Job-Ready Program: Medical Billing and Coding Training
The Job-Ready Program is more than certification training — it's a complete career launchpad. While many programs stop at exam prep, this one goes further, giving you the experience, tools, and support you need to confidently start your career in medical billing and coding.
Our Job-Ready Program includes all prerequisite training on the fundamental knowledge you need to succeed. There is no need to enroll in the separate Fundamentals of Medicine course. From hands-on practice and simulations, to internship placement and job search assistance, this program is designed to ensure you enter the field job ready.
NEW! Study from anywhere. AAPC Job-Ready courses now come with eBooks that can be accessed from desktops, laptops, smart phones and tablets - even if you aren’t connected to the internet. Best of all, eBooks have advanced features and can be used on all AAPC exams. (Print books are available for $99.)
Externship placement
Build hands-on work experience right away.
The Job-Ready Program guarantees externship placement for qualified graduates, ensuring that when you complete the program, you already have real-world experience under your belt.
Guaranteed externship placement for qualified graduates
Minimum of 160 hours of hands-on billing and coding experience to boost your resume
Expert guidance and mentorship from trusted employers
When to enroll
This program is ideal for anyone wanting to start a career in medical billing and coding — whether you're new to healthcare, changing careers, or re-entering the workforce. If you're looking for a step-by-step path to certification and job readiness, this program was built for you.
Value
By successfully completing the Job-Ready Program, you’ll earn some of the most respected credentials in the industry — either the Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) or both the CPC and Certified Professional Biller (CPB)®. Alongside certification, you’ll gain impressive experience, giving you the confidence and practical skills employers look for.
Education and experience requirements
No prior experience is required. We'll teach you everything you need to know from the ground up.
For our Job-Ready Training Programs, all prerequisite training is included:
In CPC Job-Ready, your prerequisite training will begin at the start of your program.
In CPC + CPB Job-Ready and College and University Job-Ready, prerequisite training begins week 14 of the program (when CPC training starts).
There is no need to enroll in a separate Fundamentals of Medicine course.
Continuing education units (CEUs)
If AAPC certified prior to enrollment (excluding CPCO, CIRCC, CPMA, and specialty certifications), you'll receive 40 CEUs once you successfully complete the CPC course, plus an additional 40 CEUs if you complete the CPB course. One-time use only.
Course syllabus
Download the CPC Job-Ready syllabus
Download the CPC + CPB Job-Ready syllabus
Financial options
Pay in full: Price includes up to $500 pay-in-full discount
Pay over time: Make easy monthly payments over 12, 18, or 24 months
Course curriculum overview
The Job-Ready Program offers a comprehensive and practical education in medical billing and coding, built to prepare you for real-world success. You’ll learn how to read and interpret medical records, understand the language of healthcare, and apply the correct codes for a wide range of patient services. Whether you choose the coding-focused career path or the billing and coding career path, you'll gain the knowledge and confidence needed to step into your first role with ease.
This program goes beyond the basics by combining certification prep with hands-on training and career-ready exercises. You'll also get experience with tasks like preparing insurance claims and understanding the regulations that impact billing and coding professionals every day. By the end, you'll be ready not just to pass your exams — but to succeed in the day-to-day responsibilities of a job in this high-demand field.
Job-Ready Program training objectives
Medical billing
Gain an overview of healthcare from a medical billing perspective
Obtain the knowledge and skills for effective research guidance
Identify various health insurance models and their impact on medical entities
Comprehend legal and regulatory aspects of healthcare reimbursement and collections
Describe the physician-based insurance claim process, including patient data acquisition, claim form completion, insurance carrier processing, and payment receipt
Demonstrate proficiency in using the three primary code books: CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II, and apply medical necessity standards
Understand the accounts receivable follow-up process in a physician's office, including common insurance denials and their appeals process
Medical coding
Develop the ability to interpret medical records
Acquire a fundamental knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy
Comprehend and utilize the ICD-10-CM, CPT®, and HCPCS Level II code books
Implement coding conventions when assigning diagnosis and procedure codes
Learn to accurately determine the level of Evaluation and Management (E/M) services
Practice coding various patient services using CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II codes
Evaluate and code operative reports and evaluation and management services
Built-in Job-Ready Program exclusives
Graduate as a CPC without an A
after passing exam
AAPC’s Job-Ready Program is the only training that incorporates the removal of the Apprentice (CPC-A) status as part of the curriculum.
Rather than treating apprentice status as a separate step after certification, the program is designed to help you complete the training and practical experience needed to move toward full CPC status.
All Job-Ready students who complete the coursework, pass the CPC certification exam, and finish the remaining required cases after becoming certified fulfill the requirements needed to become a full CPC.
*CPC-A removal requires successful CPC certification and all completion criteria to be met:
Completion of CPC Course (70%+)
Live Virtual Internship – Lab A (70%+)
Live Virtual Internship – Lab B (70%)
Instructor-Led Practicum
led by AAPC faculty
Our practicum is led by AAPC faculty and is designed to give our students a better understanding of the work required in medical billing and coding.
Students meet twice weekly with a faculty advisor and receive close supervision from faculty.
Faculty will provide hands-on mentorship as you continue to develop time management and analytical skills, along with deepening your knowledge of insurance and billing procedures.
In the last nine-weeks following certification, you will raise your productivity to meet real-world standards with an increasing number of cases of varying complexity.
Career Development Program
4 modules
Each of the following modules are facilitated live with a TA as the presenter. Sessions are held monthly on a rotating basis and students may join any sessions at any time.
Introduction to job search and career services - Overview of the job search process and career resources, including networking events, job boards, and professional organizations.
Resume building - Guidance on creating a clear, professional resume tailored to your skills and target roles, including formatting and best practices.
Interview strategies - Techniques for behavioral, situational, and technical interviews, with a focus on communication skills and personal presentation.
Networking - Strategies for building professional connections and using social media to showcase skills and accomplishments.
Job-Ready Program includes
In addition to the actual course of interactive online lectures, step-by-step coding processes, and all training needed to pass the exam, you’ll receive:
AAPC membership (a $357 value: included with new member packages only)
Includes two-year membership to AAPC which will help you plan your career and get discounts on all future classes, webinars, workshops, and materials.Online practice exams
Three 50-question CPC practice exams to gauge your readiness for the CPC certification exam. Three 50-question CPB practice exams to gauge your readiness for the CPB certification exam.Unlimited CPC + CPB certification exams (a $798+ value)
The exams evaluate a coder's knowledge, rationales, efficiency, effectiveness, and grants certification upon passing. Please see the Unlimited Exam Attempts terms and conditions.Code books in eBook format
AAPC code books are included in eBook format, giving you faster, more efficient access to the tools you’ll use on the job. You’ll gain hands-on experience with our code look-up assistance app, Codify by AAPC, and stay up to date with real-time code set changes. With eBooks you can easily search, bookmark, and reference codes for both training and your certification exam.Codify by AAPC (a $120 value)
Codify is our newest revenue cycle platform to allow subscribers the fastest tool for medical code look-up among multiple additional tools and services.Live Virtual Internship (Apprentice status "A" removal)
This instructor-led internship gives emerging medical coders hands-on experience coding real, redacted medical records. With guidance and live feedback from instructors, participants build speed, accuracy, and confidence in their coding while working toward removal of the “A” after meeting the required criteria* and passing the exam.*
Why train with AAPC?
Any credential you earn through us will be recognized worldwide. Our education is trusted globally, positioning AAPC as the leader in training and certification. We train more people for careers in medical billing and coding than any other institution.
You get to train with the same experts who created the exams. Why study at an institution that bases its curriculum on AAPC’s when you can train directly with us?
Our exam pass rates are the highest in the industry. We provide the most trusted curriculum and top-rated training, resulting in exam pass rates that remain unmatched by other programs.
Start building career connections immediately. We are the only educational institution where you can start building your professional network with hiring managers and future peers on day one.
Additional training resources
Review the study guide and test-taking techniques.
Designed to help you prepare for the exam, our official CPC + CPB Study Guides walk you through a review of anatomy and terminology and covers all the content sections found on the exam. Best of all, they provide testing tips for taking the exams.
AAPC's study guides review each section of the CPC + CPB exam in detail, providing practical examples, sample questions, and test-taking techniques.
Test your knowledge before the exam.
Diagnose your strengths and weaknesses. We highly recommend that you take one of the 50-question online practice exams to help you become familiar with the format and time constraints of the real test. Our practice tests accurately mirror the exam to ensure you are fully prepared on exam day.
Diagnose and prioritize your focus areas.
After you take your first practice exam you will realize not all areas of CPC and CPB curriculum require the same amount of study time. Based on your diagnostic results and practice performance, we’ll recommend lessons and exercises at just the right level. Follow these recommendations to make the most of your practice time.
Sign up for a 1-day exam review.
Whether you are completely new to coding or a seasoned veteran, AAPC offers an eight-hour online exam review that solidifies your preparation.
The review is divided up by domains covered on the exam, allowing students to focus on the areas where they need a bit more help. Each session contains an area of focus on the exam and will provide you with a review of key concepts, test-taking tips and strategies, and a review of the most commonly missed questions.
FAQs: Get your questions answered
Many students balance training with work or family responsibilities, but the program does require a consistent time commitment due to its structured schedule and coursework. Your ability to work while enrolled will depend on your availability and study habits.