2009 Specialty Credentials
October 14th, 2008
We’ve learned a lot in the year we’ve offered specialized certification. For 2009, we will be implementing a number of improvements to what will be 18 specialty credentials, allowing health care professionals to demonstrate superior levels of expertise in selected disciplines.
| Specialty | Credential* |
Distance Learning
Availability |
2009 Exam Availability |
| Anesthesia | CANC | January 1 | January 1 |
| Cardiology | CCC | January 1 | January 1 |
| E/M Auditor | CEMC | January 1 | January 1 |
| Family Practice | CFPC | January 1 | January 1 |
| General Surgery
|
CGSC | January 1 | January 1 |
| Obstetrics/Gynecology | COBGC | January 1 | January 1 |
| Orthopaedics |
COSC | January 1 | January 1 |
| Ambulatory Surgical Center
|
CASCC | January 20 | January 20 |
| Cardiovascular and Thoracic | CCVTC | January 20 | January 20 |
| Dermatology |
CPCD | January 20 | January 20 |
| Emergency Department | CEDC | January 20 | January 20 |
| Internal Medicine | CIMC | January 20 | January 20 |
| Otolaryngology | CENTC | January 20 | January 20 |
| Pediatrics | CPEDC | January 20 | January 20 |
| Gastroenterology | CGIC | February 15 | February 15 |
| Plastic and Reconstructive | CPRC | February 15 | February 15 |
| Rheumatology | CRHC | February 15 | February 15 |
| Urology | CUC | February 15 | February 15 |
| * Please note the credential name change for 2009 | |||
Changes for 2009:
- Specialty credentials will be stand-alone certifications with no requirement to hold a CPC®, CPC-H® or CPC-P® credential (please note the name change for credentials listed in the table above).
- Exams will more aptly measure preparedness for “real world” coding by being operative/patient-note based.
- Exams will be 5 1/2 hours in length.
- Exam preparation will be available through online operative/patient-note based distance learning.
Note: Existing specialty certified members will be grandfathered and receive an updated certificate in January 2009.