Experienced
Medical Coders! Polish your coding skills and prepare
for the 2008 American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification exam.
These fast-paced coding-intensive courses at Pierce College,
are taught by AAPC approved instructor and certified coder, Suzanne
Fletcher-Petrich, CPC-I, CPC-P. You'll learn correct application
of CPT™, HCPCS procedure and supply codes and
ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes used for billing professional medical
services to insurance companies. In the examination cram
class you'll take the practice exam and get tips
that will help you get ready for the real thing.
Course fee includes
teacher-led classroom instruction, required AAPC membership, PMCC course books and practice exam session. Coding books and exam fees are not included in
course price. Students must bring copies of ICD-9-CM
2008 Vol. 1, 2 (for CPC) (CPC-H needs Vol. 1, 2 &
3), HCPCS 2008 and CPT 2008 manuals to class and
to the exam for reference. We recommend the professional
versions of these books as they are spiral bound and easier
to work with. Limit your notes in your books to removable
post-its or pages as AAPC has restrictions on using reference
books with margin notes. These books will be available for
purchase at the Pierce College Bookstore in Puyallup and
at the AAPC website at a discounted price online.To
become certified you must have at least two years coding
experience, pass the certification exam and maintain yearly
CEU requirements. Those with less than two years experience
may certify as a CPC Apprentice using this AAPC approved
80-hour course as one year of the two year experience requirements.
SUMMER Quarter 2008 Item Number: U111 Dates: June 3 through August 21, 2008 Days/Times: Tuesdays/Thursdays 5:45 - 9:15 p.m. Location: Pierce College at South Hill Park in Puyallup, Room SHP 102 Sessions: 21 plus Exam Cram Course Fee: $1299.00
(No classes on 06/10/08 and 06/12/08)
The Exam Prep/Cram Session:
September 20, 2008
Saturday, 8:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Pierce College at South Hill Park
Exam sponsored by local AAPC Chapter: Sept. 27, 2008 in Lakewood, WA
Bring brown bag lunch for all class sessions as there is a short, 1/2 hour lunch break and only vending machines onsite.
Fall Quarter 2008 Item Number: F111 Dates: September 9, 2008 to November 20, 2008
(No class 11/11/08) Days/Times: Tuesdays/Thursdays 5:45 - 9:15 p.m. Sessions: 21 plus Exam Cram Session Location: Pierce College at South Hill Park in Puyallup, Room SHP 102 Course Fee: $1299.00
The Exam Prep/Cram Session:
December 6, 2008
Saturday, 8:30 to 2:30 p.m.
At South Hill Park in Puyallup
Exam sponsored by local AAPC Chapter: TBA
Course Fees
$1299 includes the PMCC student books, and a
one-year student AAPC Membership required by AAPC to use course materials
and take exam. Exam fees and 2008 coding reference books (HCPCS, ICD-9 and CPT) are not included.
CPC Exams
Exams are scheduled by the local Tacoma Chapter of AAPC. Students
must apply and pay AAPC directly to participate in a testing session. Pierce College works with the local chapter to schedule an examination date shortly after a class ends. Normal check-in time for exams is 7:30 a.m.
Refund Policy
Refunds of course fees will be given as follows: (1) 100% - When
a class is cancelled by Continuing Education, (2)100% less $7 -
When a student withdraws two (2) business days prior to the first
class session and (3) 0% - When a student withdraws less than two
(2) business days prior to the first class session, after the class
begins or does not attend (or stops attending) the course. Please
note that there are NO REFUNDS once the class has begun and you
have opened course materials as they can not be reused.
Prerequisites:This is not a beginning level course. Experience working as a medical billing specialist or coder
or completion of equivalent course work in ICD-9, CPT and HCPCS
coding, medical terminology and medical office procedures
and billing is required. Completion of the Pierce College Medical Billing
Certificate program meets the prerequisites for this course.
Students from other schools should call and submit coursework
for evaluation by instructors. If you are new to this field,
we offer a credit program to learn medical billing through
the office technology department Medical Billing Specialist
Certificate program at both our Puyallup and Ft. Steilacoom
campuses. Call (233)840-8477 for more information or download
a program guide and look under the Business Information
Technology section.
Registration: Register now by calling (253)964-6616 Monday-Friday 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or download a flyer and registration
form to register by mail or fax. Pierce College accepts checks,
money orders, agency purchase orders, VISA and Mastercard for
payment. Course fees must be paid in full within 5 days of registration.
Upcoming
AAPC Examination Dates: CPC/CPC-H exams are offered
in conjunction with the local Tacoma chapter of AAPC. Please submit applications
for exams directly to AAPC. (Current PMCC students should
contact their instructors regarding their first exam.
Retests must be scheduled through AAPC directly.)
Exam #TBA: 12/13/2008 7:30 a.m. - Puyallup
Pierce College South Hill Park, Puyallup, Rooms 102 & 104
Pierce College PMCC students who wish to register at the discounted
exam price ($250 subject to change by AAPC) offered by AAPC for PMCC students, must submit their COMPLETED application packet
to AAPC directly no later than six weeks prior to the exam in order to insure they meet AAPC exam application deadlines.
Exam packets must contain the exam payment, payable to to
AAPC, reference letters and completed application forms. AAPC
will no longer accept incomplete registration packets. Non-students
please visit www.aapc.com to apply for an exam.
For the examination, you
will need to bring unmarked copies of CPT, HCPCS and ICD-9-CM
Vols. 1, 2, 3 to the exam for reference. (Reference books should
be the same year (e.g. 2005, 2006) as the exam version you are
taking. Photo identification is required for entrance into the
exam.
For
more information about Medical Coding classes contact:
Kathleen Beaumont (253)840-8450 kbeaumont@pierce.ctc.edu To
register call (253)964-6616, Monday through Friday, 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m.For
more information about AAPC and certification, potential
salaries and sample job listings visit the AAPC web site
at: http://www.aapc.com.
PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL CODING AND CPC PREP
For
more information about Medical Coding classes contact: