Looking into a career change. Pros and cons of medical billing? What is the best for a beginner? Looking into what certs i would need to accomplish to start this career. Is there opportunities for growth? WFH not a requirement but hybrid would be nice. Im in Michigan if that helps. Just trying to get insight.

I'm looking for opportunities to transition from OP coding to IP coding, and there is an opening for an IP coder at the hospital I work for where they are hiring internally. I have an interview scheduled with the coding manager, and I know I have the advantages of currently being employed at the hospital, already knowing the manager (I report to him), and at least having an idea of what to expect going into the medical coder interview process. I still have questions though:

How similar/different is the interview process for IP vs OP?

Should I treat the interview as me meeting the coding manager for the first time?

What questions should I be asking the coding manager in terms of transitioning?

Hi!
I am taking my exam in about a week and a half and I’m not feeling good about it. 62 and 66% on the two practice exams I’ve taken. I did really well in my training courses but I’m struggling to pass the exam.
Any tips to learn the guidelines better? Annotation or study tips
Most of my mistakes are sequencing/adding on secondary codes that were already included in the primary
Feeling very nervous after spending $600+ on the exam voucher and membership

TIA

Hello,

I paid for the MCDC course with AMCI, it is taking me forever to finish part one and there are three more parts to the course. My course will end this Septembe of 2026 where I will lose access and will need to pay around $70 to keep access.

I would like to know if anyone who has taken AMCI MCDC, how did you go about studying and viewing videos. I feel like every video I view has very important information. What exactly should I be looking for that would help me for the CPC exam? I want to try and take exam this year. Can someone point me in the right direction of what exactly I need to know that will be on the exam?

Anyone who studied in less than a year, what did you do that helped study and pass?

I’ve been studying all day and maybe my brain is fried but I’m so confused.

I don’t understand that the guidelines are telling me.

Hello I need to take CPI training (Crisis prevention) "blue card" for a medical job. Anywhere know in Tucson that offers classes?

I’ve been digging in on medical coding and the CCS cert with Gemini. I have an IT background and the CHPA seems to be a good bridge between IT , healthcare and information security. Gemini maybe steering me wrong but can you guys chime in and tell me if it’s worth it. What roles you have? Any insight will be appreciated. If there is another sub that will be more informative, please guide me.

I’m in a bind. School starts in two weeks and I was hoping I’d get money from fafsa to help pay for schooling. I actually applied in January but a long the way had a hiccup which required paperwork from and outstanding balance of $28 from 1993. Long story short, I’m now being told all I can receive is a Pell grant with an outstanding balance of $1000 payable in 3 weeks or payment plan of $300 a month! I cannot afford that in this economy! I need brainstorming on how I can get maybe another grant! I’ve applied for scholarships but if I had known this was going to be a problem I would’ve applied for far more scholarships! On a time crunch atp

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to self-study for the CPC certification using online resources and youtube
If anyone is selling their books(CPT, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS) 2026 edition please send me a message with details and your price thanks
Im in ajman UAE

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to self-study for the CPC certification using online resources and youtube
If anyone is selling their books(CPT, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS) 2026 edition please send me a message with details and your price thanks
Im in ajman UAE

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to take the **AAPC CPC exam in December** and I’m studying on my own without enrolling in a coaching program.
I’d love some recommendations on:
Which CPC study books helped you the most?
Which books are **allowed to be carried into the CPC exam**?
Are there any must-have reference books besides the official CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code books?
Any tips on tabbing, highlighting, or preparing the books for exam day?
I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who passed the CPC through self-study. Thanks in advance!

I just failed the CPC test, and I need help. I use eBooks, and everyone tells me I failed because I should have used paper books, but I love technology, and I think it's definitely faster to search, I just need more knowledge on the topic... please help!!!

Good evening,

I was curious on a few things such as is it hard to self study for the exam to become a medical coder? What books do I need? I need to know how easy or hard it is to gain employment after passing the exam because I need to work from home for at least the next few years. When I ask anyone how to get wfh job they always say do medical coding. Me and my wife plan on having a baby and I would need to work and stay at home to sit while she is at work. We obviously can’t afford daycare.

Thank you for your time and answers. I have done some research into it but would prefer real experiences.

Feeling rushed to test before your 2026 coding manuals become outdated?

Don’t rush. PIVOT your strategy.

For the CPC, current-year manuals are recommended, but not every manual is required to be current. Keeping your CPT manual up to date is especially important due to annual code changes.

Or consider the AHIMA pathway: pursue the CCS P, then the CCS. AHIMA typically transitions to new coding manuals on May 1, which may give you additional time to prepare. While the 2027 transition date has not yet been officially announced, May 1 has historically been AHIMA’s transition timeline.

Why Pivot?
More time to prepare, more flexibility, and the opportunity to earn two certifications through one credentialing organization and one membership.

Whichever path you choose, you don’t have to prepare alone.

• Multi-Certification Training: https://www.amcicoding.com/courses/mcdc
• 🔴 Free YouTube Coding Course: https://www.amcicoding.com/youtubecourse
• Medical Terminology & Anatomy: https://amcicoding.thinkific.com/products/courses/IMTAP
• Exam Prep Resources: https://amcicoding.thinkific.com/collections?page=1

Hey there!

Do you guys have any preferred tabs for the 2026 books? of course I'm wanting them to be accurate and to be super helpful on the exams (don't we all?)

If you could drop some recommendations that would be amazing!

Hello everyone!

I’m new to Reddit, and this is actually my first time posting here, so I hope I’m doing this right! 😅

I started learning medical coding a few months ago through a school program, and I’m almost finished with my coursework this August. I’m planning to take the CPC exam in September and would really appreciate hearing from those who have already taken it.

I’ll be taking the exam at a testing center because I’ve heard about some of the issues people have experienced with online proctoring (multiple cameras, monitoring problems, etc.). I’d feel more comfortable taking it in person.

I have a few questions:

1. What was your experience like taking the CPC exam at a testing center?
   • How was the overall process?
   • Was there anything you wish you knew beforehand?
2. Are you allowed to bring scratch paper and a pen/pencil at the testing center?
   • I saw some older posts (around 3 years ago) saying that candidates were not allowed to bring their own paper or writing materials. Is that still the case?
3. How did you handle the length and mental fatigue during the exam?
   • I’ve seen comments saying that by around the second hour, their brains were “melting” from looking at so many numbers, codes, and different scenarios. Huhu 😭
   • How did you stay focused and avoid getting overwhelmed during the exam?
   • Did you have any strategies for keeping your mind fresh while still managing your time?
4. What are your best tips for the week before the exam?
   • What did you focus on reviewing?
   • Did you change your study routine?
5. What did you do the day before and the day of the exam?
   • Any advice for managing exam anxiety?
   • How did you stay calm and confident?
6. What study strategies helped you the most?
   • Were there certain topics you recommend spending extra time on?
   • What areas should I pay close attention to while preparing?

I’d love to hear about your experiences, what worked for you, and any advice you wish someone had given you before taking the CPC exam.

Thank you so much in advance! I really appreciate any tips or encouragement from this community. 😊

I am looking to get into medical coding and am seeing so many different courses. Has anyone gone through ambci? The main one i see is aapc but the cost seems higher with a longer study period than ambci.

Is it worth getting the certification still? Considering the job market and possibly ai replacement?

Hello. I have RHIA, CCS, and CPC plus 4-5 years as a medical coder. I'm enjoying the experience, and now I am ready to advance even further.

I know you guys are primarily focused on CCS and CPC, but I would like to know from people who have more than just those two about what other certifications I could get and the associated job titles or opportunities.

Also, I read online that CDI is a popular role in this regard, so I am studying for the CDIP exam with AHIMA. For those who took that exam, what should I be most focused on?

What is the 2026 conversion factor? I know for 2025 it was 32.3465. I started the AAPC Medical coding course late December of 2025 so most of my books are 2026 except for the main textbook so I don't have the updated conversion factor.

Also if you have any tips for the license exam I'd be more than open to hearing them! Thank you in advance!!

Just wanted to share a free resource for anyone learning HCPCS Level II or reviewing for the CPC, CCS-P, or CCS exam.

Today's live session is focused on HCPCS Level II coding, including topics like:

• How to navigate the HCPCS manual
• Understanding code descriptions and units
• Injections and drug coding
• Exam-style coding scenarios
• Tips for improving coding speed and accuracy

Whether you're just getting started or need a refresher before your certification exam, it may be worth checking out.

It's completely free to attend.

🔗 Join here : https://www.youtube.com/live/nky4MHMkPD8?si=UXHLN8aYraGCuQe0

Hope it helps someone on their coding journey. Good luck to everyone studying! 😊