How to Manage Your Time during the CPC Exam

The Certified Medical Coder (CPC) exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is highly regarded by medical coders because of the better prospects it offers in terms of career progression. People who have taken the exam successfully have gone ahead to get better jobs and higher salaries due to the high demand for coders by employers.

The exam usually consists of 150 questions that you are supposed to complete in a period of 5 hours and 40 minutes. When you make your calculations, you find that you need to answer each question within 2 minutes without a break in between. You have the freedom to refer to reading materials for answers, but the main issue here is time. If you do not know how to use the time you have, you will end up answering only a few questions. The following guidelines will help you manage your time well when taking the CPC exam.

The Multiple Passes Strategy

The good news is that there is a strategy that has been tried before and found to work effectively. The questions that you will encounter are not all equal; some will be hard while others easy. This strategy works in a way that you go through the question paper in three passes. The first pass will be to identify and answer the easiest questions, the second pass to handle the moderately hard questions while the last pass the most difficult questions. This will give you more time to concentrate on the most difficult questions that require a lot of thinking.

Keep Track Of the Time

You need to monitor your progress as you answer the questions. The CPC answer sheet provides you with five columns each holding 30 questions. You can allow yourself one hour each column so that you have 40 minutes at the end to review what you have done. When you are stuck on a question, move to the next one so that you can progress.

Attempt all questions

When you have attempted all the questions, you are sure of, use the remaining time to come up with answers to the difficult questions. Do not be afraid to guess because you will get a 25% chance of getting the question right. This is because each question has four choices for you to choose the best.

Practice, Practice and More Practice

The best way that you can apply the strategies discussed above is to practice. Various resources offer sample exams for you to take. You can use past exam papers or online simulations to increase your confidence and speed.

Once you know how to handle the time in a CPC exam, you will avoid any stress that comes with knowing that the time is limited yet you have not answered all the questions. IF you are looking for a great CPC certification online course, click on the link.

How to Pass your CPC Exam

Those who are looking for career change and greener pasture should look into medical coding field as its demand is steadily growing. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2005, the health information is in fast pace demand and will grow even faster in 2014. One of the main reasons for this is because of the high medical coder salary offer.

Medical coders make sure that they apply the appropriate code to methods and services which are tested to make sure that diagnoses are properly performed. Coders transform healthcare processes and other health related concerns to code numbers. Medical Coders should be detail oriented as well as well verse with codes. Nevertheless, a college degree is not required in this job since a high school is only required. Because of the lucrative offer this job brings, many changed their career path in medical coding. Nevertheless, CPC exam is difficult to pass with approximately 40%-50% of takers who passed their CPC exam in the first try. If you want to belong to this bracket, read the tips below.

Ready to be calm

Do not lose your nerves on the exam day and forget what you study. Be ready prior to the exam by reviewing special guides, getting online review videos and manage your time wisely. You can also do an AAPC mock up tests to be readier. Remember that 5 and half hours is just enough for you to complete the 150 multiple choice questions. When you panic, your brain release stress inducing hormones called cortisol that would blocks your memory. Reading guides released by AAPC will ensure that you get the appropriate training before the exams as the authors of the guides are the same people who simulate the exam. Proven high retention strategies may help you in your review as you absorb and recall your previous lessons.

Failing does not end anything

Once you failed the exam, remember that it does not anything. Do not give up just yet and retake until you pass, there are those who failed that did not give up and retake their exam. You just have to focus and always remember what you studied and watch the videos, purchase the tutorials and guidelines offered by the AAPC.

Taking the CPC exam does not have any prerequisites as long as you are academically ready. That being said, the AAPC does not even ask for proof of that you complete the program. However, with the benefits being a CPC holder offers, passing the exam is a must and requires mental readiness.