PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College invites students who have completed the Medical Coding Technical Skills Certificate program to register for a free, non-credit course called Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam Prep.  

 

The course, offered both in-person and remotely, will be held on four consecutive Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:30 pm on June 9, 16, 23 and 30. 

 

To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/him.  

 

The comprehensive review course is designed for students preparing to take the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) credential exam to become a Certified Professional Coder.  It covers the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) manuals, medical terminology, anatomy, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) coding manual and guidelines.  

 

Students will learn new test strategies and build test-taking skills. After each class, students will be provided with timed assignments that will assess knowledge, accuracy and speed. The final assignment will be a short test that replicates the CPC exam. 

 

"Certification is a professional's official recognition of achievement, expertise and judgment. It is a mark of excellence requiring continued learning and skill development to maintain," said Laurie Vilord, Adjunct Faculty – Medical Coding. "These are just a few reasons why employers seek AAPC certified professionals." 

 

About the Medical Coding Program 

Medical coding is the assignment of letters and numbers to specific medical and diagnostic phrases. These codes enable the healthcare industry to collect, process, and send information more effectively. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical coding is among the 20 fastest-growing occupations, with a national anticipated growth of 18.2 percent by year 2028. 

 

Medical coders may become inpatient or outpatient coders, auditors, clinical documentation specialists, insurance evaluators, case reviewers, teachers or compliance officers. 

 

At BCC, the Medical Coding Department is designed to meet the needs of students at different stages of their careers, whether just starting out, returning to school for a second career, studying part-time at night to enhance a full-time job during the day or looking for promotion in the field.  The stackable credits towards a certificate or a degree represent different phases of expertise in this emerging career path. 

 

For more information, contact Laurie Vilord at lvilord@berkshirecc.edu.