The four main AAPC certifications for medical coders are CPC for medical office coders, CPC-H for hospital outpatient department coders and CPC-P for coders who work for payers such as insurers, Medicare and Medicaid and CIRCC Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder for coders who handles coding for the cardiac invasive radiological procedures such as cardiac catheterization and angiograms. The American Academy of Professional Coders also has 18 other specialty credentials.
The eligibility requirements for a CCA exam tests the basic knowledge needed by the new and inexperienced coder, this certification also requires 20 CEUs which include 2 mandatory annual coding self reviews; CCS exam emphasizes on the coders knowledge of hospital inpatient coding and focused on the ICD-9-CM and the coding rules and regulation, this exam is designed to measure the coders competency at an experienced level; with 20 CEUs, which include 2 mandatory annual coding self reviews and CCS-P exam also tests the coders knowledge in the usage if the ICD-9-CM and its focus is on the outpatient, ambulatory care