AAPC was founded in 1988 to provide education and professional certification to physician-based medical coders and to elevate the standards of medical coding by providing student training, certification, ongoing education, networking, and job opportunities. Since then, AAPC has expanded beyond coding to include training and credentials in documentation and coding audits, regulatory compliance, and physician practice management. AAPC's membership includes over 143,000 healthcare professionals worldwide, of which more than 90,000 are certified.

AAPC certifications encompass the entire business side of provider care, with physician coding (CPC®), hospital outpatient facility (COC®), hospital inpatient facility (CIC®), risk adjustment coding (CRC®), payer perspective coding (CPC-P®), practice management (CPPM™), and more. All certifications demonstrate a hands-on, working knowledge to support cleaner claim submissions, faster reimbursement, fewer denials, and better run practices. Specialty coding credentials are currently offered in 20 different fields of expertise. AAPC offers continuing education for all credentials through local chapters, workshops, webinars, a monthly newsmagazine (Healthcare Business Monthly), other publications, and conferences.