CBCS Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the CBCS exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

CBCS exam key facts

The NHA CBCS certification exam allows 3 hours. Source
NHA candidates who fail the CBCS exam must wait 30 days between attempts, may make three attempts, and must wait one year after each further failure. Source
NHA CBCS certification is valid for two years and must then be renewed. Source

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📋 CBCS Exam Format at a Glance

120

Questions

180 min

Time Limit

78.00%

Passing Score

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📚 CBCS Topics to Study (56)

CBCS Full Exam Simulation · 8 cards CBCS Full Exam Simulation · 8 cards CPT Procedure Coding · 8 cards CPT Procedure Coding · 8 cards Electronic Health Records · 8 cards Electronic Health Records · 8 cards ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding · 8 cards ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding · 8 cards Outpatient and Inpatient Coding · 8 cards Outpatient and Inpatient Coding · 8 cards Outpatient and Inpatient Coding · 8 cards Prior Authorization and Referrals · 8 cards Prior Authorization and Referrals · 8 cards HCPCS Level II Coding · 7 cards Billing and Claims Submission · 6 cards Billing and Claims Submission · 6 cards Billing and Coding Basics · 6 cards Billing and Coding Basics · 6 cards Billing and Claims Submission · 6 cards Coding and Coding Guidelines · 6 cards Denial Management and Appeals · 6 cards Insurance Eligibility Verification · 6 cards Payer Types and Policies · 6 cards Payment Adjudication · 6 cards Regulatory Compliance and HIPAA · 6 cards Revenue Cycle Management · 6 cards Coding and Coding Guidelines · 6 cards Coding and Coding Guidelines · 6 cards Denial Management and Appeals · 6 cards Denial Management and Appeals · 6 cards

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✍️ Sample CBCS Questions & Answers

1. The suffix '-ology' means:

✓ Study of

'-Ology' means the study of, as in cardiology (study of the heart) or dermatology (study of the skin).

2. What is the purpose of an audit trail in an EHR system?

✓ To track who accessed or modified a patient record and when

An audit trail records all accesses, modifications, and transactions within an EHR to support security and compliance monitoring.

3. What does the 'clean claim' concept mean in medical billing?

✓ A claim that contains all required information and can be processed without further information from the provider

A clean claim is one that contains all required information and can be adjudicated by the payer without needing additional information from the provider.

4. How are claims typically handled in an indemnity health insurance plan?

✓ The patient pays the healthcare provider upfront and then files a claim for reimbursement

In an indemnity health insurance plan, also known as a fee-for-service plan, the patient typically pays the healthcare provider directly for services rendered. The patient then submits a claim to their insurance company for reimbursement. This model offers more flexibility in choosing providers but places the initial financial burden on the patient.

5. Which term describes the condition where stomach contents flow back into the esophagus?

✓ Gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, commonly documented in billing for gastroenterology visits.

6. Which of the following best describes a breach of patient confidentiality?

✓ Sharing a patient’s health information with a family member without consent

Patient confidentiality, mandated by HIPAA, means that protected health information (PHI) cannot be disclosed without the patient's explicit authorization. Sharing a patient's health information with a family member without their consent constitutes a breach because it violates the patient's right to privacy. Authorized personnel and legitimate billing or de-identified research purposes are permissible under specific guidelines.

🎯 Free CBCS Practice Tests

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding · 8 questions Prior Authorization and Referrals · 8 questions Prior Authorization and Referrals · 8 questions CPT Procedure Coding · 8 questions Electronic Health Records · 8 questions Outpatient and Inpatient Coding · 8 questions ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding · 8 questions Electronic Health Records · 8 questions CBCS Full Exam Simulation · 8 questions Outpatient and Inpatient Coding · 8 questions

📖 CBCS Guides & Articles

Your CBCS Study Path

1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

🃏 CBCS Flashcards (359)🏆 CBCS Exam Simulation

What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for CBCS

An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:

A timed, full-length CBCS mock exam — 120 questions in 180 minutes with a 78% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
A fixed CBCS question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
A printable CBCS cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
CBCS flashcards built from the same question bank.
Free CBCS practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.

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How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

nhanow.com — Test delivery, renewal, score release, score validity, eligibility, retake fee, retake policy, exam information · verified Oct 2026
info.nhanow.com — Time limit · verified Oct 2026