Over the years, many coders and even some supervisors have asked me whether continuing education builds a stronger resume, or just adds a bunch of letters behind your name. I cannot understand why continuing your education by earning credentials is a bad thing. No one tells someone with a bachelor's degree not to obtain their masters degree or asks a physician why it is necessary to focus on a specialty. Why should it be assumed that just because you have a core coding credential you would not want to continue your education by earning additional credentials?
My answer to them is that I wouldn't be where I am without those additional credentials and of course, the continuing education it takes to earn and maintain them. To prove my point I explain to them that I obtained a position with the Abdominal Transplant Section in the General Surgery Department at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis MO due to my CGSC" credential.
Having this additional credential not only showed the chief of the department that I was an expert in the field, but it also demonstrated that I am as dedicated to education as he is. Additionally, I explained that I was recently hired by the AAPC due to my dedication to higher learning and desire to bring that education to our members.
To several coders I have met and spoken with, feel that a core credential such as the CPC® is enough. They do not feel the need to obtain any more credentials, because they have met their personal goals, and that of course is perfectly fine. In my case, however, having just my CPC core credential did not fit into my long-term career goals. This is why in addition to my CPC I have worked to obtain four additional credentials. I currently hold the CANPC " (Certified Anesthesia and Pain Management Coder), CGSC " (Certified General Surgery Coder), CGIC " (Certified Gastroenterology Coder), and CPMA" (Certified Professional Medical Auditor) and I am in pursuit of my CPC-I (Certified Professional Coder Instructor) all offered through AAPC.
What are some of the ways to further your education and therefore your career? There are several options available. For starters you can do what I did and go through a reputable organization like AAPC for your credentials. I would recommend thoroughly researching your chosen field to see what additional education you can achieve to maximize your educational needs while fitting them into your long-term goals and your lifestyle. Another tip would be to write out your long-term goals, this would give you something solid to focus your efforts on. I wrote out what I wanted and where I wanted to be within the next 5 years. In addition, I added some long-term career goals. This gave me something to focus on as I later made decisions that would affect my career, and it has helped me achieve goals I would not have otherwise been able to realize.
If course, determining education and career goals is solely up to you; after all, continuing education is a personal preference. You need to determine if obtaining additional credentials or maintaining a stand-alone credential in a selected specialty will take you where you want to go. By pursuing specialty credentials and continuing your education you may reap the rewards, be they for financial gain or personal satisfaction. I know it was worth the effort for me.
Shelly Cronin, CPC, CPMA, CANPC, CGSC, CGIC, business and member development for the AAPC
