You did it! You completed the courses, paid your registrations fee, and your exam date is rapidly approaching. Now what? There are several different types of exams and the one you take will depend on which specialty you choose. For example, you may wish to get certified as a medical auditor or to work for an outpatient hospital.
The nitty-gritty
Unfortunately, this is not a test you can take at home. You will need to register for your exam usually about a month before you are ready to take it. The exams are held at specific locations where approved proctors can monitor the testing process.
Time to Study
Studying for a test can feel challenging if it’s been awhile. Adding the pressure of spending a few hundred dollars and your livelihood depending on it, doesn’t help. The good news is that, at least for the AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) exams, your fee includes one opportunity for a free retake during the next year.
Thy Codebook, thy Friend
Wanna know how to ace the exam? Know your codebooks like the back of your hand. You need to be able to locate everything quickly. If your codebooks aren’t dog-eared and shabby from use, that may not be a good sign. With an average of just over two minutes to answer each question, you’ll need to know exactly where to look to find the information you need.
If you need some extra help, invest in test prep book available online or in many large bookstores. Prep books are available for all of the different tests and some even include a companion website link or CD with practice tests. The tests are then automatically scored and you get immediate feedback about which areas need more time and attention. The advantage of using a test prep book is that beyond getting answers to sample questions, the rational is also explained.
What to Bring
It is your responsibility to make sure you know what you are allowed to have with you during the exam and what you are not allowed to bring. As a general rule, you will need to bring a picture ID, a membership ID if the certifying organization requires you to be a member, pencils, and depending on the test, certain editions of particular medical coding manuals. There are additional rules about what can be written in the manuals or on the tabs, so prepare accordingly. Practice driving where you’ll be going so there are no surprises.
Test Day!
Eat a light breakfast and bring along some mints to keep you awake. Wear comfy clothes since you’ll be sitting for awhile. Pay super-close attention to the instructions the proctor gives. There aren’t any trick questions on the exam, but you’ll need to pay careful attention to words like “least,” “greatest, and “more.” The tests are graded by a machine, so you will want to answer each question neatly. Leave nothing blank! Most importantly, relax and do your best.
Angie Boss is an award-winning health industry writer and author or co-author of several books, including Before Your Time: Living Well with Premature Menopause (Simon and Schuster, 2010). She received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Sociology and Journalism from Virginia Wesleyan College and a Masters of Pastoral Counseling from Union Theological Seminary.
