CPC Practice Test

Candidates preparing for medical coding careers take the Certified Professional Coder exam to earn credentials from AAPC. This page provides free practice questions organized by official content areas, outlines testing rules, and reviews core coding concepts. Review these practice sets alongside your coding manuals to test your recall of terminology, guidelines, and code assignment before exam day.

CPC Exam at a Glance

What changed for CPC in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to At home with a live remote proctor, or at a testing center (previously Computer-based at home with a live remote proctor or at a testing center).^[7]
• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to Current AAPC membership required for live remote proctored exams (previously Current AAPC membership required).^[8]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to Second voucher becomes available automatically after first attempt results release (previously Second voucher becomes available automatically after a failed first attempt).^[4]
• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions changed to 100 questions (previously 100 multiple-choice questions).^[1]

What the CPC is and how it works

According to AAPC, “The vast majority of AAPC certification exams are 100 questions, administered in a 4 hour format.”^[1]

The Certified Professional Coder examination from AAPC assesses medical coding proficiency across outpatient physician practices and clinical settings. Candidates can take the exam at home on a computer with a live remote proctor, or at an in-person testing center. Current AAPC membership is required for live remote proctored exams.

The test contains 100 questions administered in a 4 hour format. To pass, test-takers must achieve a score of 70% or higher. Results release within 7-10 business days after finishing the examination. Pricing is $425 for 1 attempt or $499 for 2 attempts. Each purchased voucher remains valid for one year from purchase date. If you buy an option with 2 attempts, your second voucher will automatically become available for use after your first attempt results release. Maintaining the credential requires an annual AAPC membership renewal and 36 CEUs earned every two years. Testing policies or regional examination offerings may vary, so always confirm scheduling details directly with AAPC.

CPC content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CPC content outline published by AAPC. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CPC 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 plane divides the body into superior and inferior portions?

1. Sagittal
2. Coronal
3. Transverse
4. Oblique

Answer: C. Transverse

Explanation:

Option C is correct because the transverse plane passes horizontally through the body, dividing it into superior and inferior segments. Option A is incorrect because a sagittal plane runs vertically from anterior to posterior, dividing the body into right and left segments. Option B is incorrect because the coronal plane runs vertically from side to side, separating anterior and posterior portions. Option D is incorrect because an oblique plane passes through the body at an angle rather than along a standard anatomical axis. Remember the standard anatomical axes: transverse planes divide upper from lower portions, coronal planes divide front from back, and sagittal planes divide right from left.

Example 2

Question: Which of the following activities performed by a physician on the date of an E/M encounter can be included when calculating total time for time-based coding?

1. Time spent by clinical staff taking the patient's vitals and history.
2. Reviewing test results from a visit that occurred the previous day.
3. Counseling and educating the patient and/or family.
4. General teaching with residents not directly related to the patient's care.

Answer: C. Counseling and educating the patient and/or family.

Explanation:

Option C is correct because counseling and educating the patient or family on the date of the encounter is explicitly recognized as billable physician work for time-based coding. Option A is incorrect because time spent by clinical or ancillary staff cannot be included in physician time calculations. Option B is incorrect because work performed on dates other than the calendar date of the encounter cannot be counted toward total time. Option D is incorrect because general teaching discussions that are not directly involved in managing that specific patient must be excluded. The core rule for time-based coding is that only qualifying face-to-face and non-face-to-face activities personally performed by the billing practitioner on the date of service may be counted.

Example 3

Question: The femur is located in which region of the body?

1. Upper arm
2. Lower leg
3. Thigh
4. Forearm

Answer: C. Thigh

Explanation:

Option C is correct because the femur is the primary skeletal structure of the thigh, articulating with the pelvis at the hip and the tibia at the knee. Option A is incorrect because the bone of the upper arm is the humerus. Option B is incorrect because the bones of the lower leg are the tibia and fibula. Option D is incorrect because the skeletal structures forming the forearm are the radius and ulna. When answering musculoskeletal anatomy questions on coding exams, link each major bone directly to its specific body region rather than adjacent anatomical segments.

How to use these practice tests

Begin your preparation by reviewing official codebook conventions and guidelines alongside our practice questions. When working through sample questions, open your coding manuals to locate corresponding code ranges and cross-references. Identify areas where question explanations reveal knowledge gaps in anatomy, terminology, or guideline application.

Simulate testing conditions by answering blocks of questions in timed sessions. The actual examination presents 100 questions within a 4 hour period, requiring steady pacing to maintain focus. Aim to reach or exceed the passing threshold of 70% during self-assessments. If you purchased the option with 2 attempts, remember that your second voucher becomes active after your initial results arrive within 7-10 business days. Use any delay between attempts to revisit challenging guidelines and retest using specialized question sets covering modifier rules, evaluation and management documentation, and procedural coding.

Sources & last verified

1. AAPC — number of questions, time limit (official source). “The vast majority of AAPC certification exams are 100 questions, administered in a 4 hour format.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
2. AAPC — exam fee (official source). “Core exams: $425 for 1 attempt, $499 for 2 attempts” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
3. AAPC — passing score (official source). “To pass the CPC exam, you need to achieve a passing rate of 70 percent or higher.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
4. AAPC — retake policy (official source). “your second voucher will automatically become available for use after your first attempt results release.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
5. AAPC — validity (official source). “The voucher must be used within one year of your purchase date or your payment will be forfeited.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
6. AAPC — renewal (official source). “earn 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
7. AAPC — delivery (official source). “Upon scheduling, test-takers may choose to take their exam at home on a computer via a live remote proctor” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
8. AAPC — eligibility (official source). “Current AAPC membership” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
9. AAPC — score release (official source). “To ensure accuracy and the quality of the exam, results will be available within 7-10 business days of completing the exam.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
10. AAPC — other (official source). “anatomy” Verified Oct 27, 2026.

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