u/GoodPuzzleheaded3771

Hi everyone, I’m looking at getting into medical coding, not so much the billing, and I’d really appreciate advice from people in the field. I found a UHD medical billing and coding program that’s about one month long. It’s got a self-paced option and an instructor-led option, and it includes course materials, live online instruction, and optional externship or job placement. My goal is coding because I prefer minimal phone calls and customer interaction. Questions: Is a program like this enough to prepare for the CPC exam? If you were starting over today, would you choose this type of program, or something different? How did you get your first coding job with little or no experience? Is the optional externship worth doing? What certifications should I focus on first? Is the CPC the best place to start? Are there any programs you would recommend instead of UHD? What is a realistic starting salary for someone with a CPC and no experience? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known before getting into this field?

Hi everyone, I’m looking at getting into medical coding, not so much the billing, and I’d really appreciate advice from people in the field. I found a UHD medical billing and coding program that’s about one month long. It’s got a self-paced option and an instructor-led option, and it includes course materials, live online instruction, and optional externship or job placement. My goal is coding because I prefer minimal phone calls and customer interaction. Questions: Is a program like this enough to prepare for the CPC exam? If you were starting over today, would you choose this type of program, or something different? How did you get your first coding job with little or no experience? Is the optional externship worth doing? What certifications should I focus on first? Is the CPC the best place to start? Are there any programs you would recommend instead of UHD? What is a realistic starting salary for someone with a CPC and no experience? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known before getting into this field?

Hi everyone, I’m looking at getting into medical coding, not so much the billing, and I’d really appreciate advice from people in the field. I found a UHD medical billing and coding program that’s about one month long. It’s got a self-paced option and an instructor-led option, and it includes course materials, live online instruction, and optional externship or job placement. My goal is coding because I prefer minimal phone calls and customer interaction. Questions: Is a program like this enough to prepare for the CPC exam? If you were starting over today, would you choose this type of program, or something different? How did you get your first coding job with little or no experience? Is the optional externship worth doing? What certifications should I focus on first? Is the CPC the best place to start? Are there any programs you would recommend instead of UHD? What is a realistic starting salary for someone with a CPC and no experience? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known before getting into this field?

Hi everyone, I’m looking at getting into medical coding, not so much the billing, and I’d really appreciate advice from people in the field. I found a UHD medical billing and coding program that’s about one month long. It’s got a self-paced option and an instructor-led option, and it includes course materials, live online instruction, and optional externship or job placement. My goal is coding because I prefer minimal phone calls and customer interaction. Questions: Is a program like this enough to prepare for the CPC exam? If you were starting over today, would you choose this type of program, or something different? How did you get your first coding job with little or no experience? Is the optional externship worth doing? What certifications should I focus on first? Is the CPC the best place to start? Are there any programs you would recommend instead of UHD? What is a realistic starting salary for someone with a CPC and no experience? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known before getting into this field?

I’m looking for some advice from people currently working in cloud engineering.
I basically have no experience in cloud right now. I worked as a computer repair technician for almost three months, where I worked with computers, hardware, troubleshooting, repairs, etc., but I don’t have any professional cloud experience.
I’ve recently become interested in cloud engineering and I’m trying to figure out the best path to get into the field. I’ve been looking into certifications and different courses, and I’m currently considering a Cloud Engineering Academy/Starter program that I found.
The problem is that the academy is somewhat expensive for me right now, so I’m not sure if it’s actually worth paying for or if I could learn everything I need through cheaper/free resources and build my experience that way.
For someone starting basically from zero, what would you recommend?
Should I start with something like AZ-900/Azure Fundamentals?
Should I learn networking and Linux first?
Is getting a certification actually necessary?
Should I try to get an entry-level IT/cloud support job first?
And most importantly, is a paid cloud engineering academy worth it for someone in my situation, or should I avoid spending the money and follow a self-study path?
I’m willing to put in the work. I just don’t want to spend a lot of money on a course if there’s a better path I could take on my own.
Any advice from people who actually work in cloud engineering would be greatly appreciated.

I’m looking for some advice from people currently working in cloud engineering.
I basically have no experience in cloud right now. I worked as a computer repair technician for almost three months, where I worked with computers, hardware, troubleshooting, repairs, etc., but I don’t have any professional cloud experience.
I’ve recently become interested in cloud engineering and I’m trying to figure out the best path to get into the field. I’ve been looking into certifications and different courses, and I’m currently considering a Cloud Engineering Academy/Starter program that I found.
The problem is that the academy is somewhat expensive for me right now, so I’m not sure if it’s actually worth paying for or if I could learn everything I need through cheaper/free resources and build my experience that way.
For someone starting basically from zero, what would you recommend?
Should I start with something like AZ-900/Azure Fundamentals?
Should I learn networking and Linux first?
Is getting a certification actually necessary?
Should I try to get an entry-level IT/cloud support job first?
And most importantly, is a paid cloud engineering academy worth it for someone in my situation, or should I avoid spending the money and follow a self-study path?
I’m willing to put in the work. I just don’t want to spend a lot of money on a course if there’s a better path I could take on my own.
Any advice from people who actually work in cloud engineering would be greatly appreciated.

I just got fired from my computer repair technician job after being there for almost three months, and honestly, I’m not sure what direction I should take from here.
I want to stay in IT, but I’m starting to question what path I should take. I have some hands-on experience repairing computers and laptops, and I’ve been working on learning more about IT. I’m currently taking an AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) course, but I haven’t gotten the certification yet.
My education is actually an Associate’s degree in Automotive Technology, so I don’t have an IT degree.
Right now I’m applying for jobs, but I’m not sure whether I should:
Keep applying for entry-level IT jobs like IT Support, Help Desk, Desktop Support, or Hardware Technician
Finish the AZ-900 certification and continue toward cloud administration
Go back to school for an IT-related degree or certification
Look for an internship or apprenticeship
Consider switching careers completely, possibly into something like accounting or another field
The biggest issue is that I also need to work and make money because I have rent and bills to pay. I can’t realistically spend years in school without income.
If you were in my position, what would you do? Would you stay in IT and work your way up, go back to school, look for an internship, or consider a completely different career?
I’d really appreciate honest advice from people who have been through something similar. I’m feeling pretty lost right now and just want to figure out the smartest path forward.