The CPC exam, administered by the AAPC, is a critical step for anyone aspiring to be a Certified Professional Coder.

Comprising 100 multiple-choice questions, it assesses your expertise across various coding-related domains, ensuring a thorough evaluation of your capabilities.

Why Get CPC Certified?

Earning the CPC certification is a testament to your skills and knowledge in medical coding, opening doors to a multitude of career opportunities.

Employers highly value this certification, considering it a mark of expertise and dedication in the field.

Also, as per 2022 Salary Survey results, the annual average salary of a certified medical coder in USA is $56,290 and those without certification get $46,321 per year which is 17.7 percent less than certified medical coders.

Qualifications and Eligibility

To be eligible for the CPC exam, candidates must meet specific criteria established by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the organization responsible for administering the exam.

First and foremost, candidates are required to have a high school diploma or equivalent.

This educational prerequisite ensures that individuals entering the CPC exam possess a foundational level of education that is essential for understanding the complexities of medical coding.

In India, having a degree like B.Pharm, B.Sc(Nursing), BDS, BPT and basic life sciences degree etc is good enough to clear the certification and get the job.

As many companies set the degree as requirement to shortlist your resume along with CPC certification.

Typically, candidates should possess a strong foundation in anatomy, medical terminology, and coding guidelines.

CPC Exam Details

Syllabus and Marks Distribution

The AAPC CPC examination consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, each question carries one mark and the duration of the exam is 4 hours, achieving 70% is considered as pass to get certification.

The CPC exam covers a broad range of topics, including but not limited to evaluation and management, anesthesia, surgery, radiology, and pathology.

Familiarizing yourself with the syllabus is crucial for effective preparation.

Understanding how the marks are distributed across different sections is vital. This insight helps you allocate your study time effectively.

Each section contributes to your overall score, making it imperative to perform well in all areas

CPT Syllabus

The exam also covers relevant coding topics beyond the CPT® code book, including

• Medical terminology (4 questions)
• Anatomy (4 questions)
• ICD-10-CM code application, and the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (5 questions)
• HCPCS Level II, including modifiers (3 questions)
• Coding guidelines, including modifier use (7 questions)
• Compliance and regulatory — Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D; place of service (POS) codes; National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits; HIPAA, and other regulations (3 questions).
• Ten cases with multiple choice answers involving CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and/or HCPCS Level II will cover 10000 series, 20000 series, 30000 series, 40000 series, 50000 series, 60000 series, medicine, anesthesia, radiology, pathology and laboratory, and evaluation and management services (10 questions)

The CPC exam will test your ability to pull everything together in medical cases requiring you to accurately code from clinical record documentation.

Medical terminology, anatomy, compliance, and regulatory information may also be tested in the cases.

Fees and Attempts

AAPC, being a professional organization, has a fee structure for the CPC exam.

We should consider the details about examination fees, renewal costs, and additional charges for reattempting the exam

Knowing this information beforehand can aid in financial planning for your certification journey.

The cost of the AAPC CPC exam when this article is posted is $530.00. The price might vary when you see this article. Please refer to this link for accurate cost details

Preparation Strategies

How to Prepare for the CPC Exam

Creating a structured study plan is paramount.

Utilize coding manuals like CPT, ICD, and HCPCS, practice exams, and additional resources to reinforce your understanding.

You can also refer to the pages on this website for guidance and free practice questions to gain confidence for your CPC exam.

Tips and Tricks

Practice & Practice is the key to pass the CPC exam with flying colors.

Embrace the power of practice – it’s your key to confidently mastering guidelines and effortlessly navigating through manuals during crucial exam moments!

Anatomy and medical terminology sections are relatively easy and time-saving. So, prepare well for these sections.

While reading any question in the exam, try to highlight the main keywords that will help to not get lost in the verbose and point to the right code.

Learn time management techniques, master the art of eliminating wrong answer choices, and practice under simulated exam conditions to boost your confidence.

Also, if any question is taking a lot of time, mark that question and proceed with all other questions.

Try to ensure you don’t have more than 2-3 pending mark questions so that you don’t have to solve many questions at the end when time is running out.

Free Practice Exam Questions

To assist you further in your preparation, here are some free practice exam questions:

Medical Terminology Free Practice Exam1

Anatomy and Physiology- Free CPC Practice Exam 1

ICD – Free AAPC CPC Practice Exam 1

Anesthesia Free CPC Practice Exam

Conclusion

As you embark on this CPC certification journey, remember that success goes beyond passing an exam; it’s about gaining the expertise that defines you in the medical coding realm.

Best of luck on your path to CPC certification!