Advice on becoming a Clinical Coder

[Whyoohwhyohwhyyyy]

Hello, I wondered if there's anyone on here who could offer advice on becoming a clinical coder please?

I've had a 4 year break from work since having my children and I'm now looking for a total career change! Clinical coding sounds really interesting, however I don't have a medical background whatsoever (I worked in recruitment for most of my career).

From what I've read online I understand I'll need to do some studying to stand a chance of getting a trainee role. I've read that the AMSPAR medical terminology course would be a good place to start. Can anyone advise whether I would need the level 2 award or level 3 certificate? And are there any other courses that I should look at?

When doing some research I've come across apprenticeships, has anyone else taken this route? It seems like a very difficult role to secure without experience, even the trainee roles.

I'd really welcome any advice at all if anyone can help!

Thanks so much

@WiseBiscuit They’ve already tested AI and at the moment it doesn’t work as the subject matter is too grey.

Not for long though, the rate the tech is moving at this job won’t exist in 20 years so it’s a foolish place to go for career longevity.

To add to this I think the only way it can be correctly utilised is to use it for very very simple discharge summaries - blood tests or scans.

Anything more complicated and it just doesn’t work. The data needs to be accurate for epidemiology purposes etc etc.

Thanks for your input but I work in the field and it’s not anything we are concerned about. We are looking forward to it enhancing our work.

Completely agree. I'm a senior clinical coder band 5. We're hoping that the chemo coding can be taken over by AI but there's no way any other specialities will be. Too hard to decipher the notes as it is!

I started clinical coding at an nhs trust after being a clinical receptionist. Before that I worked in a bank and had no previous medical experience.

I earn £38000 per year.

The nhs trust will train you and put you forward for the exam. Be warned, it's hard. The pass rate for the practical is 90%.

I love it as I work from home and so fits around the kids. I'm left alone to get on with my work too, no hassle from managers!

It's a.lot of reading and googling in my experience but I love reading so perfect for me! I think it's a good job for introverts 😉

@GoldViper Thanks! I welcome it but it’s seeming tricky to implement isn’t it even for the simple cases. I think in Scotland a study only managed 60% accuracy with a form of AI coding unfortunately. Nice to meet another coder here, high five!

I've been checking job ads since I first posted, not a single trainee role in my area..
I have seen on gov.uk that you can do an apprenticeship in clinical coding. Has anyone taken this route? Grateful for any advice!

@Whyoohwhyohwhyyyy It’s so niche I don’t think there will be many replies regarding the apprenticeship question. What about calling your local trust’s coding department for advice? See what their usual route is. Good luck!

@Mollohfvh thanks for the reply, I'll see if I can get an email to the local department.

Are you thinking about becoming a clinical coder? That’s awesome! From what I’ve seen, it can be an advantageous path. First off, it’s great to have a good grasp of medical terminology and coding systems like ICD-10 and CPT. Plenty of online courses and resources can help you get started, like those offered by Svast Healthcare United States. Getting certified is a big deal, too; it can open a lot of doors for you. Plus, don’t underestimate the power of networking. Connecting with other coders or joining a coding community can provide super helpful support and insights. The more you code, the better you’ll get. It might initially feel overwhelming, but stick with it, and you’ll find your groove.