What is a Certified Professional Coder Apprentice?

A Certified Professional Coder Apprentice (CPC-A) is an individual who has passed the AAPC’s Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam but has not yet met the required on-the-job experience to remove the apprentice designation. CPC-As work under supervision to assign medical codes to diagnoses and procedures for billing and insurance purposes. This entry-level role allows individuals to gain hands-on coding experience in healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, or physician offices. Once the required experience is obtained, apprentices can apply to have the 'A' (apprentice) status removed, becoming a Certified Professional Coder (CPC).