An honest comparison of the top CPC prep tools — what they cost, what they include, and which ones are actually worth your time.
Disclosure: CPCpractice is built by Arteura. We list ourselves first because we genuinely believe our platform is the best option for most candidates — but we include real competitors with honest assessments so you can decide for yourself.
Active recall flashcards and timed practice exams covering CPT, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS, anatomy, medical terminology, and coding guidelines.
Strength: Official AAPC study guide aligned directly with CPC exam content
Weakness: Expensive, passive reading format, single practice exam
Strength: Mobile-first with daily coding practice questions
Weakness: Smaller question bank, less coding-specific depth
Strength: Online course with video instruction and guided study plan
Weakness: Expensive, course-format requires more time commitment
Strength: Blitz review videos and practice exams with good community support
Weakness: Video-heavy approach may not suit all learning styles
Strength: Affordable dedicated practice exams in CPC format
Weakness: Practice exams only, no flashcards or structured study
| Tool | Price | Flashcards | Practice Exams | Free Tier | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPCpractice | $19.99/mo or $129 lifetime | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| AAPC CPC Study Guide | $139.95 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Pocket Prep CPC | $15.99/mo | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Contempo Coding | $149–$299 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| CCO (Coding Certification Online) | $97–$197 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Medical Coding Practice Exams (CPC) | $30–$50 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Master your CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS manuals — the CPC is an open-book exam, so speed of lookup is critical. Practice tabbing and navigating your codebooks. Focus on E/M coding guidelines and surgical coding.
Complete at least 600-1,000 practice questions. The CPC is 100 questions in 4 hours, so practice under timed conditions to build your codebook navigation speed.
CPCpractice offers a free tier so you can start studying without a credit card. The free tier includes a limited set of flashcards and practice exams. For full access to all content, plans start at $19.99/mo with a $129 lifetime option.
CPCpractice focuses on active recall — the study method proven most effective for long-term retention. While other tools may offer video lectures or textbook-style content, CPCpractice emphasizes flashcards and timed practice exams with detailed explanations for every answer. See the comparison table above for a feature-by-feature breakdown.
Join thousands of candidates using CPCpractice to prepare for the CPC. Start with the free tier — no credit card required.