Hi everyone! I'm signing up for my CPC this weekend, and I am curious if anyone has purchased the AAPC study guide or practice tests in the past? I feel like Andrews has prepared us very well, so I'm looking for opinions on if they are even necessary, helpful, etc. I really do feel confident in what I have been taught. I'm most worried about anatomy, compliance, etc. If you had to choose one or the other which would you choose? I'm not sure I can afford both at this moment. I'm also wondering if I should go for my first try without either and then maybe purchase one or both if I need to use my retake. All opinions would be appreciated. Thank you!
I'm not answering your question, but just saying that I believe in saturation training, getting hit by training from several difference sources. Not phrased well there <grin> but you understand what I'm saying hopefully. I do that when I'm studying or researching something. Even if I know I've already studied enough, I want to OVER-train, for confidence purposes, even if I don't need it. Nothing wrong with that.
I did purchase the online practice tests, 3 of them in the unit, and I'm glad I did. You have to work through one exam, get 100% on it before you can go on to the next exam. At the end of the exam it is graded automatically and you can go through it and see the corrected answers and the justification for those answers. I have worked through Exam B, understand my errors, but also there are errors on the answers - which is disappointing to me because I think those things should be proofed before being sent out as instructional material - and too, at the price they charge, they should be correct. I tried twice to phone AAPC to report the errors and request a corrected copy, or at least verification of he errors, but each time was kept on hold for about 20-30 minutes and I said, phooey and haven't tried to call back.
Tomorrow I'll start Exam C.
You can take the exams as many times as you want to. The first time I missed maybe 12 or 13, learned about the errors, retook the exam, did much better, and the third time I tried to get my speed up. Problem with that is that by the 3rd time I had accidentally memorized some of the answers, you just can't help doing that, but that won't help on the real exam.
I purchased the AAPC study guide only to find out it was ICD-9 at the time I purchased it. I didn't work in it very much so I cannot comment on that, and had actually forgotten about it; now that you have reminded me, and now that I know I can find the ICD-9 information online translated into ICD-10, I am going to get back into it and get a good review out of that.
When is your CPC exam?
Donna G
Thanks for the info. I am planning on the March 19 exam. I tried their CPC app on my phone and on my first set of questions found an obvious error. I was a bit disappointed in that. I understand your frustration, especially in something you pay so much money for!
I agree with Linda. I felt super prepared by Andrews, but I still purchased the study guide and online practice exams.
It paid off - I passed with a 90%!
I have bought 2 study guides for the CCS. I am sure I will be totally prepared, but it helps for me to think I have done everything I could have to be ready. Helps calm the nerves a smidge.
I purchased the practice exams only. I probably should have purchased the study guide as well. I am scheduled to take the CPC at the end of this month. Nicki, did you find that your scores on the practice exams came close to matching your actual score on the CPC? I have only taken part A so far and got a 92%, but I need to get my speed up. I think time is going to be my biggest enemy.
Yes, my practice scores were about the same. Time was also my biggest enemy. I worked the test back to front (quicker questions are at the end), brought a timer with me as Andrews suggested, and just hustled a bit more.