General Surgery – CGSC™
- Hematology and Oncology – CHONC™
- Interventional Radiology and Cardiovascular – CIRCC®
- Obstetrics Gynecology – COBGC™
- Ophthalmology – COPC™
- Orthopedic Surgery – COSC™
- Pediatrics – CPEDC™
- Rheumatology – CRHC™
- Urology – CUC™
AHIMA has Microcredentials. Micro-credentials demonstrate focused expertise for skill sets aligned with the employer’s needs. Certifications and traditional degrees offer a broader level of education related to a particular field. Micro-credentials allow you to demonstrate focused knowledge to employers. They also take less time and resources to complete.
- Risk Adjustment Coding (RAC)
- Release of Information (ROI)
- Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) – Outpatient
- Patient Identification & Matching
- Auditing: Inpatient Coding
- Auditing: Outpatient Coding
AHIMA has 2 credentials considered degree programs RHIA & RHIT and to take that route you will need an approved CAHIIM course. Accreditation is only for colleges, not Trade /Vocational schools. Acquiring other AAPC credentials or becoming a CPC®, AHIMA CCA, or CCS CCS-P for medical coding for example does not require a degree, and having a degree is only recommended by AAPC.
https://codingclarified.com/comparing-aapc-and-ahima-certifications-for-medical-coders/
What is important when choosing a school?
Choose a school that has a good reputation, check their website, and social media – Facebook/LinkedIn/YouTube to view what the school has to offer as well as speaking with someone directly related to the school. If their response time to your questions is lacking perhaps you should look elsewhere as a good school should be very responsive to any questions or concerns, you may have.
Choosing a good course
Many places offer medical coding courses –AAPC, AHIMA, Online schools, Colleges, Vocational schools, and Trade schools. Make sure the course you choose is not just an introductory or review class or a class for CEUs (Continuing Education Unit) credits for medical coding as these courses/classes are not directed towards passing a certification exam.
Since there are so many great choices in Online Courses, Schools, Colleges, Trade/Vocational course programs and Instructors who teach medical coding as well as many misleading unscrupulous ones use caution & your best judgment. Do your own research to determine yourself what best fits your needs and budget.
Many courses are from an approved AAPC vendor which means the instructor pays AAPC to teach using the same course curriculum as AAPC uses in their CPC® course so you are still choosing the AAPC course content with an AAPC-certified CPC® -l Instructor so compare carefully at what they do or don’t include in their course fee as these benefits will vary.
If you are thinking of asking on social media you can get many different personal opinions from many different sources which may confuse you further as everyone has a different experience, background, or skill set coming into a course.
If you have seen some newly credentialed coders on social media that express having difficulty finding their first coding job so keep in mind that everyone starts somewhere and working coders do not have time to be on social media complaining so perhaps those job seekers just need more direction for their job search. Also, it would be wise to remember hiring managers as well as recruiters and potential employers all participate in social media so always put your best foot forward in public & on social media.
You can learn in person or online. Decide what works best for you and your schedule and perhaps even your location.
Do online research:
- Does the school seem to have a good reputation?
- Do they have any reviews or testimonials available?
- Visit school websites and see what is included or not included in their courses.
- Ask questions to the school staff & see how responsive they are to your questions.
- Do they have a forum, page, or group on social media like Facebook?
- Do they have a YouTube channel?
- Do they have a LinkedIn page or group?
- Do they have any FB groups related to the school to join to observe or ask what students are saying about their experiences with the school that interest you?
Use caution if you feel you want public opinion as sometimes some schools offer former and current students incentives to get new students to enroll or they may be biased for one reason or another. Many courses vary depending on what they offer to students enrolling so do a comparison of costs and benefits as most courses in medical coding use the same manuals and even the same course materials in some cases. There should be a certified Instructor available to you when you need support or do not understand something and want to ask a question and get clarification so you can continue your studies.
Things to ask about a course?
Weigh the pluses and minuses to find the best fit for you.
Discuss all costs, the success rate of passing the course & CPC exam(most education institutions do not require students report exam success or failures but should have reviews and testimonials available), education curriculum, ease of access and experience of the instructors and any other questions you may have such as how long it will take and any what-if scenarios that could arise.
- How much is the course – $4,995 with many purchase options available
- How long will I have access -12 months
- Is there a way to extend if you need more time to complete the course
- Are textbooks or manuals included -Yes
- Is the AAPC membership included -Yes
- Is the AAPC CPC® exam fee included- Yes
- Is the instructor certified- Yes
- Is there a way to contact my instructor – Yes
- How long does a reply to a question take- Typically under 24 hours or less
- Is there a helpdesk for issues – You can contact us by email, messages, or calls
- Do they have payment plans – Yes Or you may qualify for a scholarship
- Is there exam prep included – No you should purchase an AAPC CPC Study Guide
- Are there practice exams included – Yes 1 practice exam
- Is there manual prep included- Yes Instructor notes for manuals are available
- Is the course online or in-person- 100% online
- Is the course 80 contact hours to help remove an apprentice status – Yes
- Do they have an intern/extern program – Yes HCC
- Do they have CEUs available – No you can join the Facebook group AAPC Chapter Events & Announcements
- What format is the content delivered – online
- Are there prerequisites No MTA is helpful the first chapter covers the basics
- Is it self-paced? – Yes
- Are there chapter/module exams or a final exam – Yes
- Is there a community to connect with other students Yes FaceBook group Medical Coding & Billing Forum
- Is medical terminology included – 1st module covers basic terminology
- Is anatomy included – 1st module covers basic anatomy
- Is there a refund policy – Yes
- Are there job assistance resources available -Yes
- Is there job support after being hired – Facebook group Medical Coding & Billing Forum
You can see the cost here as well.
https://codingclarified.com/mastering-online-medical-coding-training/
https://codingclarified.com/purchase/
Things you should know about an instructor?
A certified Instructor should make an opportunity to get to know you during a welcome call, or email. A response upon enrolling makes you feel you are acknowledged as having enrolled and are interested in having some correspondence with your instructor during the duration of your course so that you may have any questions you may have answered. During your study, they should also provide ongoing encouragement, guidance, and direction.
- Are they an AAPC certified Instructor?
- Do they have any other certifications that can be beneficial in their teaching of medical coding?
- How long has the instructor been a certified medical coder?
- When did they get their instructor certification?
- What textbook do they teach with?
- Can they communicate effectively?
- Can they explain complicated concepts, so they are easy to understand for a student?
- What is their availability to you during your course?
https://codingclarified.com/janine-mothershed/
Salary expectations:
AAPC does a salary survey each year, but the results sometimes leave new coders discouraged. AAPC does not ask how many years of experience each coder has prior to receiving the salary levels described in their annual survey so it can be somewhat misleading.
Use caution when a school touts a high salary level for beginners to entice them to purchase a course.
Achieving a good wage/salary is always based on experience and performance.
The best recommendation is to look at CPC job descriptions to see what new coders in your area are offered based on years of experience and that will give you a better idea of what you can earn as a newly credentialed coder.
Experience and credentials (especially specialty credentials) are coveted in this industry so the more you have the more money-making potential you may also have.
There are many jobs available you just must believe in yourself and learn how to present yourself to a potential employer for consideration even with limited experience as every coder starts somewhere you just need to find the right employer willing to take the chance on you. Some employers will offer training so you can become an asset to the coding team/dept upon starting your new medical coding job.
Don’t let newly credentialled coders who regularly post on social media their failing job search discourage you as there may be a reason they are unaware of causing them to fail such a bad resume. and since they are failing, they tend to express their feelings of discouragement to others on social media inadvertently making new potential students concerned if medical coding is a good career choice. Medical coding has great career potential as you can forge many different paths in this career field and the more experience you gain the better position you will be in to improve your financial situation in the future than had you not chosen a career path at all. Do your own preliminary job search so you can be as prepared as you can be for the job you want when you begin your job search for an entry-level coding position.
AAPC Salary Survey:
Why do employers require experience:
An experienced medical coder can bring in significant amounts of unrealized revenue to a practice. An inexperienced coder can cause revenue delays and possible fraud issues that can lead to damaging consequences.
Can I work remotely:
Yes, 100% you can but it may not happen for your first job or not until you are trained properly and are comfortable being on your own. You don’t want to need to productively code many charts per hour and encounter things you do not understand or need outside assistance with and have no real place or coworker to turn to for a timely answer Learning to be resourceful is a key element in working remotely. Learning to research using Google for example can be beneficial.
AAPC CPC® Exam Information:
- 2024 exams will be online or at a testing center only.
- 100 questions (approximately 2 minutes per question)
- Can pass with a 70% (can miss up to 30 questions)
- 4 hours to complete (bathroom breaks are permitted but the clock does not stop & you will likely have to do a room scan again before proceeding)
- Open book utilizing the 3 current year coding manuals CPT® (AMA professional only no expert), ICD-10-CM (any publisher) & HCPCS (any publisher/version).
- Testing on the correct application of coding with adherence to the documentation, guidelines, modifier use, regulations and coding conventions.
- Approximately 70% of the exam is coding scenarios with the remainder concerning the correct application of the coding manuals.
Exam format
100 multiple-choice questions
Online or in-person options
AAPC offers online and in-person proctored exams.
Choose to take the exam at home in a quiet, private location or through your local chapter or a licensed instructor. (2024 exams will be in a testing center NO local chapter exam locations in 2024).
Time allowed
In-person and online exams are administered in one sitting, with four hours to complete the exam.
Equipment required for online exam
A reliable internet connection and an external webcam that can be positioned to show your face, hands, keyboard, and the area around the keyboard (about 10 inches) are required.
Experience requirements
High-level knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology, along with an understanding of the proper application of CPT® procedure codes, HCPCS Level II procedure, and supply codes, and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes is required for certification.
Approved code books
- AMA’s CPT® Professional Edition (current year)
- ICD-10-CM (current year), any publisher
- HCPCS Level II (current year), any publisher
Note: Code sets are updated annually, so it’s essential to use the current calendar year’s code books when taking the CPB certification exam.
Any officially published updates (errata) for the above code books may also be used.
Maintaining your certification
To maintain your credential, you must maintain your AAPC annual membership, and earn 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years.
Pricing
One attempt for $399 or $499 for two attempts. (CC includes 1 attempt)
Requirements to take the AAPC CPC® exam:
You must be an AAPC member to take any AAPC exam. (CC includes 1 year of AAPC membership)
Manuals FAQs:
The current year is always recommended (the previous year is allowed) as you will want all the advantages to pass your exam as you do not want to fail because you had outdated information as the exam is expensive and do you really want to pay for other exam attempts or take it multiple times to pass?
Plus, there are always many code updates each year.
2024 Coding manuals updates:
The annual update to the CPT code set created 349 editorial changes, including 230 additions, 49 deletions and 70 revisions.
ICD-10-CM code changes
New Codes: 395
Revised Codes: 22
Deleted Codes: 0
Converted to Parent code: 25
Grand Total: 442
Confirm what reference materials are allowed.
What is allowed in a manual for an exam?
Handwritten notes are acceptable only if they pertain to daily coding activities.
Official (CMS.GOV) guidelines and errata are allowed for in-person exams only. (updates are made during the year and will need to be updated manually in your manuals prior to your exam)
What is allowed in medical code books for AAPC exams? | AAPC Social Hour
The AAPC only allows the AMA professional CPT® manuals into their exams. So, if you’re planning on sitting an AAPC exam, the Expert Edition is not allowed. If you do not plan on sitting for an AAPC exam, then it simply becomes a personal preference.
The AAPC requires you to use the AMA CPT® version for the exam. AAPC does not allow any other vendors for testing (e.g., Optum360 CPT® Expert Edition).
Regarding ICD and HCPCS, the AAPC allows any vendor manual for the exam.
ICD-10-CM manuals for the new year change yearly on Oct 1st and new ICD-10 manuals are available 1-2 months ahead of that date.
CPT & HCPCS don’t change until Jan 1st, so you will start seeing those being advertised around starting in November each year usually.
ICD-10-CM has 2 versions as well as a Physician & Hospital Edition.
The Hospital Edition is more expensive, it contains more images and identifies CCs & MCCs that are critical for the CCS exam and actual inpatient work in a hospital. If you want to be a CPC and plan to work at a Physician’s office, then the Physician Edition is recommended. Both manuals are allowed in AAPC exams. The only determining factor for purchase is what career choice you plan to pursue.
What Does the CPC® Exam Cover?
The CPC examination consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and tests your knowledge of a broad range of coding-related topics.
Questions based on the CPT® code book include:
- 10,000 Series CPT®: Surgical procedures performed on the integumentary system (6 questions)
- 20,000 Series CPT®: Surgical procedures performed on the musculoskeletal system (6 questions)
- 30,000 Series CPT®: Surgical procedures performed on the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, hemic and lymphatic systems, and the mediastinum and diaphragm (6 questions)
- 40,000 Series CPT®: Surgical procedures performed on the digestive system (6 questions)
- 50,000 Series CPT®: Surgical procedures performed on the urinary system, male and female reproductive systems (including maternity and delivery), and endocrine system (6 questions)
- 60,000 Series CPT®: Surgical procedures performed on the nervous system (6 questions)
- E/M services (6 questions)
- Anesthesia, including time reporting and qualifying circumstances (4 questions)
- Radiology (6 questions)
- Laboratory and pathology (6 questions)
- Medicine (6 questions)
The exam also covers relevant coding topics beyond the CPT® code book, including:
- Medical terminology (4 questions)
- Anatomy (4 questions)
- ICD-10-CM code application, and the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (5 questions) https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fy-2024-icd-10-cm-coding-guidelines.pdf
- HCPCS Level II, including modifiers (3 questions)
- Coding guidelines, including modifier use (7 questions)
- Compliance and regulatory — Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D; place of service (POS) codes; National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits; HIPAA, and other regulations (3 questions).
The CPC exam will test your ability to pull everything together in medical cases requiring you to accurately code from clinical record documentation.
- Ten cases with multiple choice answers involving CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and/or HCPCS Level II will cover 10000 series, 20000 series, 30000 series, 40000 series, 50000 series, 60000 series, medicine, anesthesia, radiology, pathology and laboratory, and evaluation and management services. Medical terminology, anatomy, compliance, and regulatory information may also be tested in the cases.
Apprentice status:
When you pass the CPC exam, you will receive your CPC-A credential, which signifies apprenticeship standing. You will remain an apprentice until you fulfill the 2-year experience requirement, at which time you will submit proof of meeting the requirement, and your A will be removed.
If you have no real on-the-job coding experience prior to passing the CPC® exam, you will automatically be designated an apprentice CPC® -A. (no timeframe for A status removal)
To remove your A status, you need an 80-hour course completion letter to remove 1 of the 2 years of experience needed. The second year will need to be removed by actual on-the-job experience or successful completion of an intern/externship (letter of completion) or completion of AAPCs Practicode.
AAPC apprentice removal:
https://www.aapc.com/certifications/cpc-and-cpb/complete-your-cpc-and-cpb-apprenticeship
Study Guide:
AAPC CPC Study Guide:
https://www.aapc.com/shop/study-guides/cpc-study-guide.aspx
Practice exams:
Practice not only what you have learned but also practice in a timed manner with practice exams until you are confidently passing them in the allotted time frame for practice.
AAPC practice exams:
https://www.aapc.com/shop/practice-exams.aspx#cpc
Proof of Education or Experience:
Proof of education or experience isn’t necessary to sit for AAPC exams. However, due to the level of expertise required of medical coders, AAPC expects certified coders to be able to perform not only in an exam setting but also in the real world.
Those who pass the CPC®, COC® exams but have not yet met this requirement will be designated as an Apprentice (CPC-A®, COC-A™ on their certificate.
A combination of tactics can be used to fulfill the apprenticeship requirement. Proof of 80 contact hours of a medical coding preparation course may be combined with completion of CPC-A Practicode. This fulfills the two years of experience required to graduate to CPC.
Alternatively, a medical preparation course or the completion of the CPC-A Practicode program may be combined with one year of on-the-job experience, verified by one signed letter from your employer on letterhead.
Two-Year Apprenticeship Option:
CPC-A Practicode Online Program (Deducts One Year) (Included in Coding Clarified CPC training)
Practicode is AAPC’s web-based program that uses redacted medical records to provide CPC-As with real-world coding experience. Over 14,000 CPC-A and COC-A students use Practicode annually.
Submitting proof of completing the CPC-A Practicode program (included in all AAPC training packages) deducts one year from the two years of experience required to graduate from CPC-A to CPC. This program may be completed while training for your certification exam or after.
80-Hour Medical Coding Preparation Course (Deducts One Year)
Completing an 80-contact-hour coding course or an equivalent course from an instructor or school deducts one year from the two years of experience required to graduate from CPC-A to CPC.
Proof of education can take the form of a letter from an instructor on a school letterhead stating you have completed 80 or more hours, a certificate/diploma stating at least 80 hours, or an unofficial school transcript.
On-the-Job Experience (Deducts One-Two Years)
You must obtain and submit two letters of recommendation verifying two years of on-the-job experience using the CPT®, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS Level II code sets.
One of the two letters must be from your employer on the company letterhead. The second letter may come from a colleague or a previous employer. Your experience, as well, can include time you have coded for a previous employer, or prior to certification.
Practicode:
https://www.aapc.com/practicode/
AAPC project extern:
Project Xtern is an ideal way to get your first taste of real-world knowledge and experience in the medical coding field and gives potential employers an opportunity to see you in action. It builds confidence and improves your research and analytical skills.
The program provides our members with valuable work experience that can be applied to resumes and toward the removal of your “apprentice” status. The experience also aids members with finding employment.
- You must be certified and a member of AAPC to participate in Project Xtern
- You will need to update your resume and contact sites individually
- You must apply and/or interview with the site to be considered
*Please note that our facilities are not required to provide externship opportunities to every member who contacts them. AAPC does not place students with facilities
https://www.aapc.com/medical-coding-jobs/project-xtern/
Maintaining your credentials:
Certified AAPC Members are required to keep their membership dues up to date to maintain earned certifications. In addition to annual membership, Certified Members must also obtain CEUs to keep their certifications current.
CEUs are reported every two years on or before your membership due date. Membership fees are due every year – – even on a year when you are not required to report CEUs. If you are newly certified, CEUs will be pro-rated to match your existing renewal month for your first submission. The year that your CEUs are due is based on the month of your membership.
CEUs earned prior to certification will not be accepted.
Complete the required number of CEUs based on the number of certifications you hold.
One certification requires that 236 CEUs be earned in your 2-year period.
AAPC CEU Info:
https://www.aapc.com/medical-coding-education/help/
Good Luck!