At Towson University Continuing & Professional Studies, we are inspired by students who go above and beyond to achieve their professional goals. Mackenzie Enderlein wanted a change and saw healthcare as the perfect pivot. Read on to learn more about Mackenzie’s motivating story.
Tell us a little about your background
I live in a small town on the very edges of Maryland. Since we’re pretty far away from most places it’s just easier to try and get hired somewhere in town. One place that is always hiring was a chain grocery store that was five minutes from my home. I ended up working there for three and a half years. I was feeling trapped and wanted something new. My family pointed out that I had saved enough money to pay for a certification course and it would give me an opportunity to improve myself and my future. That’s when I really started looking into what could be next for me.
What prompted you to pursue both the medical coding and medical billing certifications?
I first learned about it by looking up different jobs that could be gotten with certifications online. I wanted something that would stimulate my mind and had the possibility of working remotely. Both medical coding and medical billing fit those requirements. I ended up doing a lot of research on the Certified Professional Medical Coding Course and Medical Billing Course and learned that having both certifications could help me with getting a job. So, I decided to start with medical billing, mostly because it would give me basic knowledge in medical coding, which I knew would give me a leg up when taking certified professional medical coding classes.
Why did you choose to take these programs with Towson University?
I chose to take both programs at Towson University mostly because it’s in Maryland. I found out about the courses through a Google search. I found that Towson fit all of my requirements for school. It had online, self-paced options, and offered both the Medical Billing Course and Certified Professional Medical Coding Course. It was a great way to prep for someone who didn’t have any previous medical knowledge.
What made you choose the self-paced option over the instructor led course?
I chose the self-paced option for multiple reasons. The biggest one being that I live pretty far away from Towson. The second reason was that I like being able to go at my own pace when I learn. I know I can be fast paced when I’m learning something because I enjoy getting things done and I enjoy the challenge. On top of all that I’m also a rather shy person and prefer to be in a less crowded environment.
What did you gain from our program?
Obviously, I learned a lot of foundational knowledge about medical coding and billing, as well as things like medical definitions, surgery, and anesthesia. Between the two courses, I think I enjoyed learning about medical coding more. I enjoy searching through the coding books and putting together the codes. It’s sort of like a puzzle to me. Being able to figure out the codes and put them in the right order is rewarding. The same goes for being able to go through a billing form and see what matches and what doesn’t.
Could you talk about the instructor and how she may have helped prepare you for the certification exam?
I had a great instructor. Even though I did the self-paced courses, which didn’t require me to interact with her much. She was very kind and helpful when I would email her asking questions. She was very helpful when I got closer to me taking my final exam. She even called me and explained different aspects of billing that I was rather confused about. She also gave me good advice on what would help me on the exam. For example, both the Certified Professional Coder and Certified Professional Biller exams you can have some notes as long as they’re in your coding books. She gave me an idea of what I can write down, such as the acronyms and what they actually mean, what I should underline in my guidelines, or codes so I don’t forget that they require specific things. She also reminded me that even if I fail my first time it’s okay. I can take the test again and the fact that I was doing this without previous medical knowledge was admirable. I though that was very kind of her and gave me the confidence boost I needed with the exam looming over my head.
Did you take your certification exam yet? Did you pass? How soon after completing the course did you take the exam?
I have taken both of my certification exams. For both my Certified Professional Coder and Certified Professional Biller exams I waited about a month, just studying and preparing for the big day. I would go back through my course exams and redo them. I’d use my books to practice and do the practice exams on AAPC as well. I used everything at my disposal to be as prepared for my test as possible. I’m sad to say that for my Certified Professional Biller exam I didn’t pass the first two times I took the exam. Funnily enough, both times I managed to almost pass. If I’d gotten one or two more questions correct, I would have. So, I waited a year and focused on my Certified Professional Coder exam instead and I passed that on my first try. After that I waited another month and tried to pass the Certified Professional Biller exam again. The third time was a charm and I passed it.
Could you share any tips you used to prepare for the certification exams that others may find helpful?
I would recommend for both the Certified Professional Coder and Certified Professional Biller exams to put some notes in your coding books for things like the acronyms of things or definitions of certain things. But mostly I just recommend taking your time and practice as much as you can to become confident. Practice is the only way you’re going to get better and don’t let the test intimidate you. Lastly, I would recommend just taking your time with your test. Don’t rush and use the process of elimination for the test questions. Take your time and read the questions a couple times before answering and even then maybe look over it one more time, especially if it’s for a coding question.
If you could say anything to someone who is on the fence about taking a continuing education course, what would you say?
If you’re feeling trapped, want to move on, or feel like for some reason can’t do it, definitely do it. You deserve it. You never know what’s going to come from continuing your education and improving, and it won’t hurt to try. The cost of your time, money, and effort is worth it.
So, what’s next for your career?
Likely a new job in the field I’ve worked so hard towards. With both of my certifications under my belt I’m excited to find my next job. Thankfully my certifications give me a bit of variety in job opportunities and add extra incentive to hire me. I’m also so happy my boyfriend and family pushed me toward looking for better opportunities. Without them I would probably still be working as a deli clerk, and wondering how I could improve myself and my opportunities. I’m excited to employ the skills and lessons that I learned at Towson University and looking forward my new future!
