CPMS Practice Test

The Certified Professional Medical Scribe (CPMS) credential from AAPC is for people who work, or plan to work, as medical scribes. This page has free CPMS practice sets grouped by topic, worked explanations for sample questions, and the main exam facts from AAPC: 40 questions and 3 case studies in 4 hours, a 70% overall passing score, and a fee of $425 for one attempt.

CPMS Exam at a Glance

What changed for CPMS in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Online with live remote proctor, or at a testing center (previously Online with live remote proctor, or testing center).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to No formal prerequisite; knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology strongly recommended (previously No formal prerequisite; terminology/anatomy/pathophysiology knowledge strongly recommended).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions changed to 40 questions + 3 case studies (previously 40 multiple-choice questions + 3 case studies).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to Retesting allowed; failing candidates are told areas scoring 65% or less (previously Retest allowed; failing report lists areas ≤65%).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Score release changed to 7–10 business days (previously 7–10 business days, online).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Testing window changed to Year-round; at-home exams 24/7 scheduling (previously Year-round; at-home exams 24/7).^[1]

What the CPMS is and how it works

According to AAPC, “The exam has a total of 40 questions and 3 case studies to work through in four hours.”^[1]

The CPMS exam is AAPC's certification for medical scribes. It checks whether you can document patient encounters accurately and follow the privacy and compliance rules that apply to the medical record.

Format and scoring. The exam has 40 questions and 3 case studies, and you have 4 hours to finish it in one sitting. You need an overall score of 70% or higher to pass. Results usually arrive within 7–10 business days.

Delivery and scheduling. You can take the exam online at home with a live remote proctor, or on a computer at a testing center. It is offered year-round, and at-home exams have 24/7 scheduling.

Eligibility. There is no formal prerequisite. AAPC strongly recommends a high-level knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology before you sit the exam.

Fees and retakes. The exam costs $425 for one attempt or $499 for two attempts. You can retest. If you fail, AAPC tells you which categories had sub-scores of 65% or less so you know what to study before your next attempt.

Keeping the credential. You need an annual AAPC membership and 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every 2 years.

AAPC can change fees and policies. Check the CPMS pages on aapc.com before you register.

Worked examples: how to reason through CPMS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which document gives the scribe authority to view and transcribe a patient's diagnostic results during an encounter?

1. The patient's insurance card
2. The physician's order for the test
3. The facility's scribe credentialing agreement and patient consent
4. The laboratory's privacy policy

Answer: C. The facility's scribe credentialing agreement and patient consent

Explanation:

C is correct. A scribe may view protected health information (PHI) because the facility has credentialed them to work alongside the provider and because the patient consent process covers that use of the record. Together these meet HIPAA requirements.

• A, the insurance card, supports billing and identification. It gives no one access rights.
• B, the physician's order, authorizes the test itself. It does not say who may read or document the results.
• D, the laboratory's privacy policy, covers how the lab handles its own data. It does not give a scribe permission inside the clinic's record.

Rule to remember: your right to see PHI comes from your authorized role within the covered entity. A clinical or billing document that mentions the patient does not grant access.

Example 2

Question: Which of the following is an example of a medical diagnosis?

1. Coughing
2. Asthma
3. Temperature fluctuation
4. Fatigue

Answer: B. Asthma

Explanation:

B, asthma, is correct. A diagnosis names the disease or condition the provider concludes the patient has. Asthma is a recognized chronic respiratory condition.

• A, coughing, is a symptom. Many different conditions can cause it.
• C, temperature fluctuation, is a sign, meaning a finding someone can measure. It describes what is happening but not why.
• D, fatigue, is a nonspecific symptom with many possible causes.

When you scribe, keep these separate. Symptoms and signs go in the history and exam. The diagnosis goes in the assessment, and only the provider decides it.

Rule to remember: if a term explains why the patient has the findings, it is probably a diagnosis. If it describes what the patient feels or what someone measured, it is a symptom or sign.

Example 3

Question: A patient is positioned lying on their back, facing upwards for a physical examination. Which of the following terms accurately describes this body position?

1. Prone
2. Supine
3. Lateral
4. Fowler's

Answer: B. Supine

Explanation:

B, supine, is correct. In the supine position the patient lies flat on the back, looking upward. It is a common position for general physical exams and many surgical procedures.

• A, prone, is the opposite: lying on the abdomen with the front of the body down.
• C, lateral, means lying on the side, often with the knees bent for comfort or access.
• D, Fowler's, is a seated or semi-upright position with the head of the bed raised.

Rule to remember: supine means spine down and prone means belly down. Use the exact term the provider uses, because a wrong position term in an exam or procedure note is a documentation error.

How to use these practice tests

Read the AAPC CPMS pages first so you know the format, the scoring, and the testing rules. Then take the Start Practice Test without studying and note which topics cost you points.

Start with the basics, since AAPC recommends strong terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology. Work through CPMS Medical Terminology and Anatomy and CPMS Medical Terminology & Documentation until the terms feel routine.

Next, practise documentation with CPMS Clinical Documentation Standards, CPMS Clinical Encounter Documentation and CPMS Diagnostic Testing and Procedures. Then cover the rules with CPMS HIPAA and Patient Privacy, CPMS Medicolegal and Compliance and CPMS EHR Functions.

For every question you miss, write a short note on why the correct answer is right and why your choice was wrong. Come back to that topic a few days later. The exam includes case studies, so practise reading a whole encounter before you answer. Close to test day, do timed mixed sessions to get used to working for 4 hours in one sitting. If you plan to test at home, read AAPC's remote proctoring requirements well before your exam date.

Sources & last verified

1. AAPC — number of questions, time limit, exam fee, passing score (official source). “The exam has a total of 40 questions and 3 case studies to work through in four hours.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
2. AAPC — renewal, eligibility (official source). “earn 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.