Pima Community College's HIT Program

I get asked about my schooling experience quite often!

Here is the link to the program: AAS HIT.

Here is the link to the certificate.

Note that I began Summer 2020 and finished Summer 2021. Requirements can and do change!

How long does it take?

When I started, I had already done a lot of pre-requisite classes intending to do nursing. So I had some pre-requisites already done when doing this program. I also quit working (thank you to my husband for supporting me!) and took on hefty loads each semester. I still found it quite manageable but every student is different. I did Summer 2020 10 credits, Fall 2020 13 credits, Spring 2021 15 credits and Summer 2021 10.5 credits. Associates degrees typically take about 2 years. If I were taking the prerequisites and taking it at a normal full-time speed that would be accurate.

How much does it cost?

Well there are a couple factors when answering that. Are you able to use a Pell grant? Yes, but I had already used all of mine. Are you applying for scholarships? I applied to some random ones on Pima's website and ended up being awarded a $900 scholarship! Take your dang chances! Have you already done some prerequisites? Because that'll chip away at the total cost. Are you getting in-state tuition rates? After Everything- tuition, books, CPC exam, I would say I would probably expect to spent around $6,000-$7,000. But this isn't a rinky-dink teach yourself type program. Yes, this is not a university (where you would probably spend more like $20k), this is a real college. If I had Pell grant (FAFSA) left to use, I probably wouldn't have had to pay nearly anything! Fill out that form!!

Can this be done online?

Yes, I did this 100% online!

Is it self-paced?

Mostly no. I say mostly because you can always work ahead, but cannot work slower than the outlined due dates for each class. When I get my syllabus, I put all the due dates into one google doc, color code it and delete each line as I do it. This is so I can see all my classes together in a "timeline" format. I always finished at least a couple weeks ahead of schedule. The first couple weeks are always the hardest. If you feel you are drowning, stick it out! It's a great idea to get ahead just in case you get sick or a family emergency comes up!

Did you like your instructors/Pima?

Oh my gosh, yes! This is probably the best part for me, they were so responsive and helpful!

Did you feel prepared for the CPC exam?

Yes. Every student is different... But I scored an 85% (70% needed to pass) and I believe it only took me 2-2.5 hours (around 5 hours allowed). There are some excellent students and coders out there who scored lower and took longer! HIGHLY recommend you take Contempo Coding's practice exam and TIME YOURSELF to gauge your speed!

Should I do the certificate or the associates degree?

I highly suggest pursuing the associates. The field can be competitive, as any can really. But the growth is definitely there. What's most powerful is getting certified. I got my CPC (Certified Professional Coder) through AAPC. For this field you have two major credentialing organization: AAPC and AHIMA. AHIMA is more stringent I think, and more geared towards hospital coding. AAPC is more towards office coding, but you can ultimately do either.

What do you do now?

I am a revenue cycle specialist with a small business based in Phoenix, AZ, although I work from home. I mainly do medical billing (which I thought I wasn't going to love but I do!), claims follow up, insurance verification, some credentialing. I still utilize my coding knowledge during the revenue cycle process. In short: I make sure the doctors get paid! Coding jobs pay higher, but are harder to get into. Billing is often a great foot-in-the-door avenue. I think it's best to have experience from multiple perspectives anyway!

What's the career outlook?

Check out this nifty tool!

Feel free to ask me any questions!