You've just earned your CPC-A (congrats!), or maybe you've had it for a while. Either way, if you're a certified coder, chances are you're aware of the need for CEUs (continuing education units)
These are the credits you must earn in order to keep that certification you've worked hard for. And if you're a new coder in the middle of the hard hunt for your first job, you may be reluctant to take on additional expenses (on top of the membership fee), such as paying for CEU opportunities.
What if I told you that you really don't need to? That's right. As a newly certified CPC-A, there's really no need for you to pay to meet your CEU requirements.
Here are some of the free CEU sources you should know about.
AAPC The Magazine
As a member of AAPC, you get free access to their monthly magazine.
The quiz that comes with each issue awards you one CEU upon completion
Right there is one whole CEU each month for free!
Chapter Meetings
Find AAPC chapter meetings you can attend for free, either virtually or in person.
The presenter will educate on an industry-relevant topic, and you'll be awarded CEUs for attending.
Search for chapter events on the AAPC website or join Facebook groups such as “CEUs for AAPC (free or cheap)” and “AAPC chapter events and announcements - USA only”
Free Webinars for AAPC Members
AAPC offers member-only webinars you can access for no additional charge.
You pay good money for that membership. So remember to log in to your account to find these pre-recorded webinars and take advantage of this free CEU opportunity.
It can be pretty easy to rack up all the necessary CEUs for free using these three methods alone, especially if you have only one certification
So, while some CEUs do cost, understand that you don't have to invest that additional money into them unless you want to!
There are undoubtedly great paid continued education opportunities out there for coding and billing professionals. So if you find one that interests you and it won't break the bank, go for it!
Either way, just remember to stay on top of those CEUs while you are searching for that dream job!