Should a Coding School Be Licensed or Accredited?
Licenses and accreditations are important. They help establish credibility with an organization (or individual) and serve as proof that the company or person has achieved mastery of a certain skill set or subject. So it makes sense that the medical coding school you choose should be accredited by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), right? The answer may surprise you.
The Accreditation Misconception
Did you know that the AAPC is not an accrediting institution? Accreditation is the process by which a government agency ensures a university’s instruction is up to bar, but, more importantly, it allows the school to qualify for federally funded financial aid. In other words, schools who are accredited are offered aid and grants.
Accreditation also ensures another school or employer will recognize your degree. But in medical coding, degrees fade in the background. Certifications have the highest ranking. It’s all about the credentials in this line of work—degrees either make all the difference, or they mean very little. Experience and certifications are better indicators of knowledge.
Licenses: What’s Really Important
It’s important to note that when we talk about schools, we’re talking about colleges and universities (e.g. Everest, Caplan, etc.). These types of schools need accreditation. The AAPC is not a university or college, and neither are all of the other non-college medical coding schools you’re looking at (including ours). For this reason, medical coding schools are not accredited. These types of schools need to be licensed by their state to teach coding programs to students.
Being licensed by your own state means you’ve met all the requirements necessary to be a medical coding educational institution. But your credential is nationally recognized. This means that the credential you receive from AAPC will not be tied to the state you’re credential is licensed in, but it will be recognized from here to kingdom come!
What About the AAPC?
Since the AAPC is not an accrediting agency, it cannot accredit any school. For whatever reason, way too many people out there are stressed because they think they need to find an AAPC-accredited school. Here’s the deal: AAPC is simply one of the two major credentialing organizations that offer certification exams.
Why the BBB Is a Better Indicator
So, if accreditations and licenses in this industry are so subjective and confusing, how can you tell which medical coding school is right for you? The Better Business Bureau is a fantastic resource and Medical Coding Academy is proud to have an A+ rating with it.
This organization offers consumers some very valuable insight into medical coding schools and holds us to a higher standard. But the best part about the BBB is all of the verified testimonies our students leave for us. Feel free to review them and others as you make your decision about which medical coding education option you’ll pursue.
