Certified medical coders on average earn a much higher salary. It is a challenging but lucrative job, and so there is no shortage of people wanting to get into it. The certification exams, such as those from AAPC and AHIMA, are not easy exams. This is despite the fact that candidates are required to have at least two years of work experience prior to applying. Even seasoned coders can have problems with the CPC exam. So what separates those who can pass the certification exam and those who don't?

1. Develop your selfconfidence to help you
pass the CPC exam
Written by Jim H May
(http://howtostudyforcpcexam.com/)

2. Certified medical coders on average earn a much higher salary. It is a challenging but lucrative
job, and so there is no shortage of people wanting to get into it. The certification exams, such
as those from AAPC and AHIMA, are not easy exams. This is despite the fact that candidates are
required to have at least two years of work experience prior to applying. Even seasoned coders
can have problems with the CPC exam. So what separates those who can pass the certification
exam and those who don't?
You've probably heard about the horror stories or grim statistics from online forums or friends
about the average passing rate of the CPC exams. It almost seems like a test designed to break
your willpower as you have to finish the exam in five plus hours with no breaks in between. So
how do you get an extra edge to help you pass the CPC exam?
Despite the 60% average failure rate, you don't necessarily have to be one of them! There are
plenty of people who do pass the CPC exam on their first try. It is just a matter of preparedness
and self-confidence. See how much of a difference it makes when you know that a lot of people
actually do succeed getting certified in the CPC exam the first time, and compare that when you
were reading the previous paragraph with a gloomy outlook. Having self-confidence helps to
set your mind to focus on how to study for the CPC exam, not how you might fail at it.
Even if you've taken it the first time and have not passed, then you should be even more
confident simply because you've been through it. You already know what tripped you up last
time, so just continue moving forward and get certified.
So why is self-confidence so important?
Approaching the CPC exam in the correct frame of mind helps everything to flow smoothly
whether its ideas, memory, motor skills, etc. This is because your mind is actively engaged at
solving problems. You've effectively "primed" your mind and body to succeed.
Self-confidence is also measure of your preparedness. Self-confidence doesn't just appear from
nowhere, it builds from within when you do things right. If you find yourself getting more

3. confident from your study and review, then you're on the right path. Think of preparedness as a
simulation in your mind. You are simulating the exam day, imagining what questions might
appear and then having the answers or at least the steps you will take to refer to your coding
book to answer it.
You will need to be careful about feeling confident without any preparation. That would be selfdelusion. The other reason why self-confidence is important is because being the opposite of it
is far worse. Being nervous, having anxiety and self-doubt will slow you down in the exam hall.
It is like constantly having an internal battle in your mind that distracts you from the task at
hand.
So keep in mind that confidence is as important as your medical coding knowledge and
experience when it comes to studying for the CPC exam. Psychologists at Goldsmiths University
in London performed a study of 7 to 10 year old children that suggests that the children who
achieved the best results in school tended to rate their own abilities highly, even after
accounting for differences due to intelligence and environment. Would you rather be positive,
confident, and relaxed walking into an exam hall or a complete mess of negative emotions?
Further build your confidence and exam skills, find out how here now.
Jim regularly updates his website HowToStudyForCPCExam, about how to prepare and study for
medical coding certification, medical coding in general, the certification exam, and related news about
the industry. You'll find more great tips and useful resources to help you get certified.
Click on this link to visit Jim’s website now!