The Coding Opportunity
What’s the Opportunity?
SEIU-UHW and our Education Fund have partnered with Western Governors University (WGU) to offer qualified SEIU-UHW members a new education program, including CPC certification, that will open doors to a Medical Coding career and the potential for advancement in healthcare information management.
This is a pilot program for 200 current Ed Fund eligible SEIU-UHW members to participate in a student-centered, competency-based online training, CPC certification, and job-readiness program for Medical Coding. Qualified candidates work their regular job and go to school in their spare time.
Who is Eligible?
Qualified Ed Fund eligible members will have their tuition and fees covered by the Ed Fund while they work their regular job and go to school in their spare time. An initial cohort of 200 members will be selected for the program.
Minimum Requirements for Consideration
- Current Ed Fund eligible employee
- Completed a course in Medical Terminology – or working familiarity with Medical Terminology
- Completed a course in Anatomy & Physiology – or working familiarity with A&P
- Access to high-speed internet
- High school diploma
- High degree of commitment to the program
- Dedicated time for class and study – minimum of 15-20 hours per week outside of work. The more time dedicated the quicker you will move through the program.
- Willingness to invest in development without the guarantee of a job. This is a high-quality, student-centered job-readiness program for a well-compensated job in high demand by our union employers. We are working with these employers to make sure the program matches their needs. But this is not a guarantee of employment.
What is WGU?
Western Governors University is a non-profit online university offering high-quality student-centered adult education. They pioneered competency-based education, meaning that students progress through courses as soon as they can prove they’ve mastered the material, instead of advancing only when the semester or term ends. WGU currently has more than 113,000 students and more than 130,000 graduates.
What is the Name of the Program and What does it Cover?
The WGU Medical Coding Career Advancement Program (MCCAP) will prepare and advance each student with skills required for a career in medical coding. The program contains three courses delivered by experts in the field. The courses will cover:
- Inter-professional communication and leadership in healthcare,
- Fundamental medical coding skills for professional services, CPT, HCPCS and ICD-10-CM coding,
- Preparation to sit for the CPC exam
- Medical Coder Certificate
- AAPC letter of practical experience
- An industry accepted encoder with cases
- Job readiness
Each student will have a personal mentor to help along the course of study – toward job readiness.
What is the Timeline?
Monday, February 11 – Application Survey launches
Friday, February 22 – Application Survey CLOSES
March – Student Acceptance and Orientation
April – Program Begins
When Does the Program End?
Students go through the program at their own pace with instructors and mentors. The online program is designed to be completed in as little as 6 months for ‘sprinters’ but others may take up to 12 months. Most people will finish the program in about 9 months.
What Does This Cost?
Ed Fund eligible students will have their tuition, books, and fees paid for by the Ed Fund including CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II code books. Students will need to provide their own computer and access to high speed internet.
I'm Not Eligible for the Ed Fund. Is There an Opportunity for Me?
Initially, the MCCAP beta program will help 200 SEIU-UHW members train for a well-compensated job in high demand. It will serve as a case study for SEIU-UHW and our Ed Fund working in partnership with WGU to help us imagine how we will build programs like this for thousands of UHW members, families and friends in the future.
How Do I Learn More?
Email us at opportunity@seiu-uhw.org