Category: AAPC TIPS

A Few Tips and Tricks for Passing the Dreaded CPC Exam

Are you preparing to sit for the CPC exam?

Well, good luck with your preparations. We hope you do well.

Wait a minute…

In fact, we want you to do well!

Because the more CPC certified professionals we have in our industry, the better.

And God forbid, if we ever visit a hospital for some treatment, we’ll know our claim is in goodhands.

So yeah, we want you to do well for our own sake… (*Wink*, *Wink*)

Passing the CPC exam is not easy.

Well, that’s something we all know. And that’s why we all dread it.

But why look at the obvious from the obvious perspective?

Why not think: I only need to get 105 of my answers correct and I’ll be holding that golden certificate in my hand?

Makes you feel a bit better?

Well, the tips we are going to share next on taking the CPC exam, will make you feel even more better. And also, more confident.

We really want you to do well!

Tip #1: Master your medical terminologies and anatomy

If you know your medical terminologies and anatomy well, you won’t have any problems understanding the questions. This will save you time and time is the only thing that you don’t have in the CPC exam. There are 150 questions to answer and you have 5 hours, 40 minutes only.

Tip #2: Highlight and tab your manuals

The CPC exam is an open book test. The key to passing the test is how fast you can look up codes. Having your manuals highlighted and tabbed beforehand (yes, it’s allowed) can save you a lot of time when you looking up for an answer.

Tip #3: Always start answering from the last question

Questions at the end of the paper are shorter and usually easier. So work backwards when answering the question paper.

Tip #4: Mark the difficult questions and move on

You have roughly 2 minutes 25 seconds to answer each question. If you are finding a question difficult, don’t waste your time on it. Mark it, and move to the next question. Get easier questions out of the way first. This will help you save your time and also help you relax.

Tip #5: Use the process of elimination to answer questions faster

Multiple choice questions (MCQs) are designed to confuse students by providing them with multiple options. But if you proceed smartly, these questions can be quite easy to answer. Experts advise using the process of elimination to answer a MCQ. This strategy focuses on getting the wrong answers out of the way first and then focusing on what’s left for the right answer. It’s a tried and tested strategy in the world of MCQs.

Tip #6: Practice, practice and practice

Last but not the least, practice, practice and practice. The more you practice for the exam, the more chances you have of performing better. Practice CPC mock papers and past papers.

And that’s all about it.

We wish you good luck for your exam!

For further reading: How Allied Prep Can Help You Excel in Your CPC Exam!

Studying Tips for Online Students

If you’re excited to take your career to the next level and have enrolled in a medical billing certification online course, or an online medical coding program, then that’s great. Once you get certified, you’ll be able to tap a world of lucrative job opportunities; and without a doubt experience career growth. Though enrolling in an online medical coding program or a medical billing certification online course is a brilliant idea especially if you have a full-time job.
 
Not only does an online program give you the flexibility to study at your own pace and place, it also helps you meet other commitments with utmost ease. However, just like every coin have two sides, likewise though studying online sure gives you the flexibility to study from anywhere at any time but this flexibility can also at times relax you so much that you’re unable to study and complete the online medical coding program or your medical billing certification online course successfully and in a timely manner.
This brings us down to the real question how to study online and complete the course on time. And this is exactly what we’ll answer in today’s post. We’ll share with you some of the best studying tips that you can use as an online student and complete your online medical coding program or your medical billing certification online program in a timely manner.

 

  • Understand e-learning Practices and Have Real Expectations

    • Even though you don’t have to attend classes in person, online programs also require proper commitment. This is important to understand because many students are at ease thinking that they will be able to complete the course easily but more than often they are unable to do because they have unreal expectations. This brings us to the first tip that is strategize, and prioritize.
    Take the course seriously. Make sure to approach medical billing certification online program as if you’re taking traditional classes. This is important to do so, so that you don’t take the program lightly and fall behind.
    Likewise, fully commit yourself by completing your assignment and learning tasks on time. This will teach you self-discipline which is key to completing online course on time and successfully.

     

  • Have a Speedy and a Reliable Internet Access

    • Once you decide to take medical billing certification online course or an online medical coding program, make sure that you have a reliable and speedy internet access. This is much needed because coursework, exams, and tests everything will be over the web. If you don’t have a reliable internet access, you won’t be able to study and complete the course in a timely manner. And besides, your study pace will also be affected due to technology glitches and unavailability of the internet especially when you have the time to study but no access to internet. Therefore, get your internet access from a trusted web service provider, so that you don’t face any difficulty while you study from home.

     

  • Create a Dedicated Study Room

    • If you’re living with your family or friends, it may not be easy for you to study and can be distracting. Therefore, it is advisable to create a dedicate study room for yourself where you can study peacefully. Also, make sure that you ask your relatives, family members, colleagues and friends to respect your work mode. So, that they don’t call you during your study time. Another great tip in this regard would be to power of your phone and log of all social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google Plus. This will help you stay focused on your studies as you will not have any distractions.

     

  • Identify Your Learning Goals and Objectives

    • As mentioned earlier online programs also require commitment, therefore to stay on track with your e-learning program make sure to identify your goals and objectives. One of the best ways to do this is to create a road map. First read your course requirements and examination schedule carefully. Next, identify your goals and objectives. What do you want to achieve and what is the timeline to achieve it? Then create a proper plan that defines your strategies and how you will achieve your target. Once you have everything clear and sorted out in your mind, you will be able to define your study pace accordingly. And eventually meet your goals.

     

  • Be Consistent

    • Students are often inconsistent with their study routine especially when they are enrolled in online courses. This is mostly because with online courses there are no fixed class timings, and no instructor supervising or monitoring students. And because of this, students often give studies a backseat while they run other errands. Therefore, it is advisable to be consistent. Make sure that you take out at least a couple of hours if not more for your studies that to on a daily basis. Not only will this help you stay consistent and complete your coursework smoothly, it will also make things much easier for you as it will divide your study burden.

     

  • Participate in Online Discussions and Take Help from the Instructor Right Away

    • Whether you are enrolled in online medical coding program or medical billing certification online course, always take time out to participate in discussions with other online students over the web. Medical technical institutes offering online programs have portals and forums for students and instructors to interact. This is great as it creates a sense of community and also, enables you to interact with, and get help from other students. In addition to this, you can also discuss your ideas, queries or any other question that you have in mind regarding the course and get it resolved right away.
    For more tips or to enroll in our online medical coding program or medical billing certification online course, get in touch with us today. Allied Prep is one of the leading medical technical institute’s providing top quality education for more than 20 years.

    Know the AAPC and AHIMA’s Tips for Medical Billing and Coding Certification

    Medical Billing and Coding Certification


    AHIMA and the AAPC talked to a number of recently certified medical coding professionals about their strategies for passing their certification exams. The organizations gained a lot of great insights from these individuals. Here are some of their top tips for getting your medical coding or medical billing certification:
    1. Take your exam as soon as you can.
    Many students make the mistake of postponing their certification exam for a few months or more after finishing their medical billing course. This is a big mistake. The closer you can schedule your exam to the end of your course, the more likely you will be to pass. It makes perfect sense — you’ll do best when all of the information is fresh in your mind. Delaying will only cause you to lose confidence and forget some of the finer points of the course.
    2. Don’t try to cram.
    Some people blow off most of their coursework in favor of a last-minute cram session before the medical coding certification exam. This strategy rarely (if ever) works. The skills needed to become a successful medical coder can’t be learned overnight. Your best strategy is to give your coursework the time and attention that it requires. Stay up-to-date on your assignments, and get help as soon as you come across an area that you find confusing. Take advantage of all the resources available to you through your course.
    3. Check your problem areas with practice exams.
    Practice exams are an incredibly helpful tool while preparing for the actual test. You won’t see the exact same questions on the actual exam, but practice exams can help you get a feel for the format of the test and the types of questions that you’ll see. Practice tests can also help you identify areas where you need more work and give you a sense of whether or not you’re ready for the actual exam.
    4. Create a support system.
    It’s much easier to learn when you have other people on your side. Whether you’re interested in medical billing or coding, the programs at Allied Prep can provide you with all of the training and support that you will need to succeed. You can study at home through our online program or in class with other students who share your goals. In either case, you’ll have access to knowledgeable instructors who can help answer your questions and guide your studies.