Professional Coder PLUS

The Professional Coder PLUS (PC+) program is offered in partnership with the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Licensed instructors teach our PC course and graduates are eligible to take the CPC certification exam. The AAPC curriculum and educational resources are used to teach the program.

The Professional Coder Plus (PC+) program includes medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology and an extensive understanding of the electronic health record, all of which serve as the foundation for proficient coding practices. Students are introduced to several techniques for identifying and applying the correct codes in today’s standard coding systems. The program utilizes lecture, textbooks, coding books, power points, computer programs, online coding exercises through AAPC, and hands-on demonstration in order to become skilled as a coder in any medical setting.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to: properly audit patient records for compliance; accurately abstract clinical information for reports; comply with all HIPAA requirements; identify the purpose of CPT, ICD-10-CM code set, and HCPCS Level II code books; understand and apply the official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines; apply coding conventions when assigning diagnosis and procedure codes; explain the determination of the levels of E/M services; and provide practical application of coding operative reports and evaluation and management services.

The Most Successful Billing and Coding Program in Chattanooga. Our 20-week program fully prepares you for a career as a Professional Billing and Coding Specialist. You receive focused one-on-one instruction from our certified instructors.

Attend School with No Money Out of Pocket. With Pell Grants and Student Loans available, you may graduate with little or no student loan debt. Qualifying students may also receive money to use for living expenses while they attend school as well.

Our Graduates Get Jobs! The Academy partners with every major hospital and physician’s group in the greater Chattanooga area. Over 96% of the Academy’s graduates go to work in their chosen field immediately upon graduation!

The Academy is a Unique and Special Place! Read our reviews on Google and Facebook and you’ll see that our students love our culture and how different we are from other colleges and universities. Our amazing instructors and relaxed environment allow our students to grow both personally and professionally.

In order to be considered for admission prospective students must attend a Career Overview session to gain information about the programs offered and expectations, interview with Academy staff, and complete the entrance assessment (basic reading and math skills; results are used for advisement purposes only and no passing score is identified). Applicants then submit an official high school or GED transcript, a copy of a government approved photo ID and a completed Program Application/Enrollment Agreement. Students sponsored by WIOA or any other funding source are interviewed a second time by Academy staff.

Day class. Total class time is 20 weeks and is scheduled for Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:30pm. Clinicals are not required for this course.

The catalog also lists a 39-week night class (Monday-Thursday 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) that may be available; the current schedule lists day classes only.

Start dates. The next day class starts 2/15/2027 (completion 6/28/2027).

Program costs.

• Registration Fee $100.00 (non-refundable)
• Books Fee $570.00
• Materials Fee $395.00
• Tuition $7,600.00
• Technology Fee $450.00
• Student ID Badge $15.00

Additional cost.

• AAPC Membership $145.00
• AAPC Student Online Portal $400.00
• CPC Study Guide & Practice Exam $100.00
• CPC Exam (2 attempts) $475.00
• EHRS National Certification Exam $150.00

Total Program Cost: $10,400.00.

Additional supplies. Students will need general school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper and highlighters. Coding guidelines and requirements change annually, therefore students are required to have the most current editions of all textbooks.

Federal aid. The Academy of Allied Health Careers participates in the Federal Pell Grant program as well as Federal Student Loans, and this program does qualify for students to receive Title IV funding. Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov using the Academy’s Federal School Code 042942.

Payment plans. With the Interest-Free Payment Plan at The Academy of Allied Health Careers, you can manage your education expenses by paying tuition over the course of several months while you are attending classes, rather than in one lump sum. There are absolutely NO interest charges or additional fees.

Other assistance. The Academy is an eligible training provider for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, and the SNAP Employment & Training Program (SNAP E&T). The Academy is also approved by the Tennessee State Approving Agency for the training of veterans and their eligible dependents (GI Bill®).

Deadline. The deadline to apply for Financial Aid is 2 weeks prior to each program’s start date. The Academy cannot guarantee access to Financial Aid resources after this deadline.

Upon completion of this program, the student is eligible to take the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by the AAPC. The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is the gold standard for medical coding in the physician office and hospital settings. Prepare yourself to meet the industry demand by becoming a Certified Professional Coder and increase your chances of being hired in a competitive job market.

Our 20-week program fully prepares you for a career as a Professional Billing and Coding Specialist. Starting annual salaries can exceed $50,000 in our area.

Program completion and placement rates. The Academy refers students to its Annual Performance Report filed with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for program completion and placement rates. For Professional Coder Plus (PC+), the Annual Performance Report for Reporting Year 2023-2024 (July 1, 2023 thru June 30, 2024; report date 12/26/2024) shows:

• Program Enrollment: 36
• Number of Completions: 19; Completion Rate: 100.0%
• Number Placeable: 12; Total Placed In-Field: 12; In-Field Placement Rate: 100.0%

The Academy is located at 5600 Brainerd Rd., Suite B-38, Eastgate Town Center, Chattanooga TN 37411. The Academy is in a one-story building business complex with ample parking and is well lit for evening classes. Occupying over 17,000 square feet of space which includes: 3 restrooms, 15 offices, 6 classrooms equipped with desks and chairs, student resource center, conference room equipped with table & chairs, phlebotomy lab, bed/skills lab, triage lab, file and storage rooms, break room for students, staff break room, and copy/supply rooms. Classrooms are equipped with dry erase boards, projectors, computers, and supply cabinets.

Dress code. The Academy expects students to adhere to a professional dress code as expected in the health care field. Uniforms are required for some programs.

Placement. We do not promise employment; however, we do monitor and facilitate student placement upon program completion.