AAPC Reviews on Courses, Pricing, Features & Career Impact

Q: Which AAPC certification is best?

Among AAPC coding certifications, the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is the most popular choice. Considered one of the most reputable certifications in the healthcare industry, the CPC demonstrates an individual's ability to accurately code medical procedures and diagnoses for insurance claims. One becomes CPC-certified by passing an exam that tests one's knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and coding regulations. CPC-certified professionals are among the highest-paid in this field, earning around $56,000 per year, 17% higher than the industry standard, suggests AAPC.

Q: Who is eligible for the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam?

You have to meet the following basic eligibility requirements to sit for the CPC Exam under AAPC: Education: You need a high school Diploma or an equivalent qualification (GED). Experience: Two years of medical coding work experience is recommended, yet it is not necessary. If you do not have such experience, you are free to take the exam and receive the designation of CPC-A (Apprentice) until proven two years of coding experience that you have acquired. AAPC membership: Membership in AAPC is a prerequisite for registering for the exam. Training (Recommended): Not mandatory, but taking a medical coding course will surely give you a better edge for examination preparation and increase your chances of passing.

Last updated on 4 Jun '25

AAPC Overview

Table of content

About the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
Why Choose AAPC Courses?
Types of AAPC Certifications
How to Prepare for the AAPC CPC® Exam?
AAPC Student Reviews

About the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)

The American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) is a leading training and credentialing association offering education and certification programs for healthcare professionals, including medical coders, medical billers, auditors, and compliance managers. AAPC offers a range of online courses and certifications covering topics like medical terminology, evaluation and management (E/M), and speciality-specific coding.

AAPC online courses aim to prepare students for certification exams such as -

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)® + Certified Professional Biller (CPB)® dual certifications
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)® certification
Certified Professional Biller (CPB)® certification
Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)® certification
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)® certification

These programs include comprehensive study materials and practice exams. Completing online programs offered by AAPC would allow learners to earn industry-recognised certifications that validate their skills and knowledge in the healthcare industry.

Provider Name	American Academy of Professional Coders
Established In	1988
Official Website	https://www.aapc.com/
Popular For	Medical Coding, Medical Auditing, Compliance, Documentation, Speciality Coding, etc.
Top AAPC Courses	Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC) CPC Preparation Course Medical coding certifications Certified Outpatient Coder Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

Commonly asked questions
On Highlights

Q: Which AAPC certification is best?

Q: Who is eligible for the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam?

Why Choose AAPC Courses?

Industry Recognition: AAPC is a popular name and well-known in medical coding and billing. Completing courses and certifications obtained from AAPC will enhance professional credibility and increase employability.
Comprehensive Curriculum: the courses cover a comprehensive curriculum, including medical coding, billing, compliance, and healthcare administration, to name a few skills.
Certification Preparation: AAPC online programs aim to prepare you to take industry-wide recognized certification exams conducted by AAPC, such as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC), and many more, hence improving the prospects of making it big in a career.
Career Advancement: Gaining specialized knowledge and relevant certification can help learners explore better job opportunities or secure higher-paying jobs in the healthcare industry.
Multiple Learning Options: AAPC provides different learning formats, including online courses, live webinars, and self-directed learning materials to help learners plan their learning at their convenience.

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Types of AAPC Certifications

Certification	Description	Skills
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)®	Medical coding for diagnoses and procedures	Proficiency in coding guidelines and healthcare documentation
Certified Professional Biller (CPB)®	Medical billing and revenue cycle management	Expertise in billing processes and insurance claim management
Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)®	Risk adjustment coding, particularly for Medicare and risk-based contracts.	Understanding of risk adjustment models and coding for chronic conditions
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)®	Outpatient coding in clinics and ambulatory settings	Knowledge of outpatient coding guidelines and regulations.
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)® + Certified Professional Biller (CPB)® Dual Certification	Combined expertise in both medical coding and billing.	Proficiency in both coding and billing, enhancing versatility in healthcare administration.

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How to Prepare for the AAPC CPC® Exam?

Preparing for the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam requires knowledge and smart studying strategies. Here is a simplified plan:

Know the Basics First: Understand medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology. The AAPC offers Fundamentals of Medicine if you need help with any of these subjects.
Take the CPC Prep Course: The AAPC offers a CPC Certification Preparation Course (self-paced or instructor-led) designed by the exam creators. It provides in-depth details about coding systems and guidelines.
Practice with Mock Tests: Take the help of 50-question mock tests to become familiar with the format and refine your time management skills.
Concentrate on Your Weak Areas: After each practice test, focus your study on areas where you scored low.
Use the Official Study Guide: AAPC’s CPC Study Guide offers sample questions for review, a section-wise exam review, and tips for exam preparation.
Sign Up for the 1-Day Review Class: If you want more last-minute preparation, AAPC also offers a 1-day online exam review with an emphasis on key topics and strategies.

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AAPC
Students Ratings & Reviews

4.8/5

190 Ratings

4-5
165
3-4
21
2-3
2
1-2
2

Rachit Agarwal

CPC Preparation Course

Can not Trust

Other: Looks like waste of time, not recommended. Rather go for free education on youtube under Santosh Pant CPC channel and Coding with Blue

Reviewed on 2 Jun 2023Read More

Vysakh v

CPC Preparation Course

Learning Experience: They also provide lifetime access to the course materials, including recordings of the live sessions, which can be beneficial for revisiting and reinforcing the learning material.

Faculty: Was great Was amazing

Course Support: Highly recommended

Reviewed on 1 Jun 2023Read More

Santosh Pant

CPC Preparation Course

Learning Experience: perfect

Faculty: wonderful experience ,they are all highly educated The proctors and the course is awesome and fullfill all requirements

Course Support: i got promoted

Reviewed on 19 Mar 2023Read More

Urvashi

CPC Preparation Course

Learning Experience: I studied at Cardea Healthcars and it includes ICD-10-CM, HCPCS and CPT codes and cleared CPC in my first attempt

Faculty: Govindan sir ensures that the guidelines and uses of codes are well understood by students. Many videos also showed during vlass to understand Human anatomy or any surgical procedure. MOCK test paper and AAPC practice sample questions are helpful to clear the exam

Course Support: It will give you overall idea of US healthcare and can increase the area of Medical coding specialization

Reviewed on 12 Mar 2023Read More

Lande Pavan

CPC Preparation Course

Learning Experience: It is good as of now and benfiaciary

Faculty: Good Cpc is nowadays useful for medical coding.

Course Support: Good

Reviewed on 25 Feb 2023Read More

Amruta patil

CPC Preparation Course

Learning Experience: Cpc is best way to get hire in any organisation

Faculty: Cpc training, classes Mock test ,cpt ICD 10 cm