I don’t feel ready for real-world coding. I passed the CPC exam last month and I’m doing Practicode now. My scores are all over the place. Medical coding is a long-term goal and a stepping stone for me to start a medical billing company after I retire in a few years. When I feel "proficient" at coding, I want to get a part-time coding job to pay off the outstanding balance on my credit card for the course and to save towards taking the medical billing course, and start-up money.

I see a lot of people posting that they’ve just gotten certified and are looking for a job. They must be really smart, or studied really hard. There is no way I feel ready to walk into any door and ask for a coding job. I know my skills aren’t there; there are a lot of little things that I miss in Practicode, like assigning status codes where needed. I’ve completed 63 exercises out of 600 so far, and my percentage is still hovering just a bit north of 70. Not exactly bragging rights. Thank God I have a full-time career job, with a long range goal in mind for coding, otherwise, I’d be panicked right about now.

Just based on my personal, honest assessment of where I am, I’m thinking like an employer, and I wouldn’t hire me. This field takes practice and practice takes time.

Sometimes I go through posts just to read the thoughts of others and to learn from others. I’m always impressed by coders who know the answers to coding questions and help others out. These ladies and gents have earned their stripes. Brag on! I want to be like them one day. So I keep on practicing in Practicode, hoping eventually that all the basics will stick and I’ll be ready to tackle the real world of coding when I’m ready to start looking for a PT gig.

I feel that the AAPC online learning course did not prepare me to be proficient, rather, it prepared me to just pass the certification by a few points above what was necessary. So I wonder if the broader view (among employers and AAPC students) is similar to mine. What do you think? After your training, do you feel ready to code on your own?

I’d like to open up a discussion here to talk about the realities of coding, like how long does it really take to become proficient in this profession? How long did it take you to become an expert? How long did you need to ask for help on every case before you became sure of your coding skills? Do you feel that AAPC fully prepared you for an entry level position after certification?

Please share your thoughts on this topic. I think we can all benefit from sage insight.

Thank you so much!