Do people pass their AAPC CPC exam on the first try and how do they do it?
If you are taking the AAPC CPC exam then at some point you will ask yourself this question; do people pass their medical coding certification exam on their first try? And how do they do it? Although official data is hard to come by, rough estimates suggest that only 40% to 50% of test takers pass on their first attempt.
The medical coding certification exam is not a transition
Make no mistake, the CPC or Certified Professional Coder certification exam is a grueling marathon of an exam that takes close to 6 hours. Medical coding careers and their industry are growing rapidly due to the federal push to implement electronic health records such as ICD-10. That means better salaries and career opportunities, but it also means it’s getting more competitive as more people like you try to get certified.
But people pass the CPC certification in the first attempt or attempt
The good news is that 40% to 50% of people succeed on their first try, and there’s no reason why you can’t do the same. If you do a simple survey of those who have passed on their first attempt, most will say that the exam is difficult. You will also find that the things they all share in common is that they are well prepared and have a good amount of previous coding experience. Some pass without experience, but these cases are rare. Almost all of their advice points to the same pattern, namely:
1. Review the official study guides
2. Get some training videos or an online blitz review
3. Take lots of AAPC practice or mock exams
4. Plan and practice your question-answering and time-management strategies
If you fail the exam, you can retake it until you pass
The other thing you may notice from the advice of those who have passed is to keep calm and not give up. Those who failed the exam the first time simply kept retaking it until they passed. Sometimes it takes a few tries, so as long as your results improve with each try, you’re on the right track. If you fail, you have one free re-sit within 12 months, so use the time well to fully prepare.
Recover quickly and learn from your mistakes
Before retaking the exam, it’s worth exploring what you think the problem is. The most common complaint is not having enough time to complete the answers to all the questions. Those who passed their first attempt ended up answering all their questions, even if they thought it was difficult. Based on the many tips out there, it’s safe to conclude that honing your time management, question answering, and CPT search strategies is often the best way to improve your chances, aside from knowing your topics.
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