Know the target before you review
AAPC's current CPC exam assesses 17 areas of knowledge. Most questions use coding scenarios involving CPT®, HCPCS Level II, and ICD-10-CM, and the exam ends with 10 medical-record cases. You have four hours for 100 multiple-choice questions.
What should you review before the CPC exam?
A final CPC review should reinforce the major exam domains while helping you find information quickly and apply coding rules accurately.
CPT® coding
Review E/M, anesthesia, surgery by body system, radiology, pathology/laboratory, and medicine. Pay attention to section guidelines, parenthetical instructions, add-on codes, and code relationships.
ICD-10-CM
Practice using the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List together. Reinforce instructional notes, sequencing, combination codes, laterality, manifestations, and chapter-specific guidelines.
HCPCS Level II
Review supplies, medications, durable medical equipment, and other services represented by HCPCS Level II codes, along with relevant conventions and modifiers.
Modifiers
Make sure you understand when commonly tested CPT® and HCPCS modifiers change how a service is reported and when a modifier is not appropriate.
Anatomy & medical terminology
Refresh terminology and anatomy across body systems. These concepts help you interpret documentation and are also tested directly on the CPC exam.
Compliance & regulatory concepts
Review the compliance and regulatory topics included in the CPC blueprint, including Medicare concepts, NCCI edits, NCDs/LCDs, HIPAA, ABNs, fraud and abuse, place of service, and RVUs.
Medical-record cases
Practice reading complete documentation and determining the diagnoses and procedures that are supported. The final portion of the current exam contains 10 cases.
Code-book navigation
Know where guidelines, tables, appendices, symbols, and frequently used sections are located. Your approved books are references—not a substitute for knowing how to navigate them quickly.
What to do in the weeks before your exam
Practice with a timer
Four hours for 100 questions works out to an average of about 2.4 minutes per question. Practice moving on when a question is consuming too much time and returning to difficult questions later.
- Complete timed question sets
- Practice all major code-set sections
- Review rationales after each set
- Track recurring weak areas
Prepare your books correctly
AAPC currently allows the AMA CPT® Professional Edition plus one ICD-10-CM and one HCPCS Level II book. Current-year books are highly recommended; the immediately preceding year's books are also allowed under the current policy.
- Know AAPC's current note rules
- Use tabs only within current policy
- Do not insert prohibited study-guide or exam questions
- Recheck AAPC rules shortly before test day
You may need review—not another full CPC course
If you have already completed CPC-focused coding education and understand the fundamentals, repeating an entire course may not be the most efficient next step. A focused exam review can help you organize what to revisit before test day.
MediCode Bootcamp CPC Certification Exam Review
Inaugural tuition
This separate review is intended for students who have already completed coding education and need focused preparation before the CPC certification exam.
If you have not completed CPC training yet, start there first.
Exam review is not a replacement for learning professional medical coding. If you still need full CPC education, compare MediCode Bootcamp's live online CPC classes and self-paced CPC training with weekly instructor support.
You can also see both paths together on our Online CPC Certification Training page.
CPC Exam Review FAQ
What should I study most for the CPC exam?
Review all exam domains, but use practice questions to identify where you personally need the most work. Be comfortable with CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, modifiers, terminology, anatomy, compliance concepts, medical-record cases, and code-book navigation.
How many questions are on the CPC exam?
The current CPC exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and a four-hour time limit.
What score do I need to pass?
AAPC currently requires an overall score of 70% or higher, meaning at least 70 correct answers out of 100.
Should I take CPC practice exams?
Practice exams can help you work on timing, identify weak areas, and become more comfortable applying coding concepts. Review the rationales rather than focusing only on your score.
Is this CPC Exam Review for complete beginners?
No. The exam review is intended for students who have already completed coding education and are preparing for the certification exam. Beginners who still need to learn coding should start with a full CPC training program.
Can I ask Jenifer whether the review is right for me?
Yes. Call or text (574) 213-8793 and explain where you are in your CPC preparation.
More CPC resources: How to Get CPC Certified · CPC Certification Cost · CPC Certification Timeline · CPC Exam Prep · CPC Exam Review
Getting close to CPC exam day?
If you've already completed your coding education and want focused exam preparation, learn more about the MediCode Bootcamp CPC Certification Exam Review—or call Jenifer to make sure it fits where you are in your preparation.
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