AAPC
CPC
Certified Professional Coder
The most widely held medical coding credential in the US, certifying proficiency in assigning CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II codes for physician and outpatient services. The standard hiring requirement for professional-fee coding roles.
Full program: 9 decks, 1,303 cards.
What's on the exam
AAPC CPC exam domains (100 questions; CPT, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II current edition)
Surgery and Anatomy by Body System
40 questions (CPT 10000–60000 series, 6 each; anatomy, 4)Integumentary system (10000 series) · Musculoskeletal system (20000 series) · Respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic (30000 series) · Digestive system (40000 series) · Urinary, genital, maternity (50000 series) · Endocrine, nervous, eye/ear (60000 series)
Evaluation and Management
6 questionsOffice and outpatient visits · Hospital and observation services · Consultations · Emergency department · Critical care · 2021+ E/M guideline changes
Anesthesia
4 questionsAnesthesia code structure · Physical status modifiers · Qualifying circumstances · Time-based units · Base unit values
Radiology
6 questionsDiagnostic radiology · Diagnostic ultrasound · Radiologic guidance · Nuclear medicine · Professional vs technical components
Pathology and Laboratory
6 questionsOrgan and disease-oriented panels · Chemistry · Hematology · Microbiology · Molecular pathology
Medicine and Modifiers
9 questions (Medicine, 6; HCPCS Level II, 3)Medicine section services · Immunizations and injections · Dialysis · Modifier application · HCPCS Level II codes
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding
5 questions (diagnosis coding also appears across CPT sections)ICD-10-CM conventions and guidelines · Code selection and sequencing · Combination and manifestation codes · Signs and symptoms · External cause codes
Coding Guidelines, Compliance, and Practice Management
14 questions (coding guidelines, 7; medical terminology, 4; compliance and regulatory, 3)Medical terminology and anatomy · NCCI edits · Compliance and HIPAA · Bundling and unbundling · Place of service
Coding Cases
10 questions (10 cases, 1 question each)Abstracting medical record documentation · Assigning CPT codes from operative and visit notes · Assigning ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes · Assigning HCPCS Level II codes and modifiers
Frequently asked questions
How much does the CPC cost?
The CPC costs $425. $425 for one attempt or $499 for two attempts; plus required AAPC annual membership dues.
How long is the CPC and how many questions does it have?
100 multiple-choice questions — 4 hours.
What do you need to pass the CPC?
70% overall.
Can you retake the CPC?
A second attempt is included with the two-attempt ($499) purchase option.
What is the best way to study for the CPC?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Surgery and Anatomy by Body System 40 questions (CPT 10000–60000 series, 6 each; anatomy, 4), Evaluation and Management 6 questions, Anesthesia 4 questions, Radiology 6 questions, Pathology and Laboratory 6 questions, Medicine and Modifiers 9 questions (Medicine, 6; HCPCS Level II, 3), ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding 5 questions (diagnosis coding also appears across CPT sections), Coding Guidelines, Compliance, and Practice Management 14 questions (coding guidelines, 7; medical terminology, 4; compliance and regulatory, 3), Coding Cases 10 questions (10 cases, 1 question each)). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
Ready to prepare?
Our CPC — Certified Professional Coder program is organized by this outline's domains and scheduled by spaced repetition, with a path from first card to test day.
Flashcards are a memory tool. Learn the material first, then use NoReread to retain it and refresh what you already know. It doesn't replace studying the subject.