Deciding which school to attend can be difficult. Of course, we would love to go to an Ivy League school with all expenses and tuition paid in full but some of us simply can’t afford the rising cost of tuition. The thought of finding the money and time to pursue your educational goals can be very frustrating. Most of us simply delay going to college.
What about programs that offers quick certifications and job placement?
Well, it is easy to be lured into these enticing programs. However, the program should have accreditation, which is extremely important so do a little research to ensure that you don’t fall for a fraudulent program.
A friend and I decided to go back to school. However, she enrolled in a 9 month medical coding and billing program and I went to a community college. I tried to convince her to enter the Health IT program with me. I was apprehensive about a 9 month program as it seemed too good to be true. Would you believe after completing the program, my friend is currently working in retail and making minimum wage? She is struggling to support herself and 2 kids on $8 an hour, with little hope of earning more.
Not to mention that the program she entered into was somewhat expensive and is not supported by federal student aid. I believe the program is possibly a scam – but I digress.
She still has options that would improve her chances of getting a job as a medical coder. For example, she could prepare to take a coding credential exam by studying the latest coding books and investing a lot of time for practicing coding scenarios and studying the coding guidelines – which takes a lot of discipline but is plausible.
I am sure there are some reputable programs that offer medical coding training in little time and possibly job placement, but do a thorough research before committing to a program. Check the better business bureau or Google the school name and use keywords like “scam” and “rip off”. If there were any complaints posted about the program the search engine will typically capture the details.
The best advice I can give you is to be vigilant during the recruitment process and ask a lot of questions. Make sure they provide you with documentation. And remember if it sound too good to be true – go with your gut feeling.
