Exam Guide
The CPC exam is administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and is the most widely recognized medical coding certification in the United States. Earning the CPC credential demonstrates proficiency in CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II coding across all medical specialties.
100
Questions
5h 40m
Time Limit
Open Book
Code Manuals Allowed
$399
Exam Fee (Members)
Surgical coding across all body systems, including integumentary, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, digestive, and nervous system procedures. Requires knowledge of surgical packages, modifier usage, and unbundling rules.
Medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology applied to coding. Understanding body systems, anatomical terminology, surgical approaches, and how clinical documentation translates to code selection.
Assigning ICD-10-CM codes for diagnoses, symptoms, and conditions. Covers coding conventions, sequencing rules, combination codes, excludes notes, and chapter-specific guidelines.
Evaluation and Management coding for office visits, hospital encounters, consultations, and other E/M services. Requires understanding of the 2021+ E/M guidelines based on medical decision making or time.
Diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic ultrasound coding. Covers component coding, professional and technical components, and modifier usage.
Medicine section coding including immunizations, infusions, psychiatric services, ophthalmology, cardiology, and other non-surgical medical services.
Official coding guidelines, conventions, and general coding rules including modifier application, add-on codes, separate procedures, and NCCI edits.
Anesthesia coding including base units, time reporting, physical status modifiers, and qualifying circumstances. Covers regional, general, and monitored anesthesia care.
Pathology and laboratory coding including organ panels, drug testing, urinalysis, surgical pathology levels, and clinical chemistry procedures.
HCPCS Level II codes for supplies, durable medical equipment, drugs, and services not covered by CPT. Includes proper use of HCPCS modifiers and billing guidelines.
Healthcare compliance, fraud and abuse laws, HIPAA, OIG guidelines, and documentation requirements. Covers the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, and compliance program elements.
Education: There is no formal education requirement. However, AAPC strongly recommends completing a medical coding training program before attempting the exam.
Experience: No prior work experience is required to sit for the exam. After passing, you receive the CPC-A (Apprentice) designation until you complete 2 years of professional coding experience.
Membership: AAPC membership ($190/year) is not required but reduces the exam fee from $499 to $399 and provides access to study resources and local chapter meetings.
The CPC exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 5 hours and 40 minutes. It is an open-book exam, meaning you can bring your own CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code manuals to the testing center. Manuals may contain tabs and personal annotations but no loose papers or notes. A score of 70% (70 correct out of 100) is required to pass, and the first-time pass rate is approximately 65-70%.
The CPC exam is heavily weighted toward CPT procedure coding, with 70 out of 100 questions testing your ability to select correct CPT codes. Surgery alone accounts for 25 questions. Successful candidates invest significant study time in surgical coding, E/M guidelines, and ICD-10-CM sequencing rules. Because the exam is open book, learning to navigate your code manuals quickly is just as important as memorizing codes.
CPCpractice provides timed mini exams and full-length 100-question simulations covering all CPC content domains with the exact question distribution used on the real exam. Practice with real exam-style clinical scenarios so you can code confidently under time pressure.