About the CPC exam
AAPC gives the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam. It has 100 multiple-choice questions, including 10 case questions at the end, and you get 4 hours in one sitting. It’s open book, but only for approved code books. You can take it at home with a live remote proctor or at a testing center.
Source: Taking the CPC exam, checked October 16, 2026.| Area | Questions |
|---|---|
| CPT surgery sections (10000 to 60000 series, 6 each) | 36 |
| Case questions | 10 |
| Coding guidelines | 7 |
| Radiology | 6 |
| Pathology and laboratory | 6 |
| Medicine | 6 |
| Evaluation and management (E/M) | 6 |
| ICD-10-CM | 5 |
| Medical terminology | 4 |
| Anatomy | 4 |
| Anesthesia | 4 |
| Compliance and regulatory | 3 |
| HCPCS Level II | 3 |
What the practice exam will include
The CPC pass will include full practice exams that follow AAPC’s published breakdown, a question bank by area, every answer explained with the code book logic, and insights that show which areas to review. A certified coder reviews every question, so the CPC exam will open after our TEAS practice.
Join the CPC waitlist
After every practice set, you’ll see which CPC topics to work on next. Ten minutes counts, and it saves your place.
CPC practice questions
We’re writing these now
Every question will follow the exam owner’s published outline, and every answer will explain why the right choice is right and the others aren’t. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you the day they’re ready.
Which books you can bring
The CPC is open book, but only for approved code books: the AMA’s CPT Professional Edition, plus ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II books from any publisher, in print or as an eBook. Practice with the same books you’ll bring, so you know where things are.
Time and pace
You get 4 hours for 100 questions, about 2.4 minutes each, in one sitting. The last 10 questions are case questions, so leave time for them.
How to study for the CPC
The six CPT surgery sections (10000 to 60000 series) are 36 of the 100 questions together, so they deserve the most practice. Coding guidelines (7 questions) come next. Practice looking codes up quickly in your own books, and take a timed practice exam to find which sections slow you down.
What a CPC-A is
If you pass without two years of coding experience, you’re a CPC-A, an apprentice. AAPC lists several ways to remove the A, such as two years of coding work.
Common questions about the CPC exam
What’s the CPC passing score?
You need 70%, which means at least 70 of the 100 questions right.
How much does the CPC exam cost?
AAPC charges $425 for one attempt or $499 for two, and students pay $400 or $475. You also need a current AAPC membership to test, which is $229 a year, or $164 for students.
Which books can I bring to the CPC exam?
AAPC allows the AMA’s CPT Professional Edition, plus ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II code books from any publisher, in print or as an eBook.
What does CPC-A mean?
If you pass without two years of coding experience, you’re a CPC-A, an apprentice. AAPC lists several ways to remove the A, such as two years of coding work.