Take your medical coding career to the next level! Certification is not required to start your career as a medical coder, but can lead to better job opportunities, increased income potential and security in a career that you enjoy. Add “AAPC Certified Professional Coder®” to your list of credentials when you pass the certification exam. The best news is that if you don’t pass, you don’t have to pay – there’s nothing to lose! Certification is a great way to set yourself apart from the competition and give your career an advantage. You can become a professional in the medical coding field! Learn how to get certified as a medical coder.

To qualify for the Certification Examination Promise you must:

1. Get an “A” in Allied’s Medical Coding Program. 
2. Complete your membership forms for the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). (The forms, along with submission instructions, will be provided by Allied upon completion of Allied’s Medical Coding Program. Do not send these forms to the AAPC as Allied will forward the membership forms and fees to the AAPC on your behalf – a $70 value).
3. Sign up to take the AAPC Certified Professional Coder® (CPC®) certification exam. The CPC® exam forms will be provided to you with your certificate upon program completion. The forms and fees payable to AAPC will include:
   1. The exam payment fee of $300.00 is required 
   2. Examination application and order form
   3. Examination agreement
4. Schedule your certification exam to be taken within six months after completion of Allied’s Medical Coding Program. (Note: Applications must be received by the American Academy of Professional Coders at least six weeks prior to the exam date). AAPC will send you information on where and when you will need to take the test.  PLEASE NOTE:  Allied Schools is not involved in the testing process.
5. Inform Allied that you have signed up for the CPC® certification exam.
6. Study for the certification exam using your Medical Terminology Course materials, Anatomy and Physiology Course materials, Medical Coding Course materials, and the AAPC Certified Professional Coder® exam study guide (The AAPC CPC® exam study guide can be ordered from the AAPC).
7. Take the CPC® exam.
8. You will receive your CPC® exam score within four to six weeks. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you may retake the exam once at no additional charge. Retakes must be taken within one year of the initial examination date. In order to retake the exam, you will need to complete and mail sections #1 and #2 of the “Examination Application and Order Form” to the AAPC. (Note: Applications must be received by the American Academy of Professional Coders at least six weeks prior to the exam date.)
9. Study for the exam again using all of the study materials listed earlier in this document. Try to focus on areas that seemed to give you trouble on your first attempt. You may contact Allied at (888) 822-2923 with any questions you may have.
10. Retake the CPC® exam.
11. You will receive your second CPC® exam score within four to six weeks. If you do not pass on your second attempt, you may do the following:
    • Send a copy of your non-passing score results from the second CPC® exam to Allied. Allied will refund the money you paid to take the CPC® exam.

Take the steps to sign up for the AAPC Certified Professional Coder® Exam today! Your career goals are within reach!