Medical billing & coding, explained
Learn the work. Pass the exam. Build the career.
Plain-language guides to medical billing and coding, from your first terminology lesson to the CPC exam and beyond. Checked against AAPC, AHIMA, CMS and CDC sources.
Where do you want to start?
Pick the goal that matches where you are now.
Understand the field
What coders and billers do, how the work fits together, and what it pays.
Coding questionsTrain and get hired
Choosing a program, getting experience, and finding remote work safely.
Training guideMedical billing
Claims, denials, appeals and the billing cycle, step by step.
Billing questionsMedical coding
ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT® and HCPCS Level II: what each one is for.
Code sets explainedCertification & CEUs
CPC, CCS, RHIT and specialty credentials, plus how to keep them.
Compare credentialsTerminology & anatomy
Prefixes, suffixes, root words and more than 1,000 abbreviations.
Start learning
The CPC exam at a glance
AAPC's Certified Professional Coder exam is open book and timed. Pacing matters as much as knowledge.
- 100multiple-choice questions
- 4 hoursto finish
- 70%needed to pass
- 3 booksCPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II
Getting experience
Gaining experience can be one of the hardest steps for a new biller or coder. Most employers want a credential, and many also want experience, because billing and coding directly affect a practice's cash flow.
- Take an entry-level position if one is offered.
- Look into internship or externship programs.
- Consider non-traditional employers, such as insurance agencies and law offices.
- Network: local chapter meetings are a good place to hear about unlisted openings.
CPC holders without experience start as apprentices. See how to remove the CPC-A.
From a certified coder
"I have been in the medical billing and coding industry for ten years and have been certified for the last five. WOW! What a difference certification makes! The doors to my career options, income, and recognition have flung wide open!"
A word on work-from-home promises
Billing and coding are legitimate, rewarding careers, but they attract misleading offers. Remote jobs exist, but they are competitive and usually require experience. Be cautious of anyone promising easy employment or a ready-made home business, especially if they are also selling software or training.
Real experience, combined with a recognised credential, is what opens doors. Read how remote coding jobs really work.
Preparing for the CPC exam?Work through 150 practice questions, each with a written rationale, before exam day.
CPC Practice Exam