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               Exam Preparation

CCS-Ps are coding practitioners who:

• Specialize in physician-based settings such as physician offices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, or specialty centers
• Review patient records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure
• Possess in-depth knowledge of the CPT coding system and familiarity with the ICD-9-CM and HCPCS Level II coding systems
• Are experts in health information documentation, data integrity, and quality
• Play a critical role in a health provider's business operations, because patients’ coded data is submitted to insurance companies or the government for expense reimbursement.

The employment outlook for CCS-Ps is highly favorable, considering the growth of managed care and the movement of health services delivery beyond the hospital setting. Professionals performing coding in a doctor’s office, clinic, or similar setting should consider obtaining the CCS-P certification to testify to their capabilities. The CCS-P certification exam assesses mastery-level proficiency in coding rather than entry-level skills.

Eligibility Requirements

CCS-P exam candidates must have earned a high school diploma from a United States high school or have an equivalent educational background.

Although not required, it is strongly recommended that candidates have at least three years of on-the-job experience in:

• Coding for physician services in multiple settings (for example, hospital, emergency room, operating room, and physician office or clinic) utilizing codes in the E/M, surgery, medicine and/or anesthesia, radiology and laboratory chapters of CPT and HCPCS II

AND

• Completed coursework in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, or demonstrated proficiency in these areas

Beginning June 2, 2009, candidates must bring the 2009 versions of ICD-9-CM Volumes 1 through 2 (volume 3 is allowed), CPT, and the HCPCS National Level II coding books to the testing center.  Only the American Medical Association CPT code book is permitted.  A medical dictionary is optional. List of Allowable Codebooks CCS-P Required Books and Test Booklet Change CCS-P Recommended Resources Effective June 2, 2009 candidates will recieve a test completion notice in place of a score report.  Those candidates that test between June 2 - 30, 2009 will receive their score reports during the week of August 17th 2009.  Updates for candidates that test after June 30, 2009 will be posted at a later date Candidates without the required codebooks will not be permitted to test and will forfeit their application fee.

• Online CCS-P Exam Registration

• FAQs for the CCS-P Examination

• 2009 CCS-P Application

• 2009 Certification Candidate Guide

• Special Accommodations Form (Form A and B)

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