Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Earn while you learn. Coding Clarified is a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship sponsor offering structured pathways in medical coding and EMS.
Our Three Apprenticeship Programs
Earn while you learn. Every program pairs paid on-the-job training with structured Related Technical Instruction (RTI). We’re partnered with workforce agencies across the U.S. and ready to partner with your company — connecting employers to wage reimbursement incentives of up to 50%.
Medical Coding
Our flagship program. CPC certification, Practicode, guaranteed internship, then placement into our employer network for paid on-the-job apprenticeship as a medical coder.
EMT-Basic
Earn while you learn on the truck. EMT-Basics gain paid on-the-job experience while our RTI delivers what EMS school never did: documentation training, QA/QI participation, and live coaching for medical necessity.
Paramedic
The same earn-while-you-learn model at the ALS level. Paramedic apprentices receive advanced documentation training, structured QA/QI, and live coaching — building lead providers whose charts hold up to any review.
Medical Coding Apprenticeship: The Full Program
📋 The Medical Coding Apprenticeship
Program Structure (DOL Registered)
- Term: 2,000 on-the-job learning hours (up to 1 year)
- Approach: Competency-based — advance as skills are demonstrated
- Related Instruction: 144–160 hours per year, delivered by Coding Clarified
- Mentorship: 1 apprentice to 1 journeyworker
- Wages: Progressive schedule tied to competency milestones
- Prior experience credit: Up to 50% of training may be credited
Your Path Into the Program
- CPC Certification — our AAPC-approved 80-hour training
- Practicode — 600 real cases through AAPC
- Guaranteed Internship — hands-on HCC experience
- Resume + employer network submission
- Employer interview → paid apprenticeship
Entry: must hold a CPC, CPC-A, or CCS credential (AAPC or AHIMA). 90-day probationary period.
On-the-Job Competencies
- Clinical documentation review — outpatient, telehealth, and wellness encounters
- ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding to the highest specificity
- Risk Adjustment (CMS-HCC) coding and hierarchy rules
- MEAT criteria validation (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, Treat)
- Suspect & gap condition review for recapture accuracy
- Compliance: RADV principles, Medicare Advantage rules, HIPAA
- Coding QA, audits, data abstraction, and productivity standards
What Coding Clarified Delivers (RTI): The 300-Chart Curriculum
- Phase 1 — Guided Skill Development (charts 1–99): documentation interpretation and code abstraction with coder-coach support; accuracy before speed
- Phase 2 — Applied Competency (charts 100–199): growing independence, faster charts, coached pattern review
- Phase 3 — Production Readiness (charts 200–300): employer-level productivity, independent workflow, QA-validated performance
EMS Apprenticeships: What EMTs & Paramedics Learn
🚑 The EMT Apprenticeship
Program Structure (DOL Registered)
- Term: 2,000 on-the-job learning hours (approx. 1 year)
- Approach: Competency-based — advance as skills are demonstrated
- Related Instruction: 144 hours of structured RTI delivered by Coding Clarified
- Mentorship: 1 apprentice to 1 journeyworker
- Wages: Progressive schedule — starting around 83% of the journeyworker rate and reaching 100% at completion
On-the-Job Competencies
- Ambulance operation & vehicle readiness
- Decontamination & infection control
- Safe patient transport and ambulance driving
- Scene reporting, notification, and communication
- Patient care under journeyworker supervision
What Coding Clarified Delivers (RTI)
- PCR documentation training built for the EMT-B level
- Medical necessity and CMS compliance fundamentals
- QA/QI participation with live coaching on real charts
Entry: 18+, high school diploma or GED, and physical capability for the role. 90-day probationary period.
⭐ The Paramedic Apprenticeship
Program Structure (DOL Registered)
- Term: 4,000 on-the-job learning hours (approx. 2 years)
- Approach: Competency-based — advance as skills are demonstrated
- Related Instruction: 144 hours of RTI per 2,000 OJL hours, delivered by Coding Clarified
- Mentorship: 1 apprentice to 1 journeyworker
- Wages: Four-step progressive schedule from roughly 83% to 100% of the journeyworker rate
On-the-Job Competencies
- Emergency medical treatment — first aid and life support in prehospital settings
- Emergency cardiac care, including cardioversion and manual defibrillation
- Emergency invasive interventions prior to acute-care delivery
- Emergency pharmacological interventions and IV medication administration
What Coding Clarified Delivers (RTI)
- ALS-level documentation training — charts that support every intervention
- Advanced medical necessity and compliance instruction
- Structured QA/QI and live coaching for lead providers
Entry: 18+, high school diploma or GED, and physical capability for the role. 90-day probationary period.
Both EMS programs follow our U.S. Department of Labor registered standards. As sponsor, Coding Clarified handles apprentice registration and RAPIDS reporting, federal and state compliance tracking, and program administration — and as an ETPL-listed provider, our Related Technical Instruction may be grant-funded for qualifying apprentices, at no direct cost to the employer.
🚑 EMS Documentation Training, QA/QI & RTI
EMT-B & Paramedic documentation training • outsourced or in-house QA/QI programs • live coaching for medical necessity • Related Technical Instruction for EMS apprenticeships.
Explore EMS Services → Visit us at EMS World Expo, September 30 – October 2
For Employers
Why Sponsor an Apprentice
We’re partnered with workforce agencies across the U.S. and ready to partner with your company — we handle the connection and help you capture the incentives.
- Build a pipeline of trained coders and providers
- Reduce hiring risk with pre-vetted, certified candidates
- Wage reimbursement — up to 50% of apprentice wages during OJT, plus incentive payments after 90+ days, for qualifying partners
- Develop accuracy, compliance, and documentation quality from day one
Apprentice Training Includes
- ICD-10-CM coding
- Risk Adjustment (HCC) coding
- Medical record documentation review
- Compliance and auditing principles
- Coding productivity and accuracy training
- EMT track: PCR documentation, infection control, safe transport, and scene communication
- Paramedic track: ALS documentation, emergency cardiac/invasive/pharmacological competencies, QA/QI
Apply
Apprentices: submit your resume to join our employer network. Employers: tell us your hiring needs and we’ll be in touch.
Apprentice Candidate Form
Certified CPC or CCS coders — upload a PDF resume to be considered as employers hire through the program.
Employer Partner Inquiry
Interested in hiring apprentices or accessing workforce funding? No obligation to join the network.
Registered with the U.S. Department of Labor
Coding Clarified is a Registered Apprenticeship sponsor with the U.S. Department of Labor (Registration ID 140533, registered 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the apprenticeship begin?
The apprenticeship does not begin immediately after certification. Students follow a structured pathway:
- CPC Certification
- Practicode (600 cases through AAPC)
- Coding Clarified Internship (HCC coding experience)
- Resume development and employer placement support
- Employer interview and hiring process
Apprenticeship begins only after a candidate is hired by an employer.
Is a paid apprenticeship guaranteed?
No. Paid apprenticeship positions are based on employer hiring decisions.
Coding Clarified provides:
- Direct employer exposure
- Resume placement in our apprenticeship network
- Interview opportunities
However, candidates must be selected and hired by an employer to enter a paid apprenticeship.
Is the internship guaranteed?
Yes. All Coding Clarified students and alumni who complete certification are guaranteed placement in the internship program.
What is the difference between internship and apprenticeship?
Internship (Unpaid):
- Completed after certification and/or during Practicode
- Provides real-world coding experience (HCC coding)
- Flexible schedule
- Required step to gain experience
Apprenticeship (Paid):
- Employer-based position
- Requires interview and hiring
- Can be full-time or part-time
- Includes structured on-the-job training
How many hours per week is the internship?
The internship typically requires 12–15 hours per week, but students may complete additional hours to finish more quickly.
How many hours is the apprenticeship?
This depends entirely on the employer. Apprenticeship roles may be:
- Full-time
- Part-time
Each employer and position is different.
What happens if I am not selected for an apprenticeship?
If you are not selected by an employer:
- You will still complete the internship
- You will gain hands-on coding experience
- You will receive a professionally written resume
You will then pursue employment with real experience, which significantly improves job prospects.
When is my resume created?
Your resume is professionally developed:
- After completing Practicode
- While progressing through the internship
It is then submitted to our employer network.
Do employers actively review candidates?
Yes. Employers in our network regularly review resumes and reach out to candidates for interviews based on hiring needs.
Do you use Codify in the program?
No. Our program focuses on mastering:
- CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS codebooks
- Manual and electronic coding methods
Codify is not included in the program.
What are my job prospects after completing the program?
Graduates who complete:
- CPC Certification
- Practicode
- Internship
are significantly more competitive in the job market.
Many of our students secure remote coding positions, especially those who complete all stages and remain consistent.
Does Coding Clarified offer EMS documentation training?
Yes. We provide documentation education for EMT-Basics and Paramedics covering PCR narrative writing, medical necessity, and CMS compliance — delivered remotely for individuals, crews, or entire agencies.
What QA/QI services do you provide for EMS agencies?
Both outsourced and in-house. We can perform ongoing chart review for your agency — structured review against your SOPs and CMS criteria, documented findings, crew feedback, and trend reporting — or help you build and train your own in-house QA/QI program, including live coaching for your reviewers and crews.
What is Related Technical Instruction (RTI)?
RTI is the structured classroom/online instruction component every DOL Registered Apprenticeship requires alongside on-the-job training. As a registered sponsor, Coding Clarified can deliver RTI for EMS apprenticeship programs.
Can our agency get funding for apprenticeship training?
Qualifying employer partners may access workforce funding incentives, including up to 50% OJT wage reimbursement and incentive payments after 90+ days of employment. Contact us to discuss your agency’s eligibility.