AAPC Xtern Program

Evaluate potential employees without a hiring commitment

When you join AAPC’s Xtern Program, you are connected with newly certified professional interns who are ready to work with your team. Each intern — or "Xtern" — represents the highest standards in medical coding or billing. There is no cost to participate, and the process is easy:

Step 1 - Register your facility with AAPC

Step 2 - Add a company profile and your free Xtern job posting on the AAPC Job Board

Step 3 - Screen your Xtern applicants

Step 4 - Mentor your Xtern for 160 hours while enjoying the helping hand

Step 5 - Evaluate your Xtern

Join as an employer

Ready to build your dream team?

AAPC's Xtern Program connects you with newly certified professionals who are up-to-date with the latest coding standards and can be fully assessed before hiring, ensuring they’ll be a good fit for your team. Boost capacity, save time, and reduce the risk of bad hires while also supporting the career development of talented individuals.

Become an AAPC Xtern employer today and build your dream team of skilled professionals.

Join as an employer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AAPC Xtern?
AAPC's Xtern program matches certified coding interns (CPC-A) with approved facilities to receive hands-on educational experiences in a professional setting. This apprenticeship provides the chance to work with real medical records, learn from experienced coders, and enhance coding skills on the journey to "A" removal.

When you become an Xtern Program host facility, your organization will experience the advantage of offloading tasks to new coders, easing the workload for your seasoned staff. Additionally, you’ll benefit from recognition from AAPC, as well as the unique opportunity to evaluate an Xtern's work habits and abilities prior to hiring if/when positions become available.

What's the difference between an intern and an Xtern?
While both interns and Xterns are individuals who gain work experience in a professional setting, there are slight variations in the duration, compensation, responsibilities, and formality of the programs they join forces with. In this case, Xterns are individuals who have successfully passed AAPC's CPC exam, qualified with apprentice status (CPC-A), and are looking to complete the post-certification requirements to move out of apprentice status.

AAPC's Xtern Program provides CPC-A's with an avenue to match with qualified employers who have agreed to host Xterns in accordance with program requirements.

How does it work?
AAPC's Xtern Program was designed to match newly certified coders with facilities willing to give them field experience. All Xterns have passed the AAPC national certification exam and many are designated as apprentices, meaning they need experience. For some, the healthcare setting is new. So, they benefit by exposure to systems, vocabulary, and day-to-day operations. Your facility can provide that, while also enjoying the advantage of quality medical coding assistance. The Xterns are very motivated, eager to contribute, and highly trained. There is no cost to the facility to benefit from the Xtern Program.

Xtern Program host facilities are required to:

• Provide 160 hours of Xternship for student intern, either in person or virtual

• Guarantee at least 60% of Xtern time will be focused on work utilizing AAPC credential

• Provide secure access for Xtern to review records

• Provide timely feedback to Xtern on performance

• Complete survey at conclusion of Xternship

• Consideration of employment upon satisfactory completion of Xternship and follow-up training

Can I offer a remote Xternship?
Xterns can sit in the AR, business, front desk/registration, pre-authorization, or the coding and billing departments. While it’s nice to have them onsite, many Xterns prove helpful when contributing remotely. If your Xtern works remotely, it is recommended to have an assigned sponsor to perform routine check-ins and review progress.

How are AAPC Xterns qualified?
Xterns are AAPC members who have successfully gained an AAPC medical coding certification. Xterns agree to adhere to both AAPC’s and the employer’s ethical code of conduct, be willing to receive constructive feedback, and take necessary steps to remedy any identified knowledge gaps.

What type of work can AAPC Xterns do?
AAPC Xterns are certified coding professionals that provide excellent medical coding assistance. But many employers leverage Xterns in other ways to expand their exposure to the healthcare business. For example, Xterns welcome diverse responsibilities, such as records extraction duties, reviewing telemedicine encounters documentation and compliance, double checking documentation in reports, and assisting with patient registration and pre-authorizations. AAPC asks that 60% of their time is spent hands-on with coding duties, but that exposure can come in a variety of ways that can benefit operations.

What about HIPAA and PHI?
The Department of Health and Human Services has published FAQs about this very topic. It states: "The definition of 'health care operations' in the Privacy Rule provides for 'conducting training programs in which students, trainees, or practitioners in areas of health care learn under supervision to practice or improve their skills as health care providers.' Covered entities can shape their policies and procedures for minimum necessary uses and disclosures to permit medical trainees access to patients' medical information, including entire medical records."

Can I hire an AAPC Xtern when their Xternship is complete?
As an Xtern Program host facility, you have the unique opportunity to observe an Xtern as a potential fit for your team at an entry level position. Many host facilities extend offers to their Xterns, but there is no obligation to do so. The great benefit to the AAPC Xtern Program is that the facility has the unique advantage of "trying out the employee" before permanently hiring the person. Whether an Xternship ends in hiring or not, the experience provides invaluable career advancement opportunities.

What if an AAPC Xtern isn’t suited for my team?
If at any time you feel an Xtern is not a good fit, you may release them. As the Xtern Program host facility, you are in complete control of your relationship with your Xterns.