The Galveston College Medical Administration program has been named an official education partner with the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
The AAPC is the world’s largest training and credentialing organization for the business of healthcare, with more than 190,000 members worldwide who work in medical coding, medical billing, clinical documentation improvement, medical auditing, healthcare compliance, revenue cycle management and practice management.
As an official education partner with the AAPC, Galveston College is licensed to offer AAPC’s curriculum to prepare students for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification and to enter the field of health insurance processing and coding functions.
“As Galveston College’s Certified Professional Coder instructor, I am excited to bring this opportunity to the Gulf Coast region,” said Donna Swartz, division director of Industrial and Applied Technology and Medical Administration program director. “Following the initial pilot of the AAPC’s CPC curriculum during the spring of 2020, which demonstrated high student achievement in medical coding, I am confident that the continued use of the AAPC curriculum will improve CPC exam pass rates, as well as students’ medical coding ability in practical application.”
Graduates of the 30 credit-hour Galveston College program receive a certificate in Medical Coding. Students can choose to continue their studies to earn certification as a Medical Records Technician and an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Administration in their second year.
“Students also benefit from reduced AAPC membership and CPC exam registration costs, and eligible students may receive federal funding for tuition and fees costs,” Swartz added. “We offer a comprehensive training program that aligns with industry trends for our community.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for certified medical coders will increase 22 percent through the year 2022. The average salary for medical coders in the Gulf Coast region is $57,802.
For more information on the Galveston College Medical Administration program, please contact Donna Swartz at [email protected].