I remember when I first started looking into remote nursing jobs. I kept seeing the same phrase over and over again: CPC certification. I had no clue if it was worth getting, but the more I researched, the more I noticed a pattern: many of the jobs that interested me (little to zero phone time) mentioned it as either required or preferred.
This was back in 2018, and searching for remote nursing jobs wasn’t as easy as it is now. Some of you may remember that typing “remote” for a location on job board searches usually pulled up openings in Remote, Oregon. So I spent hours combing through career pages manually, trying to find something that fit with my experience. And eventually, I realized getting my CPC certification might open the door to more of the roles I actually wanted.
I made a plan to start studying until a job came along that didn’t require the certification yet still aligned with what I was looking for. I took it. About six months into that role, I was asked if I wanted to get additional training to take the CPC exam. Absolutely, yes! I got certified, and it’s been part of my remote nursing career story ever since.
But I also know that not every nurse is going to have that kind of on-the-job opportunity handed to them. So, if you’re trying to figure out how to become an RN coder and you’re not sure where to start or whether the CPC is even worth it, this blog post will walk you through your options.
What to Know About the CPC Certification for Nurses
Once nurses start looking into non-bedside or remote roles, CPC certification from AAPC is one of the first things they come across. It’s not required for every job, but it shows up often, especially in job descriptions related to auditing, documentation review, claims, and coding support roles.
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential is widely recognized in professional coding. For nurses, it can help demonstrate that you understand how to work with ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS code sets, even if you’re not the one assigning them.
A quick heads up, though: passing the CPC exam doesn’t immediately make you a full CPC. If you don’t have prior coding experience, AAPC grants you a CPC-A status (the “A” stands for Apprentice). You can remove the apprentice status by:
- Gaining 2 years of relevant on-the-job coding experience, or
- Completing 1 year of experience plus AAPC’s Practicode online module (which simulates real coding cases)
Some employers will help you complete the CPC-A requirements through on-the-job training. Others will list jobs as “CPC-A accepted,” especially for audit support or entry-level review roles.
How to Get Started with Medical Coding as a Nurse
You don’t need to go back to school full-time or leave your nursing job to start learning medical coding. Most nurses explore it on the side and work toward certification at their own pace. Here’s a practical step-by-step guide to research medical billing and coding options for nurses.
1. Learn the Basics
Start by getting familiar with what medical coding actually involves to make sure it’s something you want to invest further in. Watch free tutorials, browse AAPC’s sample questions, or review common code types like ICD-10-CM, CPT®, and HCPCS Level II. These are the core code sets used in many roles, and you’ll see them mentioned often in job descriptions, even in positions where you’re not doing the coding yourself.
Start by getting familiar with what medical coding actually involves. You’ll be working with ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS code sets, and it helps to understand how these systems work before diving into full certification prep.
AAPC offers a free mini-course that gives you a no-cost introduction to medical billing and coding concepts. It’s a solid place to start if you’re still figuring out whether this path is the right fit. 👉 Try the free AAPC introduction course here
You can also check out free YouTube videos at Contempo Coding, free courses at Certification Coaching Organization (CCO) or CPC sample questions (PocketPrep or Quizlet) to see how coding logic works in real practice. Coursera also offers a low-cost introductory/fundamentals course on medical billing and coding.
2. Review Job Descriptions Closely
Job titles in this space aren’t consistent across companies, nor are the tasks/duties the same for every role. Roles that involve coding knowledge might be listed as “RN Coder,” “Nurse Auditor,” “Documentation Specialist,” “FWA Nurse Reviewer,” or even “Utilization Review Nurse” because coding knowledge in general is helpful for most types of remote nursing roles.
What matters most is the language in the job description. If you see terms like ICD-10, CPT, or HCPCS, or references to coding reviews or documentation audits, that’s usually a signal that CPC certification is relevant, even if the role isn’t labeled “coder.”
Still unsure which certification aligns best with your goals? 👉 Remote Nursing Certifications: Which Ones Actually Help You Get Hired?
3. Choose a Certification Path
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential from AAPC is one of the most widely accepted certifications for nurses who work in roles involving documentation review, audit support, utilization management, or fraud and abuse review. It certifies your proficiency in coding professional (provider-based) services across most inpatient and outpatient care settings.
You’ll need a prep course before sitting for the CPC certification exam. Here are some options to consider:
- AAPC directly
- Community colleges (often labeled “medical coding and billing”)
- Online training programs geared toward the CPC exam
If you’re looking at roles that specifically involve inpatient coding, DRG assignment, or abstracting complete hospital records, you may also come across listings that mention AHIMA’s Certified Coding Specialist (CCS). The CCS is another advanced credential covering both inpatient and outpatient coding, and it’s often preferred in hospital HIM departments and is an alternative coding credential option for roles related to Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI).
That said, the CPC certification from AAPC is more commonly listed in remote nursing job descriptions and is typically the most accessible and versatile certification to start with, but it really just depends on which specific jobs you are targeting would be the best for you individually to obtain.
4. Study and Sit for the CPC Exam (or another cert that matches your target job)
The CPC exam is open book and proctored either in person or virtually. You read that right: open book. Because honestly, who could possibly memorize all of those codes?
But don’t let that give you a false sense of ease. The challenge isn’t about recall, it’s about knowing how to use the code books, apply guidelines correctly, and move through real-world scenarios under timed conditions. That takes practice.
Most nurses study part-time over the course of 2–3 months, often using a structured CPC prep course along with self-study tools.
In addition to taking a course, you’ll need to purchase the official code books used on the exam. These are required and must be the correct year and format.
Recommended Code Books (2025 Editions)
Additional Study Resources
- Step-By-Step Medical Coding Textbook (2025)
- Step-By-Step Medical Coding Workbook (2025)
- Medical Terminology & Anatomy for Coding
Flashcards and Study Guide Options
- Mometrix CPC Flashcards – great for reinforcing key concepts
- Mometrix Study Guide
Want everything in one place? You can find all of these recommended materials in one Amazon list, so you can bookmark or come back to it later: 👉 Shop the full CPC exam study list on Amazon
Having these materials early on and getting familiar with how to use them makes a big difference once you start working through practice questions and mock exams.
5. Understand What CPC-A Means
After passing the exam, you’ll receive CPC-A status, meaning Certified Professional Coder, Apprentice. It simply means you haven’t logged formal coding experience yet. Some roles do hire CPC-As, and it shows employers that you’ve completed your coursework and are ready to grow on the job.
You can remove the “A” by:
- Logging 2 years of coding-related experience, or
- Completing 1 year of experience plus AAPC’s Practicode, a self-paced tool that simulates real coding scenarios
- Read AAPC’s full Apprentice Removal Requirement Here
Some employers will offer externships or on-the-job training that counts toward your apprentice removal period.
6. Update Your Resume with Transferable Skills
Your nursing background already gives you a head start, especially in medical terminology, documentation review, EHR navigation, attention to detail, and chart abstraction. Even if you haven’t coded in a job yet, show off relevant transferable job skills and clearly state that you’re CPC certified (or apprentice status) or actively preparing for the exam.
Check out these blog posts to learn more about resumes and how to navigate the application process because simply adding a certification to your resume likely won’t be enough to get your resume into the hands of a hiring manager.
👉 Grab your free ATS-friendly remote nurse resume template here
What Nurse Coders Actually Do (and Why It’s Not Always What You Think)
Most people assume coding is just about assigning numbers to diagnoses or procedures. But if you’re a nurse moving into a role that involves coding, or even just working with codes, it’s more nuanced than that.
In many healthcare settings, medical coders handle the initial assignment of codes using CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 systems. But nurses often come in later to review the documentation and make sure everything lines up. That could mean catching missing details, verifying that the codes reflect the actual care provided, or flagging documentation that doesn’t support what was billed. Sometimes, nurses in these roles also educate providers on better documentation practices.
Where this shows up can vary depending on the employer. In hospitals, nurse coders may work closely with coding, appeals, or CDI teams. In insurance companies or third-party vendors, the work might lean more into claims review, fraud/waste/abuse (FWA) detection, or appeals and denials. These reviews may happen before claims are submitted (concurrent review) or after they’ve already been processed (retrospective review).
Basically, you’re acting as a clinical translator, bridging the gap between what happened in the clinical setting and what’s reflected in the code sets and documentation. This helps ensure the patient, the provider, and the payer are all seeing the same picture.
Some roles will have “nurse coder” in the title, but many don’t involve assigning codes directly. The value comes from your ability to understand both the clinical side and the language of coding.
Nurses in utilization review, HEDIS abstraction, CDI, and even some case management roles often work with coded data or make decisions based on it. Knowing how to read and interpret those codes helps bridge the gap between clinical documentation and billing systems and that can prevent costly mistakes for both patients and providers.
Most nurses who get a coding certification work for insurance companies, hospitals, or third-party vendors. Many of these roles are fully remote or hybrid. Job titles might include “RN coder,” “medical coder,” “clinical documentation specialist,” or “coding quality auditor.”
What the Day-to-Day Looks Like in Medical Coding Jobs for Nurses
In most coding-related roles, nurses spend their day reviewing medical records, not just for what’s documented, but also for what might be missing or unclear. You’re asking clinical questions like:
- Does the documentation support the codes that were assigned?
- Do the billed services match the care that was actually provided?
- Are there gaps or inconsistencies that could trigger a denial or audit?
This kind of work is common in roles like fraud/waste/abuse (FWA) review, utilization review, clinical documentation improvement (CDI), and appeals and denials. You may not be the one assigning the codes, but you’re making sure what’s billed makes sense based on the record. That clinical lens is exactly what sets nurse coders apart.
You’ll often work in electronic health records (EHRs), claims systems, or chart auditing tools. In CDI or concurrent review roles, you might also be involved in provider education, helping teams improve documentation so it better reflects the care delivered and supports accurate coding.
Even as AI technology becomes more common in areas like HEDIS abstraction or coding audits, it’s not replacing clinical judgment. Algorithms can pull data, but they often miss context. Knowing whether something actually meets the intent of a measure or guideline still requires a human who understands both the patient and the code set. That’s where nurses with coding knowledge are hard to replace.
If you’ve ever prepared a discharge summary, caught a documentation gap mid-shift, or had to piece together a story from half-written notes, you already have the instincts. Coding work is just a more structured version of something nurses already do well: chart review, pattern recognition, and critical thinking.
Why Coding Knowledge Goes Beyond Coding Roles
Not every nurse who gets CPC certified ends up working as a full-time medical coder. Coding knowledge opens doors far beyond coding itself for nurses in other revenue integrity roles.
Understanding documentation, code sets, and how those tie into reimbursement makes you a stronger candidate in several nursing roles that don’t require you to assign codes but do require you to work with them.
Here are a few examples:
- Utilization Review – determining medical necessity based on clinical documentation and code sets
- HEDIS Abstraction – pulling quality metrics from coded diagnoses and procedures
- Appeals and Denials – reviewing denied claims and writing clinical responses that support payment
- Case Management – understanding what services are billable, covered, or require prior authorization
- Fraud/Waste/Abuse (FWA) Auditing – ensuring documentation supports what was billed, catching red flags early
- Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) – working with providers to strengthen the link between documentation and accurate coding
- Risk Adjustment Coding – reviewing charts to ensure chronic conditions are accurately documented and coded, especially in value-based care models
These roles rely on someone who can connect the dots between what’s written in the chart, how it’s coded, and how it gets reimbursed. Nurses who understand that full picture, both the clinical and the coding side, bring a lot of value to these teams.
Most nurses were never taught this in school. But once you start learning how it works, you’ll see why so many non-bedside roles ask for CPC certification (or even CRC), even if they’re not traditional coding jobs.
My Experience Taking the CPC Exam as a Nurse
When I accepted a new remote nursing job, I didn’t need a CPC to get hired, but a few months in, the opportunity came up to take the certification through employer-sponsored training. I said yes right away because I already knew where I wanted to take my career.
I had been researching remote nursing career options and kept seeing job titles like appeals and denials nurse, FWA or SIU investigator, and utilization review nurse.
A common thread I noticed among all of those roles? CPC certification. I wasn’t necessarily trying to become a full-time coder, I was focused on roles that blended my nursing background with documentation review and decision-making.
Studying for the CPC while working full-time was a challenge, but it felt manageable because I had already spent years reviewing clinical documentation. Once I understood the structure of the code sets and the logic behind how coding works, it started to click. I didn’t need to memorize everything, I needed to know how to look it up and apply it based on what I was seeing in the chart.
I went through the coding prep course offered by AAPC in a few month’s time, going to classes after work (online) a few days a week but studying every day to keep up. The exam itself is challenging, and the prep course definitely prepared me for the exam to pass. I definitely would not recommend taking the exam without going through a reputable course first.
Even though I didn’t jump into a traditional coding job right away, having the CPC opened doors. I felt more confident applying to roles that mentioned coding experience or asked for CPC as a preferred qualification. And in interviews, I could speak clearly to the connection between what nurses do every day, document, review, catch inconsistencies, and what’s expected in revenue integrity roles.
Getting the CPC wasn’t about switching careers completely, it was about strategically building a bridge to the kind of remote role I knew I wanted.
Common Questions Nurses Ask About Becoming a Coder
Do I need bedside experience to get hired as a nurse coder?
It helps, but it’s not always required; it really just depends on the job description. Roles accepting nurses without prior bedside experience will be rare and more challenging to land. Some companies care more about how well you understand documentation and can learn the coding systems.
Is the CPC harder than the NCLEX?
It’s very different. CPC is open-book but detail-heavy. You don’t need to memorize everything, it’s about knowing where to look and how to apply the guidelines in a timed setting. I’ve taken lots of nursing certification exams, so don’t let the fact that this exam is an open book fool you into thinking you don’t need to prep or study!
How long does it take to get hired after getting certified?
It really depends. Getting your CPC, whether you’re credentialed as CPC-A or full CPC, won’t automatically get you hired. It still takes intentional effort: tailoring your resume, applying strategically, networking, and reaching out to recruiters.
Where the certification helps most is once you get into the interview process. You’ll be able to speak the language of coding, understand what the job actually involves, and make a stronger case for how your nursing background connects to the role. That makes you a more confident, competitive candidate, especially for entry-level roles that tend to be very competitive.
Do I have to stop being a nurse?
Not at all.
Many nurses who transition into coding, utilization review, or revenue integrity roles keep their licenses active and continue working PRN or per diem. Others step fully away from direct patient care, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped being nurses.
These roles still require clinical judgment, critical thinking, and attention to documentation, skills you’ve built at the bedside. But now, you’re applying them in a way that protects patients, supports providers, and strengthens the system.
When nurses are involved in appeals, audits, or fraud/waste/abuse (FWA) investigations, we can:
- Advocate for appropriate claim approvals when care was clearly needed
- Identify documentation gaps that could lead to denial or delay in treatment
- Catch billing inconsistencies that may need clarification or correction
- Help reduce unnecessary healthcare costs tied to errors or misuse
It’s not just administrative work, it’s advocacy. And it matters.
Nurses are needed in all areas of healthcare. That includes the behind-the-scenes work that ensures patients are treated fairly, documentation reflects what really happened, and reimbursement is accurate and ethical.
You’re still a nurse. You’re just showing up for patients in a different way.
Are there other certifications besides CPC?
Yes. AAPC also offers the CRC (Certified Risk Adjustment Coder), which is great for roles in Medicare Advantage and value-based care.
AHIMA offers additional coding certifications as well. The CCS certification is very similar to the CPC that AAPC offers.
Is the salary lower than bedside nursing?
In some cases, yes, especially when you’re first starting out (but it can be very dependent on your location, too). It’s not always a direct comparison. Coding and documentation roles often come with more stable hours, less physical demand, and benefits that aren’t always reflected in hourly pay alone (like PTO, remote flexibility, or annual bonuses).
Also, keep in mind that this is a skill set you’re still building. Just like you needed orientation and time to grow at the bedside, there’s a learning curve here, too. Nurses aren’t taught medical billing or coding in school, so your first role may require some additional training or entry-level pay.
That said, once you’ve had a year or so of experience and your CPC-A status is removed, your options expand. You may qualify for promotions internally or be able to move into higher-paying roles like FWA auditing, CDI, or lead quality review positions.
Many nurses find that over time, they not only regain but often exceed what they would have made had they stayed at the bedside.
Remote and corporate healthcare roles tend to offer more meaningful raises than the typical 1–2% annual increase in hospital settings, and advancement isn’t limited to a traditional charge nurse or clinical ladder path. With experience, you can move into roles with higher responsibility, better pay, and more autonomy, all while maintaining a better work-life balance.
Glassdoor is a great place to research salaries and job titles based on your location.
Why Becoming an RN Coder Is More Than Just a Career Change
If you’re thinking about how to become an RN coder, here’s something worth remembering: you’re not walking away from nursing, you’re expanding what it means to be a nurse.
Medical coding, documentation review, appeals, utilization review, these roles sit at the intersection of care, compliance, and access. They shape whether a patient’s treatment is approved, how providers get paid, and how healthcare systems manage resources. If nurses don’t have a seat at that table, who’s left to advocate for the patient?
Some nurses worry that working for an insurance company means denying care or feeling disconnected from patients. But the truth is, nurses in these roles often do the opposite. You’re the one reviewing a denial and recognizing that the documentation missed something important. You’re the one who sees the clinical picture clearly and pushes for what’s appropriate and medically necessary.
And that’s where coding knowledge becomes powerful.
If you’re a nurse who wants to grow professionally, expand your skills, and still make a difference, just from a different vantage point, medical coding could be your next step. The CPC certification gives you a foundation that supports more than coding jobs. It helps you step into review, quality, auditing, FWA, appeals, and even leadership positions.
Nurses are needed in all areas of healthcare. That includes the parts most patients never see but that deeply impact their experience, their bills, and their access to care.
You don’t have to change everything overnight. You just need to start learning something new that builds on what you already know and this time, it might just open the door to a more flexible, sustainable future in nursing.
Remote Nurse Connection is proudly Ad-free. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read full disclosure here.
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