Professional Medical Coding & CPC Exam 2012 Prep

NEXT CLASS STARTS SEPTEMBER 11, 2012. Registration starts June 1st.

 

Polish your coding skills and prepare for the 2012 American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certified Procedural 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.To become certified through AAPC, 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. View the syllabus (PDF format).

Prerequisites: This is not a beginning level course. Experience working as a medical billing specialist or coder or completion of the Pierce College Medical Billing Specialist Certificate is required. 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 information about the beginning level program and look under the Business Information Technology section.

Course Fees: $1499 includes instructor led sessions, the PMCC student books, and a one-year student AAPC Membership required by AAPC to use course materials and take exam. Exam fees and coding reference books (HCPCS, ICD-9 and CPT) are not included.

About the Instructor: Suzanne Fletcher-Petrich has 30 years experience in various healthcare related jobs, the last 20 in billing and coding. She has worked almost non-stop in pediatric specialty physician offices and is currently employed by NW Pediatric Heart Specialists in Tacoma, WA. She is also an adjunct faculty member teaching billing and coding for the certificate program at Pierce College, and is an Academy approved PMCC instructor. She is the creator, coordinator, and instructor for Pierce College's Medical Services Representative program and spends much time networking and matching area employers and students. She served on the AAPC National Advisory Board for 2006-2007 and currently serves on the AAPC's Chapter Association board, and is the president of the Tacoma, WA AAPC chapter. Click below to watch a 2 minute presentation on coding by instructor, Suzanne Fletcher-Petrich.

Required Reference Books for the Class and the Exam: We are using the 2012 reference books for the 2012 Exam.

ICD-9-CM 2012 Vol. 1, 2 for CPC® OR Vol. 1, 2, 3 for CPC-P®
HCPCS 2012 CPT 2012
(AAPC accepts AMA Standard or Professional versions only in the exam).

Your instructor recommends the professional version. Limit your notes in your books to removable post-its or pages as AAPC has restrictions on using reference books with margin notes. Registered students may purchase books online through AAPC at a bundle discount.

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 or returned.

Attendance Policy: Students using course hours to meet AAPC certification requirements must attend all 80 hours of the class in order to have the course qualify as one year of experience. Role is taken at each class and completion certificates indicate the actual number of hours attended for each student.

AAPC Exams: Exams are scheduled by the local Tacoma Chapter of AAPC and are not run by Pierce College staff. Students must apply and pay AAPC directly for the exam. Exam applications may be done online or ask your instuctor for the paper version of the exam application. 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.Pierce College PMCC students who wish to register at the discounted student exam price offered by AAPC , 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 more information about Medical Coding classes contact:
Kathleen Beaumont (253)840-8450 kbeaumont@pierce.ctc.edu
To register and pay for this course call (253)864-3330, Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.For more information about AAPC and certification, potential salaries and sample job listings visit the AAPC web site at: http://www.aapc.com.