Adult Fast Track |faq a.a.s.mgmt




Fast Track Physician Office Coding and Billing Certificate (Read more about this program in the latest issue of Career Focus.) Fast Track Home	Physician Office Coding and Billing Certificate - FAQs What is the Adult Fast Track (AFT) program? The Adult Fast Track program is an accelerated program designed to accommodate the needs of adults, age 24 or older, who lead busy lives but are seriously committed to continuing their education. Students in the Physician Office Coding and Billing program complete their certificate in less than two semesters by attending class one night per week. While the program is intensive and rigorous, it is manageable for individuals who are highly motivated and self-disciplined. What is the Physician Office Coding and Billing Certificate? Health information professionals collect, analyze and manage the information that steers the health care industry. The Physician Office Coding and Billing certificate program is designed for students who wish to change careers or for individuals already in a health care setting who wish to move into a new position. Students accepted into this AFT program attend classes one night per week from 6 to 10 p.m. The program can be completed in less than two semesters. Is the Physician Office Coding and Billing certificate accredited? All degrees offered through the AFT program are fully accredited by the North Central Association and the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). How do I apply to the program? Once you have become familiar with the AFT program and have decided to apply, follow the steps outlined on the Admissions Check List. Be aware that you must see a counselor prior to submitting your application to the AFT program. The application process, including the counselor appointment, applying to C.O.D., testing and transcript evaluation, may take eight weeks or longer. The application process must be completed prior to determining a student's acceptance into the AFT program. Students should begin the application process as early as possible. Acceptance to C.O.D. does not equal acceptance into the AFT Physician Office Coding and Billing certificate program. When should I register for classes? Prior to each term, AFT students will receive an AFT registration letter in the mail. Students must register for all of their classes no later than three weeks prior to the start of that term. Standard late fees apply to students who register late. An interest free monthly payment plan is also available. What if my assessment score on the Reading Placement Test indicates that I do not have college-level skills? Often adults returning to school need refresher courses to prepare them for the rigors of college-level work. The Reading Placement Test identifies assistance you might need and allows College of DuPage to guide you toward taking the appropriate preparatory courses. In most cases, students who require academic preparation need to complete only one or two preparatory courses. If this is the case, you can be accepted into the AFT program once you have successfully completed the required preparatory course(s) in reading. Can I be considered for this program if I have already earned college credit? The AFT program is designed for students who have little or no college credits, but it can work well for students who have already earned a number of credits. All prior college credit for the certificate program must meet the cumulative GPA requirement of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. What if I have already taken some of the courses that are part of the program? If a student has previously completed a specific course in the program, he/she does not enroll in that course session. The student would enjoy a brief "vacation" and then continue with the next course in the program. Are courses in the program taught differently than traditional courses? These courses require less in-classroom time, but more time outside of class devoted to homework, online activities and other innovative learning environments. Textbooks, materials and content of the courses, however, are the same as for traditional 16-week courses. While textbooks, materials and content of the courses are the same, the method of delivery is different, as the program is geared toward adult learning. Instructors may lecture, but there are more opportunities for active participation in this program through discussions, simulations, exercises, group work, projects and demonstrations. Some instructors prefer to test in order to evaluate learning. Tests take place during either regularly scheduled class time or outside of normal classroom hours. How much homework can I expect? The courses are scheduled in an abbreviated time frame. Because of this, more emphasis is placed on the learner to complete work outside of the classroom setting than in traditionally-scheduled courses. Homework varies according to teaching style and course content, but students should plan on a minimum of 20 hours of homework per week, depending on their skills and comfort with the assignments. Is help available if I need it? A full array of support services are provided for students in the AFT program, including Admissions, Registration, computer resources, online access to library databases, writing assistance, tutoring, Assessment and Testing services, and Counseling and Advising. The AFT program is administered out of the Westmont Regional Center and most support services are available at this center. Is there a minimum cumulative GPA that must be maintained throughout the program? Yes, students must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative College of DuPage GPA to remain in the AFT program. Students who earn a "D" or "F" grade in any individual course within the certificate program will be excused from the program. How much does the AFT program cost? For residents and full-time workers in the College of DuPage district, the current tuition is $108 per credit hour. There is a $15 per course fee for all AFT students to cover the additional administrative costs of this program. In addition, a student can expect to pay approximately $75 to $100 per course for books, as well as a minimal lab fee per course. Can non-AFT students take AFT courses? Yes, if there is space available, we do open sections up to non-AFT students. Though, rest assured that non-AFT students need to meet the same admission guidelines as an AFT student. Also, be aware that determining available space in a class depends on the number of AFT students who need a particular section. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to register for your classes as outlined in your registration letter. Once we are three weeks out from a term start, enrollment is totally opened to non-AFT students. Do cohort groups ever fill up and prevent someone from enrolling? Yes, cohort groups do fill up, so it is best to apply early. Check our web site for specific dates. Do AFT courses ever cancel? On occasion, due to low enrollment, individual courses in the AFT program are cancelled. If this happens, your AFT adviser will help you to identify alternative options. More questions? Call (630) 942-FAST and ask to speak with a C.O.D. counselor or an AFT adviser, or visit the AFT web site. Physician Office Coding and Billing Application Form	Adult Fast Track College of DuPage Westmont Center 650 Pasquinelli Drive Westmont, IL 60559 Roberta M. Sell Associate Dean (630) 942-FAST fasttrack@cod.edu