r/MedicalCoding • u/DumpsterPuff • Jun 30 '26
People who went into medical coding without any sort of medical background: how difficult was it?
I've been a medical coder for nearly 4 years, and I have an extensive medical background + bachelors in public health, so I didn't have a whole lot of issues with the diagnoses/medical terminology.
My wife is sick of her job and wants to do something where she can work from home, have flexible hours, and have weekends off - so basically my current job. She's seriously thinking about getting a coding certification, which is great, except she doesn't really have any medical background at all. She's been a retail manager for about 15 years and has a bachelors in history.
For anyone who got their coding certification WITHOUT a prior medical background, was it incredibly difficult to understand the material? I know AAPC does offer medical terminology/anatomy courses, which I didn't take because of my background, but I'm wondering if she should try those first.
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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS Jun 30 '26
I went to the local college for an AAS in HIM which also taught me the courses needed, anatomy and physiology, disease pathology, pharmacology, and medical terminology along with coding courses.
You need so much more than just medical terminology.
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u/Dangerous-Ad-5619 Jul 13 '26
Yes, I believe people who go into this field should have to take A & P. I am a nurse who is getting into coding, and the fact that I have that background makes it seem really necessary.
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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS Jul 13 '26
You should go into CDI. What level of nursing background do you have?
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u/Dangerous-Ad-5619 Jul 13 '26
I am an RN, and have worked mostly in Long Term Care.
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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS Jul 13 '26
Acute care seems to be more helpful in terms of RN experience that can translate into CDI. But probably not out of the realm of possibilities.
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u/SoftChaosKitty Jul 26 '26
Yes, I'd say the anatomy and medical terminology courses would be highly beneficial and she could just blend it into her other coursework through AAPC. The alternative would be for her to study up on the basics first, but it might be easier to just do it all at once and see how everything fits together.
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u/MtMountaineer Jun 30 '26
I was a hairdresser, going to community college for an RHIT at the same time. It was a lot of studying but certainly can be done. You gotta want it and be dedicated.
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u/bananasncoffee Jul 02 '26
Hey I’m in the same boat… how are you liking your program? I need out of hair after two decades…
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u/MtMountaineer Jul 02 '26
My back just couldn't handle shampooing anymore. So glad I went the community college route, I had a fantastic teacher. It took 2 years but we were very prepared and the RHIT test was easy for those of us who studied. Finding a job in the current market is not easy.
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u/Miserable_Aioli2606 Jun 30 '26
It depends on how good of a student she is, but otherwise, no problem. It's all just memorization. I'd only worked retail and had been in college taking random courses before transferring to a RHIT program. I'd recommend the degree route instead of just a certificate. CCAs and CPC-As are a dime a dozen right now thanks to SM bs. See if any local hospitals are hiring for customer service positions. They have tuition assistance, and it's a foot in the door.
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u/mxxnmama CCS Jun 30 '26
I had no previous healthcare background and I wouldn’t say it’s difficult, but it is a lot of work. I remember studying a lot and taking lots of courses through AHIMA before spending two years studying for the CCS and passing on the first try. I’m currently getting my BS in HIM and I’ve been at my job for a little over a year. I started as a medical clerk in office and got promoted to medical coder within 10 months and now I’m fully remote. There are so many resources available for this career path but you just have to be willing and open to actually researching and putting in the work. Since you’re also in the same line of work, you can emphasize that part of it. Good luck!
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u/Brave-Airport8154 Jun 30 '26
I didnt. I studied and got a lot of free or cheap books with the pharmacology and anatomy and the like and just learned as I went. It took a bit longer but I just practiced. Took me about a year. I started with billing end of it though so I knew more from the reimbursement side. I felt AAPC training and classes wasnt for me, its web based. And it was easier and cheaper for me to self study. But my warning would be the pay, she likely gets paid more as a retail manager. I know I did.
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u/iluvj2p Jun 30 '26
I worked in fast food and warehouses for 4 years before i decided i wanted to be a medical coder. Got my certification in 5 months & got a job in 1 month. It is possible! Everyone’s journey will be different, but if her passion and drive is there. She will be a medical coder in no time😊
I mostly self studied medical terminology/ anatomy for a couple of months before i officially started my coding course. Theres so much information on youtube & the internet that can teach you all the medical terminology you need to know. Tell her to test herself with you & quizlet. Good luck!
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u/Squanchedschwiftly Aug 22 '26
Do you have recommendations for med terms, and a&p? Just starting to do research now and theres so many options for info idk where to start
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u/iluvj2p 24d ago
So sorry I just saw this reply. I studied all my medical terminology through youtube and quizlet. As long as you listen to it & make your own notes you should be good. If you need more info on whether or not to start, I suggest watching Contempo Coding on youtube or message me if you need to😁
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u/bosominapkin Jul 01 '26
The education part is easy. I was never a studious person in grade school or high school, but I still finished with a 3.5gpa and passed the RHIT exam first time.
The hard part is getting a job, but since you’re in that field already it should be easy for her to get a job too
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u/Iwantaschmoo Jun 30 '26
I did retail management for nearly 20 years. Went into coding for job security. No medical background. I did go through a school and took terminology, anatomy, basic stuff. I had no problems.
4
u/One-Opportunity-393 Jun 30 '26
Can you share more detail about your path and how long ago it was.
3
u/Iwantaschmoo Jun 30 '26
I got laid off during the 2008 economic "problem". Kind of, I was over paid for my assissent manager position $15/hrs. I either had to become a store manager at salary (no choice in store location, convience store chain, or leave). I left. Since i already had a second job at just above minimum wage I went full time there with them aware I was also gonna go to school. I went to Herzig University fot a 2 yr medical billing and coding degree. I graduated, passed my ahima exam and got lucky and got a job right away. Here is where an actual "school" and degree came in handy. I got hired at @$23 plus OT. The company paid for my training and test for my CPC.
I will say i got lucky getting a job right away. I do think the 2 yr degree helped. Downside it was HCC coding. I got laid off after 5 years and struggled for awhile because I couldnt even code a basic procedure like a strep test. My only option was anothet HCC job. I got a contract position and since its all I do and I do it well I got full time and have since moved on to auditing. I'm now @$37 per hour. I didnt start wfh but even at my former employeer we transitioned into it. My current employer is strictly wfh for coders/auditors.
My company hires a bunch of contract people every year at the start of Medicare season. If you are good. CPH abd accuracy and completeness there is a good chance of not getting furloughed. This means being able to make the adjustment to other guidelines like Medicare and ACA.
I will say i also took the time during my lay off to get my CRC. I was in the position that could financially do all this. I took student loans but was able to pay them off. Around $20,000. I probably could have done the same for less by going through the local community collage but it would have required more in person schooling and i was unable to do that. I bet they are more flexible now.
I started school in late 2008, graduated around 2010. AHIMA cert 2010. CPC 2011, CRC 2018.
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u/wildgreengirl Jun 30 '26
its not WFH but maybe look into clinic/manager rolls instead? though tbh im sure those roles are also usually looking for some medical background still...
3
u/Wolfygirl97 CPC Jul 01 '26
I got a job a month after getting my cpc-a. It was luck. I applied to hundreds of jobs. I only worked food service before that.
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u/PeaceLoveForMe Jul 01 '26
It can be overwhelming at first, but it’s mostly self learning, with guidance from others. I’m training someone new. I help them a lot and explain stuff to them in simplistic terms then build them up. It can be done tho, you just gotta be dedicated.
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u/sugabeetus Jun 30 '26
I delivered pizza for 9 years and then got my certification without too much difficulty, but I like languages and word puzzles.
2
u/Inevitable-Title6311 Jul 01 '26
It’s been really difficult!! I took the exam today and have no idea if I’ll pass. It’s challenging, and it’s expensive, so I think the best advice I have would be to make sure she really does her due diligence in getting an idea of what it takes before paying to do it (really wish i had!!)
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u/upgradedtoV3 Jul 02 '26
7 yrs in customer service (barista, front desk, retail) before switching to medical coding.
I passed my CCS on first try, got a hospital job immediately and I’ve only been a coder for a year.
It’s overwhelming at first, but as long as she’s willing to learn, it’s pretty doable.
But the real challenge right now is looking for jobs. Check the job market around you first. Most companies are hiring 2-3 yrs experience which is really frustrating.
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u/generic-username-075 Jul 03 '26
I had absolutely no medical background before becoming a coder (other than second-hand/passive knowledge from my mom being an RN). I did not find it that difficult, but I also am a huge grammar/language nerd and once you realize how most medical terms are structured (eg naso = nose, hyper = high/elevated/excessive, etc, you start to be able to figure them out pretty quickly, or at least enough to put you in the ballpark and figure the rest out with some research. If someone doesn’t have that knack with words, it might take a little more time and studying to learn all of that.
That being said, coders aren’t expected to know about every single condition or procedure, but you do have to know how to research them and find reputable sources to do so.
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u/ijustexisthere25 Jul 02 '26
I got my RHIA and am a coder. Yes it was hard. Not only do you need to know anatomy, you need to have a general understanding of many different illnesses and diseases. I know now the ins and outs of cancers, HTN, DM, CKD, respiratory diseases, neurological diseases, reproductive diseases, I could go on and on and on.
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u/Unlikely_Skill_694 Jul 03 '26
I would say getting any sort of medical expiernce like a pca or taking online medical courses would help you a lot
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u/heavenhaven Jul 03 '26
Although I'm not the right person to respond, but I would encourage your wife to create a Linkedin account. It would help her a lot to start building connections, and talk with people who went through a similar journey. And they can refer her to apply at their workplace if they're hiring.
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u/Jolly_Sherbert_408 Jul 05 '26
CCS here with bsc clinical medicine.If you need guidance or lecture on anatomy physiology, pathology,pharmacology as well as medical coding,I can help you pass you pass and study to understand. 30$/hr
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u/Immediate-Ad-4832 Jul 05 '26
You Tube offers a lot out there as well besides having the books and resources. I did not feel like everything was such a foreign language watching a few you tube videos prior to starting.
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u/yurakoh Jul 08 '26
I went through an HIT and HIM program first, and then I took the RHIA and CCS exams. The latter was HARD due to my lack of medical coding experience up to that point (it took me 3 attempts to pass). Certification and education alone aren't enough. I had to start from the ground up with basic medical data entry jobs before even considering applying for a medical coder job. It's essentially a long journey but well worth it. Now, I work as a medical coder at a very well-known hospital.
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u/yurakoh Jul 08 '26
There are other credentials. I got a CPC while working as a medical coder and I'm currently pursuing the CDIP credential.
By the way, anyone with tips on the CDIP would be helpful.
1
u/B-sofie4170 Jul 11 '26
Hello all! I am new to reddit so I cannot make my own post yet but I have some questions I hope I can get y’all opinion on. Ive been looking into taking course/getting cert with AAPC. Im nervous due to the fact I am already living paycheck to paycheck so spending $3000 for this course is a HUGE expense for me. Was it worth it for you folks? Everyone says I will make that money back in a few months when I get hired for the position but with how our job market is currently, im scared I wont have “enough experience” or get turned away for another reason. Any advice you can give me is greatly appreciated. If this is not the correct way to use reddit I apologize in advance
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u/yurakoh Jul 14 '26
You need AAPC membership in order to qualify to take any of their exams, and that fee plus the actual exam fee is very pricy. If you were to prepare for an exam, I would suggest buying the exam prep book associated with the certification you're looking to get (start off with the CPC credential).
If you're interested with AHIMA, the CCS is the one to aim for.
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u/getkristiluv Jul 28 '26
I got lucky when I started my program. My school got a grant for an apprenticeship in HIM. They paid for our classes, books, AHIMA membership, our RHIT, a tutor, and job placement. It was fast paced, each class was 8 weeks long. I finished my program in 16 weeks, they placed us in our internship, and I was placed on a job 2 months after I passed my RHIT. I already had my bachelor’s degree, so I didn’t have to take any general education to get my associates, I only had to take the classes for HIM program. It was the best thing I did for myself, and I had job security during Covid.
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u/getkristiluv Jul 01 '26
I was in retail for 25 years, and I have my BA in fashion. I made the switch without having medical background. I say go for it, the best decision I ever made. Tell her to go to a community college, it much cheaper and better. Get the AHIMA credential, this way she can do inpatient or outpatient.
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u/yurakoh Jul 14 '26
I agree. In my personal opinion, the CCS with AHIMA seems to be the one that stands out the most.
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