The CPC exam is the AAPC‘s Certified Professional Coder exam: 100 multiple choice questions, 4 hours, open book with your approved CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II manuals, and a 70% score to pass. You can take it online with a live remote proctor or at a testing center.
The CPC exam is the gate between training and your first coding job. I have watched students walk in prepared and pass, and I have watched students walk in hoping. This guide covers what the exam looks like, what you can bring, how to prepare, and what happens after you pass, so you walk in with the first group.
New to the credential itself? Start with CPC certification: what it is and how to earn it. Want every content area broken down question by question? Read What Is on the AAPC CPC Exam in 2026.
What Is the CPC Exam?
The Certified Professional Coder exam is administered by the AAPC. It tests whether you can code accurately from real clinical documentation using CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II. Passing it earns the CPC, the credential many employers ask for in physician office and outpatient coding jobs.
- 100 multiple choice questions
- 4 hours, in one sitting
- 70% required to pass
- Results in 7 to 10 business days
Who Should Take the CPC Exam?
There is no formal education requirement, but you must hold an active AAPC membership to sit for the exam and to keep the credential. In my experience, walking in without structured training is the most common reason students end up paying for a second attempt. The students who pass on the first try have finished a course, coded real practice charts, and taken at least two full timed practice exams.
How to Schedule Your Exam
- Join or renew your AAPC membership.
- Purchase the exam as a single attempt or the two attempt bundle.
- Choose a testing location or online with a live remote proctor.
- Pick a date that leaves time for at least two timed practice exams.
- If you are testing online, run AAPC’s system check well before exam day.
Coding Clarified students receive two exam attempts with the program, so your first try is not your only try.
In Person or Online
You can take the exam at a testing location or online with a live remote proctor. The rules on books are the same either way.
For the online exam you need:
- A computer that passes AAPC’s system check
- An external webcam that shows your face, hands, keyboard, and the desk around it
- A clear room with no whiteboards, calendars, or sticky notes with writing
You may flag questions, skip them, and come back before you submit.
What Code Books Can I Bring?
The exam is open book. You may bring three books:
- AMA CPT Professional Edition. No other publisher is allowed.
- Your choice of ICD-10-CM.
- Your choice of HCPCS Level II.
Use the current year’s books. Highlighting, tabs, and brief notes for daily coding are allowed. Inserted pages, copied exam questions, and long written passages are not.
This is why our students receive these three books in print. They are the only books you can use on test day, and you should know them cold before you sit.
What Topics Does the Exam Cover?
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| CPT surgery, 10000 to 60000 series (6 each) | 36 |
| Coding guidelines, including modifiers | 7 |
| E/M services | 6 |
| Radiology | 6 |
| Laboratory and pathology | 6 |
| Medicine | 6 |
| ICD-10-CM and the Official Guidelines | 5 |
| Anesthesia | 4 |
| Medical terminology | 4 |
| Anatomy | 4 |
| HCPCS Level II, including modifiers | 3 |
| Compliance and regulatory | 3 |
| Case studies across all areas | 10 |
The ten case questions are where many students lose points. They ask you to pull everything together from a full record, just like a real coding job. For what each area covers and how to study it, see our 2026 CPC exam breakdown.
How Long Should I Study?
Our students prepare over a 16 week course at 12 to 15 hours per week, then spend the final weeks on timed practice exams. Whatever your schedule, build your plan around three things:
- Guidelines first. Read the guidelines at the front of every CPT section and the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines. Many answers come straight from them.
- Book navigation. Tab and highlight your books as you study so you can find any section in seconds.
- Timed practice. Speed is a skill. Practice full exams under the 4 hour limit before test day.
Test Taking Strategies
- Answer what you know first. Flag the long cases and come back.
- Pace yourself. 100 questions in 240 minutes is about 2 minutes and 24 seconds each.
- Eliminate before you look up. Rule out answers using the guidelines, then verify the remaining codes in the book.
- Save time for the cases. The ten medical record cases take longer than single questions. Budget for them.
- Rest before test day. Four hours is a long sitting. Sleep well and eat before you start.
What to Expect on Exam Day
- Bring a valid government issued photo ID.
- Phones, smart watches, and other devices are not allowed in the testing room.
- An on screen calculator is provided. Physical calculators are not allowed.
- Online testers show their room and books to the proctor on camera before starting.
What Happens After You Pass?
You earn the CPC. If you do not yet have two years of coding experience, AAPC awards the CPC-A, the apprentice designation, until you document that experience. Many new coders use AAPC’s Practicode program to shorten that path. See What Is CPC-A Certification and Should I Complete AAPC Practicode? to learn how to remove the “A.”
To keep your credential active, renew your AAPC membership and earn 36 continuing education units every two years.
Finding a Medical Coding School
Training matters. Choose an AAPC-licensed program with a real instructor, current code books, and practice on real charts. Coding Clarified offers all three, plus Practicode, internships, and a Registered Apprenticeship. See our CPC training program or learn about funding.
CPC Exam FAQs
How hard is the CPC exam?
It is challenging because of the time limit and the case questions, not because the content is hidden. Students who know their books and practice under time pressure do well.
How much does the CPC exam cost?
AAPC sets the exam price and it changes, so check the current price on AAPC’s site. Coding Clarified tuition includes two exam attempts.
Can I retake the CPC exam if I fail?
Yes. Each exam purchase includes one attempt unless you buy the two attempt bundle.
Can I use last year’s code books?
You may, but the exam is based on the current year’s code sets. Old books put you at a disadvantage.
Can I bring my phone?
No. Phones, smart watches, and other devices are not allowed in the testing room.
What happens after I pass?
You earn the CPC, or the CPC-A if you do not yet have two years of experience. See What Is CPC-A Certification to learn how to remove the “A.”
This article is part of our CPC exam prep study hub, with everything you need to prepare for and pass the CPC exam.
How many questions are on the CPC exam?
100 multiple choice questions. See the full 100 question CPC exam breakdown by section.
What score do you need to pass the CPC exam?
70%.
Is the CPC exam open book?
Yes. You may use current year, approved CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II manuals. Handwritten notes in the margins are allowed.
How should I study for the CPC exam?
Follow a structured plan. Our 16 week CPC study plan walks through every chapter, and our CPC exam prep course includes two exam attempts.