Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam Details
Posted on 02.20.2024
Offered through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential is a gold-standard in the industry, allowing you to stand out when you’re applying for medical billing and coding jobs. But how do you become certified? What is the exam like? Here’s what you need to know!
What is the AAPC?
The AAPC, also known as the American Academy of Professional Coders, was created to provide professional development and standards for the medical coding industry. Through the AAPC, medical coders can receive documented certifications indicating their knowledge and understanding of Medical Billing, Medical Auditing, Medical Compliance, and more.
What is AAPC certification?
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) will issue AAPC certifications to individuals who receive a passing score on the various CPC exams. The AAPC certification shows potential employers that you are educated in the field and have earned your badge of competence and dedication.
There are four primary AAPC certifications that you can earn:
- CPC
- CPC-H
- CPC-P
- CIRCC
The first three certifications we have listed are the basic Certified Professional Coder certifications. The CPC is for coders who work in a medical office and covers all of the basic aspects of the coding profession, such as coding guidelines, medical terminology, diagnostic codes, and more. The CPC is the most popular certification in the field, and is a great place to start.
The CPC-H is for outpatient department coders who work in a hospital setting. The CPC-P is for those who are employed by insurance providers, Medicare, or Medicaid. The fourth AAPC certification is the Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC). Those with the CIRCC certification are responsible for billing-related duties for cardiac invasive radiological procedures.
Beyond the four main AAPC certifications, coders can also pursue a certification in Medical Auditing, Medical Compliance, and the Practice Manager Certification.
In addition to these primary certifications, coders also have the opportunity to increase their credentials and abilities by earning additional specialty certifications. These specialty certifications apply to specific areas of the medical field, such as surgery, cardiology, family practice, etc.
What is the difference between AHIMA and AAPC?
The AHIMA, or American Health Information Management Association, provides certifications that are closely related to Certified Coding Specialists (CCS) and are primarily focused on the mastery of in-patient and out-patient coding.
The AAPC, as mentioned above, is related to the education and development of certified professional coders (CPC).
When it comes to employment, some clinics, or physicians may prefer one certification over the other. It’s important when looking for employment as a medical coder to always acknowledge whether or not the employer has specified which certification they prefer.
What is the CPC exam?
The CPC, or Certified Professional Coder, exam is considered the gold-standard certification exam for medical billing and coding professionals. Earning this certification shows that you have expertise in coding medical services and procedures. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions assessing 17 areas of knowledge, including CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10-CM codes.
Read more: CPC or CCA: Which Medical Billing Certification is Right for You?
Is the CPC exam hard to pass?
The CPC exam is a challenging test, so it’s not easy to pass. It’s also not necessarily difficult if you’re prepared. In order to pass the exam, you need to have a minimum score of 70%. To make sure you have the highest chance of passing, it’s important to dedicate time to studying, taking practice exams, and reviewing your coding materials.
If you don’t pass the first time, that’s okay! The exam fee covers a second attempt.
Can I take my CPC exam online?
Yes, you can take the CPC exam online. If you choose to take the test online instead of going to a testing center, you will need to do so with a remote proctor. To successfully take the exam at home, you’ll need a quiet space, reliable, high-speed internet connection, a computer, and an external webcam that can be positioned to show your face, hands, keyboard, and the area around the keyboard.
Is the CPC exam open book?
You are allowed to reference certain coding books throughout the exam. Currently, the approved books are
- AMA’s CPT® Professional Edition (current year)
- ICD-10-CM (current year), any publisher
- HCPCS Level II (current year), any publisher
You can only have one copy of each book for the exam. For example, you can’t have a 2020 and 2022 edition of the ICD-10.
Am I allowed to bring any notes or books?
You are only allowed to bring your three code books with you the day of the exam (your ICD-9, CPT, and HCPCS). The code books must be versions from the current or previous year. You cannot have anything attached/glued/stapled into your books, but you can highlight, tab, and have notes handwritten on the pages.
Can you take the CPC exam without going to school?
Yes, you can technically take the CPC exam without going to school. However, it is not recommended. The exam covers highly specific material, medical coding procedures, and codes. Without having studied medical coding, you may have a more difficult time passing the exam.
Read more: How a Skills-focused CPC Program Can Help You Prepare for the CPC Exam and a Job as a Medical Coder
Which medical coding certification pays the most?
The Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO®) certification has the highest average salary at $81,495. However, it’s important to remember that salary can vary based on your experience, your employer, and even where you live.
Read more: How CareerStep Can Help You Get Hired
How long does CPC certification last?
CPC certification is valid for two years. To maintain your certification, you’ll need to earn 36 continuing education units every two years.
Read more: Is CareerStep Legit?
How long should I study for the CPC exam?
You should study for as long as you think necessary to pass the exam. Remember, it’s not an easy test so you definitely don’t want to cram the night before you’re scheduled to take it.
What is a good score for the CPC exam?
To pass the CPC exam, you need to have a score of at least 70%.
How much does it cost to take the CPC exam?
You must be a member of AAPC to take the CPC exam. The CPC exam costs $499 and membership costs $210. If you’re a current student, you could qualify for the student membership price, which is $145.
How do I sign up for the CPC?
To sign up for the CPC exam, you’ll need to go to the AAPC website. From the “certifications” page, you’ll click on “Schedule Your Exam.” Then you’ll walk through the steps for scheduling, including purchasing the exam or redeeming a voucher, and selecting a testing site (if you’re taking the test in person).
Where do I take the test?
You can take the exam online at home if you choose to. However, if you prefer to take the test in person, you will take it at a local testing center. You can visit the AAPC website to find testing center locations.
How many questions are on the CPC?
The CPC exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions.
Is the CPC exam all multiple choice?
Yes, all 100 questions on the Certified Professional Coder exam are multiple choice. Some consider this a good thing, but be careful; with all of the different codes and coding scenarios, it can be easy to confuse answers because they’ll look quite similar.
How long is the CPC exam?
Test-takers are given 4 hours to complete the CPC exam, whether they take the test in person or online with a remote proctor.
How many questions can you miss on the CPC exam?
In order to pass the Certified Professional Coder exam, you must get a score of at least 70% or higher, which means you may miss a total of 30 answers.
How many times can you take the AAPC CPC exam?
You can take the exam as many times as you need to pass it, but don’t forget about the CPC exam fees. As we’ve mentioned, it costs $499 to take the Certified Professional Coder exam, and with each payment you are also offered a free retake. If you fail both tries, you will be required to pay the CPC exam fees again for your next two tries.
What does this mean for you? It means that your study skills will make a massive difference in your bank account. Take all the time you need to study, take practice tests, and get help from others who have taken the exam so that you don’t have to pay $700 or more to join the field as a medical coding specialist.
What kinds of questions are on the exam?
About 70% of the questions are coding scenarios and the rest cover topics such as medical terminology, anatomy, etc.
These questions are broken up into 17 different subject areas with up to ten different questions in each. To help you study effectively, we’ve provided you with a list of content areas to prepare for:
- Surgical procedures performed on the…
- Integumentary system
- Musculoskeletal system
- Digestive system
- Respiratory system
- Cardiovascular system
- Hemic and lymphatic systems
- Mediastinum and diaphragm
- Urinary system
- Reproductive systems
- Maternity and delivery
- Endocrine system
- Nervous system
- Evaluation and management (Inpatient, outpatient, nursing, etc.)
- Anesthesia
- Radiology and laboratory pathology
- Medicine and medical terminology
- Anatomy
- Coding guidelines, compliance, and reporting for ICD-10-CM, HCPCS, and ICD-10
What is the Apprentice status?
If you do not have 2 years of work experience before taking the CPC exam, you will receive a CPC-A credential after passing. The “A” stands for apprentice. Once you submit proof of 2 years of coding work experience, you can have the apprentice status removed from your credential.
What if I move? Will I ever have to recertify?
The CPC is a national exam and is thus recognized in all 50 states. Once you pass, you do not have to retake the exam itself again as long as you submit 36 CEUs to AAPC every 2 years.
How do I prepare for my CPC exam?
Everyone studies a little differently. Here are a few ideas:
- Review areas you could improve on the CareerStep final exam. If you passed your CareerStep final exam on your first try, take advantage of the available retakes for additional practice.
- Review the reports in the practicum and the information in the program.
- Use the CareerStep forums and CareerStep support team for tips on the certification exams.
- AAPC sells 3 practice exams and prep books that some students recommend for added preparation.
Prepare for a career as a medical coding professional with CareerStep
Interested in medical coding? Through CareerStep’s online Medical Coding and Billing Professional Program, you can build healthcare and coding skills that could help you take the next steps toward a new career – and give you the foundational knowledge that can help you pass the CPC exam! To learn more about the program, give us a call at 1-800-411-7073!
CodingSupport
May 23, 2017 at 2:56 pmThere are several changes made in 2017. Here is a link to another blog article on the topic: https://www.careerstep.com/blog/news/2017-icd-10-updates/ You can take the CPC test with the previous years book, however the most current books are recommended as the test will be referencing current 2017 codes.
Donna Huston
June 26, 2017 at 3:20 pmWhen I am finished with this program, am I okay to take the CCA instead of the CPC test?
Career Step
July 5, 2017 at 6:10 amDonna, there is only a slight difference in the CCA instead of the CPC. The CPC is certification through AAPC and CCA is through AHIMA. Hopefully that helps! Contact your instructor if you have additional questions. 🙂
Coding Support
August 14, 2017 at 9:50 amHi Donna!
The Career Step Professional Medical Coding and Billing course prepares you for either the CPC or the CCA. We encourage you to sit for whichever certification will be most sought after by the organizations with which you will be applying for employment.l
Carin Columbus
August 9, 2017 at 8:38 pmIs there a discount code for AACP to join, as I saw their was a cheaper rate for the exam, if you are a student.
Steve Hirchak
August 16, 2017 at 9:49 amHi Karen,
If you are a student of AAPC’s coding program the cost of the exam is $300 vs $380 is you are a student of another program or a non-student. Either way AAPC requires you to be a member of their organization in order to take their certification exams. An opportunity to save money comes in if you join AAPC as a student because you can purchase a student membership which is cheaper than a regular membership.
April
March 2, 2019 at 2:40 pmHow long does it usually take to prepare for exam?
Lisa
August 12, 2017 at 9:25 amAs of 2017, the price for the CPC exam is now 380$ and the membership is $110.
https://www.aapc.com/certification/cpc/
Solai
November 4, 2017 at 1:49 amCPC first attempt I failed how to see my marks any one could you please tell me
CareerStep Admin
November 7, 2017 at 8:34 amHi Solai, you can log in to your AAPC account to get a breakdown on what areas to work on. You can see percentages for each section so you will know where to direct your study efforts. Good luck!
Doug
November 8, 2017 at 9:19 amSo, the ICD 10-PCS isn’t part of the CPC exam? Is that correct? Another question is in regards to membership/testing fees. I may have misunderstood, but I thought part of the Career Step price was for a free exam and a 1 year membership. How much additional cost is there involved once we are ready to test?
CareerStep Admin
November 15, 2017 at 4:12 pmDoug, for the CPC exam, there is no PCS coding. This is a physician based exam, and in the physician setting, PCS codes are not used. Physicians use CPT codes.
We do not cover the cost of AAPC membership; however, the cost of your CPC certification is included with your course unless you are attending a school in North Carolina. You can choose to take either the CPC or the CCA certification exam. As a reminder, if you are taking the CPC in 2018, you will need to update your books to the 2018 books.
I hope this helps, and good luck!
Krob
November 23, 2017 at 1:21 amIf some passes the exam and still has the extra retake exam. Can they transfer that exam to a friend, so that friend won’t have to purchase one for $380.00?
CareerStep Admin
December 4, 2017 at 3:32 pmHi Krob,
If you passed the CPC on the first attempt, the second attempt at the exam cannot be transferred to another person. Your friend will need to purchase the exam herself.
M.Noogu
November 27, 2017 at 11:59 pmHai Everyone,
In last 3 model exam my percentage is above 140 out of 150 (96.0%) can i purchase exam? please help me. already two time get failed..
CareerStep Admin
December 4, 2017 at 4:24 pmI’m sorry you have had difficulty with passing the exam. Are you a Career Step student or graduate? If so, I encourage you to connect with other Career Step students in the student and graduate community at http://community.careerstep.com. You’ll need to create an account to login. If you’re not sure what your Student ID is, just shoot us an email at support@careerstep.com, and we’d be happy to look it up for you. Sometimes all you need is a little encouragement from others working toward the same goal.
If you are referring to a module exam within the course, these can be taken as many times as needed to achieve your desired score. You can also reach out to the coding instructors at codingsupport@careerstep.com or by phone at 1-888-657-5752 opt 1 then opt 2, and we can assist you. For practice exams in preparation for CPC, you can purchase practice exams from AAPC. For the CCA exam, there are practice exams for purchase on the AHIMA website. Good luck.
Cassandra Shogren
December 10, 2017 at 2:34 pmWhat is the difference between the CPC exam and the CCA exam? Also, which is more desired in the employment companies?
CareerStep Admin
December 11, 2017 at 4:41 pmHi Cassandra,
While it’s extremely important that you get your industry certification after graduation, whether the CPC or CCA depends on the employers in your area. We recommend that you watch job postings and maybe even call a few employers in your area to see which they prefer (this also helps you start building your professional network!). We’ve had students report success with both exams. If you’d like to do a bit of research on your own, you can find our more about the CCA exam by visiting the AHIMA website (http://www.ahima.org/certification/CCA) or find out more about the CPC exam by visiting AAPC website (https://www.aapc.com/certification/cpc/). Luckily for Career Step graduates, we provide a voucher to take the exam of their choice upon graduation, so they don’t have to worry about any of the exam costs. 🙂
Jillian
December 13, 2017 at 8:05 amI have an associate degree for health information technology. I would like to sit for my RHIT, but the college I graduated from is not yet accredited. In two months I’ll have been coding for two years now. Am I qualified to take this test? Would I be sufficiently prepared to pass?
CareerStep Admin
December 13, 2017 at 4:31 pmJillian, please take a look at AHIMA’s website to learn more about requirements and to see if you are sufficiently prepared: http://www.ahima.org/certification/RHIT
Best of luck to you!
Awie
December 22, 2017 at 9:16 pmI failed my 1st take last july and 2nd take this december..i got 66% only need a few more but still not lucky coz i run out if time. My question is how can i schedule for a retake this coming year and also where can i purchase the new books? Im from the phils
gopan
December 23, 2017 at 2:21 amhelo t itook my exam next week whats the time during the exam exactily
CareerStep Admin
January 11, 2018 at 9:14 amHi gopan,
Thank you for your question. The CPC exam consists of 150 questions and you are given 5 ½ hours to complete the test. If you want to check what time you are scheduled to take the test, you’ll need to check with AAPC.
Tammy
December 26, 2017 at 9:39 amDecember 16, 2017 I took AAPC’s COC exam and failed with 60%. I will be taking my second exam February 10, 2018 and know 2018 coding books are now in use. I really hate to purchase the 2018 books because when I pass my second attempt at exam I will be getting employed by a huge hospital who is already coding from 2018. My question is: from past experience do you know passing rate of people who took exam with previous year coding books?
CareerStep Admin
January 11, 2018 at 9:32 amHi Tammy,
Unfortunately, we do not have statistics on the pass/fail rate of students based on using current coding books versus outdated books for exams proctored by other organization like AHIMA and AAPC. What we do know is that the updated exams will absolutely contain questions related to updated codes. We don’t know how many, so we always recommend to students that they update their books, because the risk of missing questions simply because they couldn’t locate codes in outdated books isn’t worth the possibility of failing.
I hope that helps, and good luck!
elizabeth Plaisance
January 17, 2018 at 11:21 amI enrolled in the Coding/Billing class in October. I will be at the point of needing codebooks in Feb.
I will be receiving the newer 2018 books won’t I?
Thank you,
Elizabeth
CareerStep Admin
January 22, 2018 at 2:47 pmElizabeth,
Thank you for asking; you will be receiving the 2018 codebooks. Good luck in your studies!
Javeed
January 26, 2018 at 10:29 amHi.laSt month i wrote cpc exam and I got 69.my question is there any revolution for one mark? ??please give me reply
CareerStep Admin
February 7, 2018 at 12:08 pmHi Javeed,
Thank you for your question, and I’m sorry you did not pass your exam. The CPC exam is administered by AAPC. You can contact them with any questions regarding the exam.
ajitha
March 5, 2018 at 7:45 amValuable replies, can u provide me the contact mail id of aapc. how can i contact the office regarding my exam.
CareerStep Admin
March 13, 2018 at 9:18 amHi, I don’t have contact information for AAPC, but you can probably find it on their website: http://www.aapc.com.
Rachel
March 20, 2018 at 2:45 amHi
Is it enough to get overall 70% to pass the CPC exam, or we have to get 70% in each 3 session in the question paper.
CareerStep Admin
March 20, 2018 at 9:42 amRachel, you can find out about the CPC exam by visiting AAPC website (https://www.aapc.com/certification/cpc/). Good luck!
Rachel
March 23, 2018 at 6:05 amGot the information. Thanks a lot for the reply…
Bsa
April 21, 2018 at 9:07 pmWhat is the qualifications to write cpc examination…..
Any documents need..?
CareerStep Admin
April 24, 2018 at 4:28 pmThe CPC exam is administered by the AAPC. Visit their website to learn their requirements.
Anand
May 8, 2018 at 10:01 pmI have recently attended an interview for medical coding. The company says they ll take all the cost of of CPC certification with a bond of 2 years. Is the certificate valid after 2 years? Or should i renew it? Is it possible to seek job in different companies based on the certification after 2 years?Helps me to find out.
Tisha Wilson
May 19, 2018 at 12:50 pmIs the 2018 COC study guide just like the 2016 version? Do you have to buy the 2018 version to take the exam course?
CareerStep Admin
May 21, 2018 at 5:34 pmHi Tisha,
Thank you for reaching out. Do you mean the CPC study guide? Since the CPC exam has been updated to reflect 2018 coding changes, it would probably be in your best interest to study with the most updated study guides before you take your test. You can check with your instructors for more information, or check with the AAPC, since they administer the test.
Rose
July 2, 2018 at 2:29 pmIf I do not pass the exam the first time, and the cost of the exam was covered by the online course I took, will the retake test be covered in full still?
CareerStep Admin
July 5, 2018 at 9:58 amHi Rose,
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam, specifically, allows for a retake, so you should be good.
Good luck!
Sree Kuttan
July 15, 2018 at 1:51 amIam not graduated..just completed bsc. Microbiology with 4 arrears.. Can i write cpc exam? Or what i do to become a coder?
CareerStep Admin
July 20, 2018 at 1:57 pmHi Sree, thank you for your interest. To sit for the exam you need to think about the knowledge you will need to pass the exam as well as meeting the qualifications to take it and earn the CPC designation. You can check on AAPC’s site (they administer the exam) for the qualifications.
As far as the knowledge of medical coding goes, it sounds like with the training you’ve already had, our Medical Coding and Billing program would be a great fit for you. It’s excellent preparation to take the CPC exam. Call one of our Academic Advisors if you have more questions at 800-411-7073.
Yaya
July 24, 2018 at 1:40 pmHi, is the CPC exam open book? Can you take the coding book to the exam?
CareerStep Admin
July 25, 2018 at 9:18 amHi Yaya,
You are only allowed to bring your three code books with you the day of the exam. The code books must be versions from the current or previous year. You cannot have anything attached/glued/stapled into your books, but you can highlight, tab, and have notes handwritten on the pages.
I hope that helps!
Krish
July 30, 2018 at 3:52 amRe-evaluation available for CPC?
CareerStep Admin
July 31, 2018 at 10:52 amHi Krish, The CPC is administered by AAPC. If you have specific questions about the exam, please visit their website.
Kayla
August 13, 2018 at 10:29 pmHow long after finishing the course do we have to take the CPC final exam?
CareerStep Admin
August 14, 2018 at 11:30 amHi Kayla, you have a year to use your voucher to take the CPC exam. Does that answer your question?
Ananth Avadhani
September 19, 2018 at 5:59 amWill CPC exam be very difficult
Uzma Hasan
September 25, 2018 at 4:45 pmCan I take my laptop and use all my online resources during the open- book CPC or CPA test?
CareerStep Admin
September 26, 2018 at 9:59 amHi Uzma, you are only allowed to bring your three code books with you the day of the exam. The code books must be versions from the current or previous year. You cannot have anything attached/glued/stapled into your books, but you can highlight, tab, and have notes handwritten on the pages. So that would be a no for online resources and the laptop.
Sourav Mishra
December 29, 2018 at 5:22 amI’ve completed my B.sc and I’m very interested in coding. But I don’t know anything about CPC. Can you please tell me the basic requirements, procedure and how to prepare.
Nicole
July 23, 2019 at 1:34 pmUpon completion of this course, will I be eligible to sit for the CCS exam? I’m aware of the CPC being included but want the CCS.
Supriya Devara
February 17, 2022 at 6:09 amAny age limit to write cpc exam?
Tiffanee Gurney
February 17, 2022 at 10:49 amNone
Elena
December 5, 2022 at 11:00 amHello,
Could you please guide me where can I study online in the evenings medical billing and coding? Which is the best certificate that I need to make sure I get a job after graduation and how much is it this program for single moms with low income?
Thanks,
Elena