What Is the CPC Exam?
The CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam is administered by AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) and is the most widely recognized medical coding certification in the United States. Thousands of employers list "CPC preferred" or "CPC required" in their job postings. Earning the CPC signals to employers that you can accurately code medical records across a broad range of specialties and settings.
Who Should Take the CPC?
The CPC is best suited for people pursuing outpatient/physician office coding. If you're aiming for hospital inpatient coding, the CCS (from AHIMA) may be more relevant — but the CPC remains the most broadly recognized entry-level credential and is a reasonable starting point regardless of setting.
Exam Format
The CPC exam consists of:
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete
- Open-book format — you can bring your CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS code books
- Passing score: 70% (70 out of 100 correct)
- Available: Online proctored or in-person at testing centers
Questions cover a wide range of topics including surgery, radiology, pathology, evaluation and management (E/M), and more. Some questions are straightforward code lookups; others require you to interpret clinical scenarios and select the correct combination of codes.
What Topics Are Covered?
The CPC exam tests knowledge across:
- Medical terminology and anatomy (roughly 10–15 questions)
- ICD-10-CM coding guidelines
- CPT surgery sections: integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, nervous system, and more
- Radiology, pathology, and laboratory coding
- Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding — often a significant portion
- HCPCS Level II coding
- Compliance, ethics, and HIPAA
- Reimbursement and billing basics
How Hard Is the CPC Exam?
The pass rate for first-time CPC candidates is roughly 70%. That means about 3 in 10 people fail on their first attempt. The exam is genuinely challenging — not because the concepts are impossibly complex, but because of the breadth of content and the time pressure. You have about 3.4 minutes per question, which means you need to be fast with your code books, not just accurate.
Students who prepare with a structured program consistently outperform self-studiers. The difference is usually in two areas: systematic anatomy and terminology knowledge, and speed with the code books from practice.
The "CPC-A" Designation
When you first pass the CPC exam without having two years of coding experience, you receive the "CPC-A" (Apprentice) credential. You keep the -A suffix until you can document two years of professional coding experience, at which point AAPC removes it and you become a full CPC.
This doesn't limit your job search — many employers hire CPC-A coders and expect to provide the supervision needed to complete that experience. The credential still demonstrates you passed a rigorous exam.
How to Prepare for the CPC Exam
- Complete a comprehensive training program. Ad hoc studying from books alone is inefficient. A structured curriculum that covers every tested topic in sequence is significantly more effective.
- Know your anatomy and terminology cold. These questions can't be looked up in code books quickly. You need the foundational knowledge memorized.
- Practice with your code books until you're fast. The open-book format sounds helpful, but it only helps if you can navigate your books quickly. Practice coding scenarios from the start of your studies.
- Take timed practice exams. Simulating exam conditions is the best preparation. Know which sections you're slow on and drill those.
- Focus on E/M coding. Evaluation and Management codes appear frequently on the exam and are nuanced. Mastering E/M guidelines pays dividends.
Exam Fees and Registration
The CPC exam costs approximately $300–$400 for AAPC members (membership is ~$175/year) or around $500 for non-members. A first retake, if needed, is available at a reduced fee. AAPC recommends scheduling your exam after completing a preparation program rather than before.
How MedCertify Prepares You for the CPC
MedCertify's Medical Coding & Billing program is designed with the CPC exam in mind. The curriculum covers every tested topic — anatomy, terminology, ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, E/M, compliance — in a logical sequence that builds toward exam readiness. By the time you finish the program, you'll know the content; targeted practice exams from AAPC or other prep resources will sharpen your test-taking speed.
Complete the program in 8–12 weeks, then schedule your CPC. Most of our students are exam-ready within 3–4 months of starting.