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. Practice with the free CPMS - Certified Professional Medical Scribe practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (9 questions with answer explanations).
Interactive CPMS - Certified Professional Medical Scribe resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
The CPMS has 40 questions, takes about 4 hours and costs $425[1] (AAPC, verified Oct 25, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 40 questions + 3 case studies[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Time limit | 4 hours, one sitting[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Passing score | 70% overall[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $425 for one attempt ($499 for two attempts)[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Retesting allowed; failing candidates are told areas scoring 65% or less[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Renewal | AAPC annual membership + 36 CEUs every 2 years[2] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | Online with live remote proctor, or at a testing center[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Eligibility | No formal prerequisite; knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology strongly recommended[2] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release | 7–10 business days[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Testing window | Year-round; at-home exams 24/7 scheduling[1] | AAPC · Oct 25, 2026 |
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.
Prepare for the CPMS - Certified Professional Medical Scribe exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: Which document gives the scribe authority to view and transcribe a patient's diagnostic results during an encounter?
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.
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.
Question: Which of the following is an example of a medical diagnosis?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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The CPMS exam costs $425 for one attempt or $499 for two attempts, according to AAPC. The two-attempt option may suit you if you want a retake already paid for. Fees can change, so check the current price on the AAPC CPMS exam page before you register.
You need an overall score of 70% or higher. The exam has 40 questions and 3 case studies, and you have 4 hours to finish them in one sitting. AAPC says results usually arrive within 7–10 business days after the exam.
No. AAPC sets no formal prerequisite for the CPMS exam. It does strongly recommend a high-level knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology. If those are weak areas for you, study them before you work on documentation and compliance questions.
Yes. You can take the CPMS exam online at home with a live remote proctor, or on a computer at a testing center. The exam is offered year-round, and at-home exams have 24/7 scheduling. Check AAPC's requirements for remote testing before you book.
You can retest. If you fail, AAPC tells you which categories or areas had sub-scores of 65% or less, so you know what to study before your next attempt. If you bought the $499 package, it includes two exam attempts.
You need an annual AAPC membership and 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every 2 years. Keep track of your CEUs as you earn them so you are not short when your renewal is due.