Medical coding and billing has more than one entry point, and the alphabet soup of credentials — CPC, CCA, CBCS, COC, CIC, CCS, CRC, CPMA — can be confusing when you're first choosing a path. This page lays out every certification GetMedGuide covers side by side, so you can see how they differ before picking which one to study for.
| Exam | Full name | Administered by | Setting / focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | Certified Professional Coder | AAPC | Physician / outpatient coding across specialties — the most common entry credential |
| CCA | Certified Coding Associate | AHIMA | Entry-level foundation covering both inpatient and outpatient basics |
| CBCS | Certified Billing and Coding Specialist | NHA | Combined billing-and-coding role, entry-level |
| COC | Certified Outpatient Coder | AAPC | Facility-based outpatient coding (hospital outpatient departments, ASCs, ERs) |
| CIC | Certified Inpatient Coder | AAPC | Hospital inpatient coding — ICD-10-PCS and MS-DRGs |
| CCS | Certified Coding Specialist | AHIMA | Advanced, hospital-wide coding across both inpatient and outpatient settings |
| CRC | Certified Risk Adjustment Coder | AAPC | Risk adjustment / HCC coding for Medicare Advantage and other risk-based payment models |
| CPMA | Certified Professional Medical Auditor | AAPC | Auditing coded claims for accuracy and compliance, rather than coding them |
Note: credential names, exam formats, and eligibility requirements are set by the issuing organizations (AAPC, AHIMA, NHA) and can change — always confirm current exam details directly with the certifying body before registering.
CPC — Certified Professional Coder
The most widely recognized coding credential, issued by AAPC. It tests physician/outpatient coding across specialties — CPT, HCPCS Level II, ICD-10-CM, modifiers, and the business rules that govern how a physician office bills for services. It's the default starting point for most people entering the field.
Read the CPC Exam Pocket Guide · CPC flashcards
CCA — Certified Coding Associate
AHIMA's entry-level credential, built as a broad foundation rather than a specialty. It covers basic ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT/HCPCS across both inpatient and outpatient settings, along with health record and compliance fundamentals.
Read: Introduction to CCA · CCA flashcards
CBCS — Certified Billing and Coding Specialist
Issued by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), CBCS combines billing and coding into a single entry-level role — common in smaller physician offices where one person handles both functions. It covers claims processing, payer types, and coding basics together.
Read: Introduction to CBCS · CBCS flashcards
COC — Certified Outpatient Coder
AAPC's facility-side outpatient credential, focused on hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and emergency department coding — including APCs, the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), and the modifiers and edits specific to facility claims.
Read: Introduction to COC · COC flashcards
CIC — Certified Inpatient Coder
AAPC's hospital inpatient credential, centered on ICD-10-PCS procedure coding, MS-DRG assignment, present-on-admission indicators, and the inpatient-specific documentation and query rules that don't apply on the outpatient side.
Read: Introduction to CIC · CIC flashcards
CCS — Certified Coding Specialist
AHIMA's advanced, hospital-wide credential — generally considered the most rigorous coding certification, since it covers both inpatient and outpatient coding in depth, along with pharmacology, anatomy & physiology, and data quality standards.
Read: Introduction to CCS · CCS flashcards
CRC — Certified Risk Adjustment Coder
A specialty AAPC credential for risk adjustment coding, used heavily by Medicare Advantage plans. It tests HCC (Hierarchical Condition Category) models, RAF scores, the MEAT documentation standard, and coding chronic conditions to the level of specificity risk models require.
Read: Introduction to CRC · CRC flashcards
CPMA — Certified Professional Medical Auditor
AAPC's auditing credential — a step beyond coding itself, focused on reviewing coded claims for accuracy and compliance. It covers audit methodology, statistical sampling, E/M documentation review, and the fraud-and-abuse regulations auditors are expected to know.
Read: Introduction to CPMA · CPMA flashcards
Which one should you study for?
If you're brand new to the field, CCA or CBCS are the broadest entry points. If you know you want to work in a physician's office, CPC is the standard. If you're aiming for a hospital setting, COC (outpatient), CIC (inpatient), or CCS (both, at an advanced level) are the credentials employers look for. CRC and CPMA are specialty paths usually pursued after you already have coding experience, in risk adjustment and auditing respectively.
Ready to go deeper on a specific credential?
Start with: Introduction to CCA →