What to Expect on the CPC Exam

The AAPC CPC exam consists of 150 questions total — 100 scored and 50 unscored pretest items mixed randomly throughout. You will not know which questions are scored, so treat every question as if it counts. The exam is timed at 5 hours and 40 minutes, giving you roughly 2 minutes and 16 seconds per question on average.

The exam is open book: you may bring your tabbed and highlighted CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code books. No electronic devices, no printed notes inserted into books. Tabs and handwritten annotations in the margins are allowed, making pre-exam book preparation a critical part of your CPC exam prep.

The CPC covers 17 content areas drawn from the CPT surgery subsections (by body system), Evaluation and Management, Anesthesia, Radiology, Pathology and Laboratory, and Medicine. The single largest content domain is Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding, which represents approximately 40% of the exam. Surgical coding across body systems (CPT codes 10000–69999) is the most time-consuming section. You can expect detailed operative reports requiring you to identify the correct procedure, verify laterality, apply the right modifier, and check for bundling rules.

CPC Practice Test Strategy

Experienced CPC instructors universally recommend a practice-first, review-second study loop. Rather than reading your code book cover to cover, attempt CPC practice test questions first, then look up the rationale for every wrong answer. This active retrieval method builds the lookup speed you need on exam day.

The most important tactical skill is book tabbing. Organize your CPT with color-coded tabs for each surgery subsection, guidelines, and appendices. Your ICD-10-CM book should have tabs for each chapter and the Table of Drugs. Candidates who can flip directly to a section save 20–30 seconds per question — which adds up to 50+ minutes across the full exam. Practice timed CPC sample questions with your physical books open to simulate real exam conditions.

Time management is non-negotiable. Divide the exam into three 2-hour blocks. If a question takes more than 90 seconds, mark it and move on. Return to flagged questions only after completing the full section. Common mistakes that cost points include upcoding vs undercoding (always code to the highest level of specificity documented), modifier misuse (especially -25, -51, -59, and laterality modifiers), and bundling errors where a component procedure is billed separately when it should be included in a comprehensive code.

Top CPC Practice Questions

The most effective CPC practice questions mirror the style of actual AAPC exam vignettes: a 2–4 sentence clinical scenario followed by a question asking you to select the correct CPT, ICD-10-CM, or HCPCS code (or combination thereof). Some questions present a short operative report or office visit note. Here are the highest-yield question types to drill in your medical coding practice exam sessions:

• E/M Level Selection — Given a documented office visit or hospital encounter, determine the correct E/M code using 2026 MDM guidelines. Focus on the three MDM elements: number/complexity of problems, amount/complexity of data reviewed, and risk of complications.
• Modifier Application — Identify when modifier -25 (significant, separately identifiable E/M on same day as procedure), -51 (multiple procedures), -59 (distinct procedural service), or -RT/-LT (laterality) applies. The exam frequently presents scenarios where the wrong modifier or no modifier is needed.
• Surgical Package Rules — Determine what is included in the global surgical package (pre-op, intra-op, post-op care) and what may be billed separately. CPT guidelines define the 0-day, 10-day, and 90-day global periods.
• ICD-10-CM Sequencing — In multi-diagnosis scenarios, identify the correct principal diagnosis, any mandatory sequencing instructions (code first, use additional code), and when combination codes apply versus separate codes.
• HCPCS Level II Codes — Drug administration, durable medical equipment (DME), and ambulance services appear on the exam. Know J-codes for drug injections and the difference between HCPCS and CPT for similar services.

Our CPC practice test bank includes full-length timed exams and topic-specific drills across all 17 content areas, giving you targeted repetition on your weakest domains before exam day.

CPC Passing Score

The CPC passing score is 70% on the 100 scored questions — meaning you must answer at least 70 questions correctly. The 50 unscored pretest questions do not count toward your score, but since they are randomly distributed throughout the exam, you cannot skip or deprioritize any question.

First-time pass rates for the CPC hover around 60–65% according to AAPC data, which underscores why structured CPC test prep with timed practice exams is essential. Candidates who complete at least 3 full-length CPC sample questions exams under timed, open-book conditions before their test date statistically perform significantly better than those who only read study guides.

If you do not pass on the first attempt, AAPC allows a retake. The retake exam covers the same content domains but uses different question vignettes. Identify your weakest domains from your practice test results and focus your retake preparation on those specific areas rather than studying everything equally.