A CPC (Certified Professional Coder) is a medical billing and coding specialist, familiar with the systems that healthcare providers (hospitals and practices) and payers (insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid) use to communicate with one another. Here are the top 5 reasons CPC is a good career choice.

1. They’re hirable.

Because of the lack of qualified coders, a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) finds a job easily. It is estimated that 18% of billing and coding positions go unfilled – that’s a big gap, and as a CPC, you will fill that gap. CPCs have the luxury of “shopping around” for jobs, so you’re likely to find one with a short commute and a pleasant work environment.

2. They get benefits.

In 2010, when the economy was still barely puttering along, CPCs did well. According to a survey done by the American Academy of Professional Coders  (AAPC), more than 95% of coders were employed full time. 91% of all coders received health insurance from their employers, and 78% also received dental insurance. Better yet, 89% received paid sick leave. CPCs are necessary and skilled employees – employers want to keep them around. So, they treat their CPCs well.

3. A Certified Professional Coder (CPC) can choose his or her work environment.

As a CPC, you can specialize by becoming a CPC-H or CPC-P. A CPC-H is certified by the AAPC to work in hospitals, working for the providers of medical treatment. A CPC-P works for payers – insurance companies or organizations like Medicare and Medicaid. If you specialize, you become more attractive to employers in your field, and you’ll be able to choose where you work.

4. CPCs can also work from home.

After a few years working in a hospital or insurance company office, many CPCs are allowed to work part- or full-time from home (or a café, or anywhere else). You will have greater flexibility in terms of your hours. A work-from-home position is ideal for single parents or people whose spouses travel often for work: you can come along and earn a salary no matter where you are.

5. CPC positions are stable.

Finally, becoming a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) is one of the best ways to ensure job security and financial independence. Once you have been hired and trained according to your new employer’s requirements, you are likely to enjoy a long career with a stable future. CPC positions are stable for two main reasons:

(1) CPCs are always needed.
The billing and coding system isn’t going anywhere: if anything, it’s becoming even more necessary as insurance systems become more complex. As a CPC, your skill set will remain necessary for many, many years – or as long as healthcare is structured and organized the way it is now.

(2) The healthcare industry is growing.
As the population ages and healthcare becomes more accessible, healthcare facilities of all kinds are expanding and opening in new places. For CPCs, that’s good news. The healthcare industry cannot function without coders – they’re needed in pharmacies, clinics, and nursing homes along with hospitals and insurance companies. The bigger healthcare gets, the more important each skilled, responsible CPC (Certified Professional Coder) will be.