Why we've chosen not to be on any "Approved" lists: I served on a committee once with one of AHIMA's executives who encouraged me to fill out the application for their approval list. I told her I don't enjoy all that paperwork, but I would take a look at it. I did, all 24 pages of it!!! As I got deeper into it the requirements were that we would have to teach in semesters, medical terminology one semester, A&P the next, pathophysiology as a separate semester, then pharmacology, etc., and we don't do it that way. Our program is set apart from others because of our SUCCESS RATE in credential exams and employment coding tests.
After that the rule about teaching in semesters was eliminated. But a new rule was added that you had to accept financial assistance, which we don't. Then I was told that you were only able to teach to the CCA level - not the CCS level, and we most certainly are not willing to lower the course standards for the purposes of being on that list. Now I think you have to be a degree school, but you know what? I'm not asking. The rules have changed so much that even if I qualified and paid the BIG $$$ to be on that list or any others, I might be disqualified next year because of something else that I don't want to change about our course - because our course works REALLY WELL the way it is. I'm always looking for ways to improve it, but teaching in semesters??? NOOOO! Financial Assistance (student loan program)??? NOOOOO! I do not want to go through the process of becoming a degree program---NOOOO! You get the idea. If it's not broken, don't fix it.