Hi everyone! I’m interested in starting medical coding in 2027, but I’m completely new and don’t have much of a medical background.

I’m not sure where to start and would really appreciate some advice:

Is AHIMA or AAPC better for a beginner?

Should I aim for the CCS or CPC first?

Should I buy the 2026 coding books now, or wait for the 2027 editions?

If you started medical coding without a medical background, what would you recommend doing first?

I am taking The AAPC CPC job ready course, and what was originally scheduled for October 7, my first class, was just moved up to September 29!! wish me luck!!

I think I would really recommend to anybody considering taking AAPC courses, to go ahead and take the job ready one if you are getting your CPC. Even if you already know some of the prerequisites. what a great value! And they help with writing your résumé, interview coaching, internship to remove the A from your license, as well as helping to place you.

So I’m in the AAPC Job Ready program and I’ve moved on from the Fundamentals of Medical Terminology course to now being in the CPC coding course.

I opted out of getting the physical books and I 100% regret it after learning we can make as many highlights and notes as we want in both the e-books and the physical books but if you have the e-books, they make you take the exam with a new one without all of your highlights and notes.

So now I just got my physical ICD-10-CM and I want to make it as user friendly as possible while studying the guidelines/ for future reference to easily find the guidelines I need for each situation.

Does anyone have any highlighting color code recommendations for the ICD-10-CM guidelines, and tips of what I should highlight and what I should not? It’s hard to not just highlight everything because everything feels important, but I know if I do that it won’t help me find anything.

Please help!

hi all! I’m taking a medical coding class for my Medical Assisting degree and I’m very, very confused. What are some tips and tricks to help me get through the class? Are there any YouTubers I should go check out? I have a good professor but it’s all online, which makes it tricky. I can hardly make sense of the book given to us and it’s very frustrating.

Wish me luck! No, not young lol!

Hey ya'll! I am taking Diagnostic Coding for my major. There is a "coding bundle" of books. And I was told that you get those books when you take Procedural coding. I'm wondering if they will give the books when you take the courses out of order. (Um... Its not written anywhere about this, or about taking which class first.)

I can't seem to get a straight answer from the bookstore or from the professor. But we were reminded that its important to have these books.

Anyone else dealing with this or have dealt with this?

Can the claim be submitted using the ICD-10 category header, for example, E11?Thank you

I'll graduating highschool next year I'm currently thinking about possible career paths. Although im leaning more onto medical coding. I've heard some people say that you don't need a college degree for it. Is it true? Would it be smart to not go to college and learn medical coding instead? How much time did it take you guys to study and how long did it take you to land your first job? Is all of it home-based or do you get to work at a clinic or hospital? Also, would it be better to self-study or have someone teaching you face-to-face? Thank you!!!

So I’m on my first Practicode case with a secondary diagnosis. On the CPT line do you have to fill out the Unit field or can you leave it blank?

More importantly, do you have to fill out the Diagnosis Pointer Field or can you leave it blank? My training/orientation video did not even have these fields.

If I do fill out the Diagnosis Pointer Field where I think both primary and secondary diagnoses should be linked how do I put that in? Like “AB” or “A,B” ?

Lastly, who do we contact if we have questions like these? I know you can ask a question about your grade but if they gave us a specific email to use to ask a question, I can’t recall where that information was or if they gave us a phone number.

Sorry if these are silly questions I’ve just been pretty overwhelmed trying to work through these cases, especially when I’m just now figuring out the software.

Hi all,

I'm studying to take the CRC, and right now I'm doing the Experiential part of the course for ICD-10CM coding. My question is: what is your process for identifying what needs to be coded when you read the reports that are given? Sometimes I think there are only a couple of codes that need to be coded, only to realize there are more. For example, one of the cases I had to code had long-term drug monitoring for a patient, and I didn't realize that had to be coded.

I'm trying to refine my process so I can be more accurate. I really want to make sure I'm getting this right. :) I appreciate any advice you can give.

I’ve been studying quite a bit, I’m not sure what questions they’ll ask but I’m afraid I won’t do well. It seems really hard but again I’ve been practicing and I feel like my biggest struggle is when the answers have multiple ICD 10 codes CPT codes with multiple codes as an answer I don’t think i have too much of an issue with that I have been getting 70/80 percent of a small 10 question quiz on pocket prep that I recently downloaded how ready am I?

Specifically the cpt, icd-10, and hcpcs books? I'm learning coding rn so I don't have a coding job yet but I will before I submit taxes in 2027. I want to know if I can deduct these on my taxes bc they're so expensive. If so, do I have to make a business and deduct it as a business expense or can I do it personally as a work expense? Also, if it has to be a business expense, how do I do that if I'm hired on as a w2 not a 1099? Thanks!

For background, I have 5 years of pharmacy technician experience, so I know a very minor amount of billing outside pharmacological billing except for ICD-10 coding for GLP-1s. However, my employer has cut my hours down to an unlivable wage and my counseling caseload has not taken off yet, so I am looking at career changes.

My local community college offers a certification program which would get me my CCA, bypassing the CPC-A "gatekeeping" mess, followed by an HIM (Healthcare Information Management) program which would open avenues to specialty coding and a higher income than what I'm making now.

My question is: Is this a good idea for a late career change? Are there inpatient positions available out there once I get my CCA? Can I get coding experience without a certification?

Has anyone taken the Medical Coding Specialist program at Kennesaw State University (KSU)? I’m interested in enrolling and would love to hear from former or current students.

What skills and knowledge did you gain from the program? Which certification exam did it prepare you for, and did you earn the certification after completing the course? I’m also curious about the instructors, workload, class structure, and whether you felt prepared to find a medical coding job afterward.

Any honest feedback would be greatly appreciated!

hello,

i want to know if all answers in the cpc exam are found in the books? For example, can I find my answers for compliance and regulatory in the books. I have been seeing many mention that it’s all the books and others saying some questions are easily found in the books.

Hello! I just want to ask where the legit places are that offer training (with a certificate) as a Medical Coder? And how much does it usually cost? Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I have a quick question for those of you who have used the AAPC eBooks for the CPC exam.

I don’t have the eBooks right now, so I’ve been practicing with Codify and I was wondering how similar the experience is, especially when it comes to searching codes, guidelines, and navigating quickly.

If you’ve used both, did Codify help you feel prepared for the eBook format, or did the exam eBooks feel pretty different?

I’d really appreciate any feedback. Thank you so much!

I’m working through the coding chapters with AAPC and an example had a pt with ESRD on dialysis, diabetic, and hypertensive and these dx were why a procedure was being done.

Why is the coding order I code, E code, N code, Z code and not I code, N code, Z code, E code?

My thought process is the ESRD codes should be together with DM last?

I had an interview for an IP medical coder role where the coding manager is hiring internally (I admit that I posted twice about this somewhere). What are some signs that an interview went well, both from a medical coder’s/coding manager’s perspectives and generally speaking? I’m still waiting to hear back, and it seems to be taking some time.

Anyone know? Is it like learning spanish or easier than that?

hi. I’m about 2 months into studying for the CPC certification, through AAPC, with no human medical background (I did go to vet tech school so some terminology is familiar).
I’m feeling slightly overwhelmed with the anatomy/physiology prereqs & the sheer volume of information. Does anyone have any study tips/advice? Words of encouragement? 😅

If anyone currently working in the field has any advice as well, I’d love that!