Don't be afraid to apply with the CPC-A that you already have - there are companies willing to train. :) There are a few challenges with this type of field though. The biggest is that its seasonal; when charts run out you may not have communication that there isn't more work, or communication at all. Also, I found that my work experience hasn't always been recognized because its not complete coding (diagnosis/procedure), BUT you will be introduced to numerous types of charts and not limited to only inpatient/outpatient/ED/etc. I've enjoyed RA coding overall, but it's important to understand the challenges as well.