2.5 Million
10 year Job Growth
$41,000
Avg. Starting Salary1
Issuing Authority
Issuing Authority AAPC
AAPC (formerly American Academy of Professional Coders) was founded in 1988 as a professional organization providing training, certification, ongoing education, networking and job opportunities to medical coders, medical billers, auditors, compliance managers and physician practice managers in the United States. Currently, AAPC has a membership base of over 156,000 worldwide – of which nearly 104,000 are certified.
CPC-A Certification Detail
Selecting the Right Training Option Program Comparisons
MedCerts training programs are some of the most competitively price ways to start a new career.
| MedCerts | Community College | Online College | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program & Tuition Cost | $4,000 average | Up to $20,000 | $3,000 average |
| Exam Fees, Books & Materials | Included | Up to $750 | Up to $750 |
| Job Ready In | 3–6 months | 24–48 months | 3–6 months |
| Schedule Flexibility | On-demand 24/7 | Set class schedule | On-demand 24/7 |
| Travel Requirements | None: 100% online | On-campus classrooms | None: 100% online |
| Student Support | Personal Advisors: text, call, and email access | Professors: scheduled office hours | Support inbox |
| Career Coaching | Exam-tailor + soft-skill training to build well-rounded careers | Exam-based + prerequisites and electives to meet credit hour requirements | Exam-specific only |
| Content Delivery | 3D animations, immersive environments, interactive activities, game-based learning | Professor lectures | Varies: typically videos and presentations |
This table is provided for reference only. Actual pricing may vary or change without notice. Pricing is based on an estimated full-cost tuition with fees for a Medical Assistant program or similar program before financial aid or other assistance. Data sampled from MedCerts, Oakland Community College, and Kaplan University.
CPC-A Certification Skills Gained
Comprehend the fundamentals of human anatomy and medical terminology- Assign accurate medical codes for professional (physician) procedures, services and diagnoses
- Adhere to medical coding guidelines, regulations and compliance
- Handle issues related to medical necessity, claim denials, bundling issues and charge capture
- Integrate medical coding and payment policy to improve reimbursement
CPC-A Career PathwaysAttainable Jobs
highest Paying
Billing and Coding Support
Reviews medical procedures as documented by doctors; translates medical procedures into codes for payers, other medical coders and medical facilities; Transmits coded patient treatment information to payers and other recipients; coordinates insurance reimbursement of care providers and handles patient billing
$25000
-
$58000
Estimated Salary1
highest Paying
Professional Medical Coder
Medical coding specialists work in clinics and physicians’ offices to obtain accurate reimbursement for healthcare claims. They utilize specialized medical classification software or coding manuals to assign procedure and diagnosis codes to providers’ services for insurance billing.
$28000
-
$56000
Estimated Salary1
highest Paying
Coding Specialist
Medical coding specialists work in clinics and physicians’ offices to obtain accurate reimbursement for healthcare claims. They utilize specialized medical classification software or coding manuals to assign procedure and diagnosis codes to providers’ services for insurance billing.
$30000
-
$64000
Estimated Salary1
1All available job and salary information is from Burning Glass Labor Insights and is updated annually to reflect industry changes.