Graduate Experiences
Career Step graduates get jobs! Read what some of our graduates are saying:
(Penny, Commerce City, CO) - I have to give the course the credit. The AAPC test was tough, but not as tough as the final test of the course. When I was called in to test for a position, I was very well qualified to take [their pre-employment] test and did get the first job I was called in for. My employers are very satisfied with my level of knowledge, especially considering, I had never been a "coder" before. I learned so much in the course and all of it has served me well. I tell anyone that is interested in becoming a coder to check into the course!
(Rachel, Stilesville, IN) - I currently work for a national healthcare consulting company and thanks to the Career Step program my career is advancing very rapidly... I am taking the AAPC exam in the next few weeks and I feel very comfortable thanks to the Career Step program. Without Career Step I never would have been ready for the national exam. The setup of the program was very user friendly and if I ever had a question it was answered in a very prompt manner. I have referred others to the program... THANK YOU CAREER STEP!!!!
(Nancy, Arvada, CO) - I was very fortunate to be hired as a coder just as I was finishing up the course and before I passed my certification exam. I have worked for Ameripath, a pathology lab for almost 18 months now as a medical coder.
(Stephen, Smithfield, RI) - I am working as a Coding Tech at Rhode Island Hospital. The experience with Career Step was a wonderful one. I was working two jobs and raising my newborn son while taking these courses, and the program is so convenient that even I was able to find the appropriate time. [My questions] always received a prompt response from Randy Johnson and [the rest of the staff], and I'd like to thank them for that.
(Sadie, Arvada, CO) - I appreciate all that Career Step did for me to accomplish my goal [to become] a coder.
Chris Foster, a Manager for EGOS, a Career Step Academic Partner that offers our Medical Coding Program through their school related this information about his students and graduates:
"I am getting VERY positive feedback... Grads from other programs are unable to sit for the certification test and are told by their schools to go out and TRY to get a job, work for a year or two, and then take the test. Their programs are 6 months, in classrooms, and cost between $9,500 and $10,000. SHAME ON THEM!! My grads have said that those students don't have a clue about what to do on the job and are frustrated and unhappy. My [Career Step] grads feel good about the education they got and are happy with their jobs!
More excellent news! Kaiser Medical visited EGOS in the Spring to do some mock interviewing. They kept resumes for all our students they interviewed with and called to offer ALL of them jobs.
Employers Hire Our Graduates
Outpatient Coding & Billing Course Overview
The Career Step program has been developed in collaboration with top industry experts and employers to help you develop the skills necessary to be the highest quality medical coding and billing professional. To see what sets Career Step's program above the rest, be sure to check out our interactive online demo!
The demo will allow you to take an in-depth look at each of the program modules, or subjects, and experience the ease of navigation and the interactive learning environment the Career Step program provides.
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Benefits of online study:
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Gain practical experience
You'll train hands-on using medical reports taken from real patient records and apply industry standard coding and billing practices, preparing you for the workplace.
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Receive instantaneous feedback and grading
You'll not have to wait on slow instructors or other students' disruptions. With instant feedback on all of your work, you will quickly master each skill and progress through the course.
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Network with other students and make new friends
You'll enjoy access to a vibrant online community of students, graduates, employers, and industry experts through online forums and chat rooms.
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Train at home or on the go, and set your own pace
You'll have 24/7 access to the course materials, giving you the freedom and flexibility to train whenever or wherever is convenient for you, so you can learn at your own pace.
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Online skill assessments that reflect employer hiring exams
You'll be better prepared for the post-graduation job market because the Career Step skill assessment tests are similar to those used by employers to hire new employees. Additionally, Career Step graduates have a 20% higher pass rate than the national average on certification exams.
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Online learning environment & tools:
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Intuitive navigation
Simple, intuitive navigation is quick and easy to learn, so you'll be able to start making real progress from day one.
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Images & visual enhancements
Photos, illustrations, as well as many coding and billing specific forms, documents, charts, and references enhance your learning experience.
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Interactive coursework exercises
Coursework contains hundreds of exercises that help you review concepts and simulate the professional coding and billing experience and give you a chance to reflect on your progress.
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Games & flashcards
Crossword puzzles, word searches, and flashcards are scattered throughout, so you learn important terminology, concepts, and definitions while having fun!
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Coding & billing practice tools
The course contains online tools that will allow you to practice coding and billing procedures on hundreds of authentic medical records using built-in, real-world resources.
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Study planner, grade book, & enhanced security
The program offers tools to help you set and track study goals, chart your progress and see results from all exercises and tests, and monitor account access and safeguard your private information.
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Medical coding and billing curriculum:
Career Step's curriculum is designed to prepare you for work in outpatient medical facilities (hospitals and clinics), insurance companies, and government agencies as a medical coder or as a medical coding and billing specialist. You'll be fully trained to use medical records to accurately code outpatient diagnosis and procedures and complete the billing or reimbursement process. The curriculum is designed by industry experts and incorporates the feedback and suggestions of graduates, employers, instructors, and industry associations.
Visit our Curriculum Details page that describes in depth the contents and purpose of each module, or course subject.
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Reference books & resources:
When you enroll, you will receive a personal reference library (a $370 value) and a free student subscription to the Medical Coding Bulletin, a bimonthly newsletter. Your reference library includes the following key industry resources:
CPT Professional - Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology book (CPT ®) is prepared and copyrighted by the AMA (American Medical Association). You will learn to use this comprehensive medical coding reference manual during Medical Procedural Coding modules, blocks one and two. The CPT Professional is the United States standard for procedure coding and is the reference book used by employers and for the medical coding certification exam.
HCPCS Level II Expert - The HCPCS Level II Expert manual is published by Ingenix and is the handbook for accurate procedural coding. You will learn to reference the hundreds of pages of coding material included in the HCPCS as you work through the Medical Procedural Coding modules.
ICD-9-CM Expert - The ICD-9-CM is the United States standard for diagnostic coding (also published by Ingenix). You will learn every detail of effectively using your ICD-9-CM manual. This preparation will help you be an invaluable asset to your employer. This manual is one of the few reference books allowed into medical coding certification exams.
Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary - With over 125,000 medical terms, the Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (published by Saunders) is the medical reference of choice for virtually every healthcare professional - doctors, nurses, medical transcriptionists, and medical coders. This comprehensive resource is a critical part of any medical professional's library.
Saunders' Nursing Drug Handbook - Pharmacology is a critical part of patient management in the United States, and Saunders' Nursing Drug Handbook includes thousands of drug references. This easy-to-use comprehensive reference book will be an important part of your reference library through your training and throughout your career.
Merck Manual - The Merck Manual of Medical Information has over 1,600 pages of medical information. This comprehensive book contains information that will be helpful throughout your training and on-the-job as you study anatomy, pharmacology, disease processes and medical terminology.
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Student & technical support:
Career Step has support teams dedicated to your success, and they are easy to reach and quick to respond to your questions and concerns. They also have the reputation for providing a personal touch to your online learning experience, offering a little boost or pep talk when you need it most. The student support team has professional experience working in the healthcare industry as medical coding and billing specialists, managers, and instructors, so they are uniquely qualified to answer your questions about both the curriculum and the industry. The technical support team will help you with any technical or computer issues you may encounter within the program.
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Job placement assistance:
It is our mission to help you achieve your educational goals and quickly transition to employment as a medical coder and billing specialist. To accomplish this mission, Career Step partners with industry employers and institutions, and these strong relationships often lead to preferential status for Career Step graduates applying for employment.
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Timeline for course completion
The Career Step Medical Coding and Billing program can be completed in 640 hours, or 4 months if you work on it full time. Both enrollment levels include 4 months of access to the curriculum and online learning tools, and by enrolling today you can use this complimentary 8 month extension voucher and have a full year to complete the program! Additional extensions are also available for purchase, should you need more time.
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Required computer system specifications:
Minimum computer system specifications
Hardware:
- 56 Kbps modem (Broadband: DSL or cable modem recommended) with active internet access
- Super VGA (1024x768) or higher resolution adapter and monitor
- Sound card and speakers (headphone port recommended)
Software:
- Adobe Flash version 10 or higher recommended
- Windows Media Player or Quicktime Player
- PDF reader
Browser:
- Internet Explorer 7.x/8.x
- Firefox 3.x *
- Safari 4.x or greater (Mac only)*
- Javascript and cookies must be enabled
Operating System:
- Windows XP®, Vista®, 7 (with latest service pack) OR
- Mac OS X 10.4.11 or greater/10.5/10.6.x*
*Note: The Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing course includes hands-on training with 3M® encoding software, which is only compatible with Internet Explorer 7.x or 8.x. Students using the noted operating systems and/or browsers can access all other program material, and students can complete the practical sections of the course with the included industry-standard codebooks.
