AAPC vs AHIMA: Which Certification Body Should You Choose?

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) was established in 1988 to provide education and certification for professionals working in medical coding, billing, auditing, compliance, and revenue cycle management. AAPC reports 220,000+ members worldwide. The organization maintains a network of 500+ local chapters where members earn continuing education credits and network with peers.

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) was founded in 1928, making it nearly 60 years older than AAPC. AHIMA's scope extends beyond coding into health information management (HIM), data integrity, privacy, and health information technology. AHIMA has approximately 103,000 members and manages state-level component associations in all 50 states.

The practical difference: AAPC grew up around physician-office and outpatient coding, while AHIMA has deeper roots in hospital-based HIM departments. Both organizations are nationally recognized, and neither credential is inherently "better" than the other. The right choice depends on the healthcare setting where you plan to work.

AAPC credentials focus on coding, billing, auditing, and compliance:

CPC (Certified Professional Coder) is AAPC's flagship credential, designed for outpatient and physician-office coders. It's the most widely held medical coding certification in the U.S. Exam: 100 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, open codebook, 70% passing score. Cost: $425 for one attempt, $499 for two attempts.

Other AAPC credentials: COC (outpatient hospital coding), CIC (inpatient hospital coding), CPB (billing specialist), CPMA (coding auditor), and 15+ specialty credentials including CEMC, CIRCC, and CRC (risk adjustment/HCC coding).

AHIMA credentials span coding and broader HIM roles:

CCA (Certified Coding Associate) is AHIMA's entry-level coding credential, covering both outpatient and inpatient coding fundamentals. Cost: $199 for AHIMA members, $299 for non-members. CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) is AHIMA's advanced credential, heavily weighted toward inpatient hospital coding. Cost: $399 for members, $499 for non-members.

Other AHIMA credentials: CCS-P (physician-based coding), CDIP (documentation improvement), RHIT (health info technician, requires associate degree), RHIA (health info administrator, requires bachelor's degree).

The choice between AAPC and AHIMA depends on where you want to work and what kind of coding you want to do.

Choose AAPC (CPC) if: You plan to work in a physician office, outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgery center, or billing company. The CPC is the most commonly requested credential in job postings for outpatient coding roles. AAPC also has the largest local chapter network, which is useful for networking and earning CEUs.

Choose AHIMA (CCA or CCS) if: You want to work in a hospital HIM department, inpatient facility, or health system. The CCS is the credential most recognized by hospital employers, especially for inpatient DRG-based coding. If you're earlier in your career, the CCA is a lower-cost entry point at $199-$299 before moving up to the CCS.

If budget is a primary concern, AHIMA's CCA ($199-$299) costs less than AAPC's CPC ($425-$499). AHIMA's annual membership ($129) is also lower than AAPC's ($222). The total first-year cost difference is about $200 to $300.

Yes, and many experienced coders do exactly this. There's no restriction on holding credentials from both organizations. A CPC plus a CCS covers you for both outpatient and inpatient settings, which maximizes your job flexibility and earning potential.

The trade-off is cost and maintenance. You'll need to maintain separate memberships (roughly $350/yr combined) and meet each organization's continuing education requirements independently. For most coders, the salary premium justifies the investment, especially for those who want the option to move between practice settings.

If you're just starting out, pick the credential that matches your target work setting, get certified, gain experience, and add the other organization's credential later if it makes sense for your career path. For a deeper look at salary outcomes by certification, see our salary guide.

AAPC membership ($222/yr) includes access to 500+ local chapters, the Healthcare Business Monthly magazine (with CEU quizzes), online coding forums, a job board, and member discounts on training materials and conference registration. Student memberships are available at $157/yr.

AHIMA membership (~$129/yr) includes access to the Body of Knowledge online library, the Journal of AHIMA, state component association membership, career resources, and continuing education opportunities. AHIMA's scope extends beyond coding into broader HIM topics, so membership resources cover data analytics, privacy, and health IT.

Both organizations require continuing education to maintain active credentials. AAPC's requirement is 36 CEUs every 2 years for CPC holders, with at least 24 in your primary credential area. AHIMA requirements vary by credential. Free CEU sources are available through both organizations' chapter events, online webinars, and publications.