The CPCA (Certified Professional Coder — Apprentice) is an entry-level medical coding certification offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It is designed for individuals who are new to medical coding and have not yet accumulated the professional experience needed for the full CPC credential. This guide covers what the CPCA exam tests, how it differs from the CPC, the exam format, scoring, and the most effective strategies for passing on your first attempt.
The CPCA is AAPC's entry-level medical coding certification for individuals who pass the CPC exam but do not yet have the professional coding experience required for the full CPC (Certified Professional Coder) credential. When you pass the CPC exam without the required two years of professional experience, AAPC awards the CPCA designation rather than the CPC. Practice with the free CPCA practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Key facts about the CPCA:
The CPCA is an excellent starting credential for medical coding students and career changers. Practice with our cpca exam resources covering all CPC/CPCA tested content areas.
Facts verified Oct 30, 2026 against Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Facts verified Oct 30, 2026 against Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Passing score | 70% | knowledgebase.policeapp.com |
| Exam fee | $95 | policeapp.com |
| Retake fee | $95 per retake | policeapp.com |
| Retake policy | Retake at any time; higher score replaces lower score | policeapp.com |
| Validity | 6 months | policeapp.com |
| Renewal | Retake exam and pay $95 | policeapp.com |
| Delivery | Online | Connecticut Police Chiefs Association |
| Eligibility | No minimum age to test; must be 21 to be hired | policeapp.com |
| Score release | Within 2–5 days | knowledgebase.policeapp.com |
Facts verified Oct 30, 2026 against Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Interactive CPCA Exam resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
The CPCA/CPC exam tests medical coding competency across multiple medical specialties and all three major code sets. Key content areas include:
1. CPT Coding (Current Procedural Terminology):
The largest portion of the exam. Candidates must accurately assign CPT codes for procedures across all major sections: Evaluation and Management (E&M), Surgery (all body systems), Radiology, Pathology and Laboratory, Medicine, and Anesthesia. E&M coding (selecting the correct office visit level) is especially heavily tested.
2. ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding:
Assigning accurate ICD-10-CM codes based on physician documentation. Tests include: sequencing diagnoses correctly (principal vs. secondary), applying coding conventions (excludes notes, combination codes), and coding specific conditions (diabetes with complications, fractures, neoplasms, pregnancy).
3. HCPCS Level II:
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes for supplies, durable medical equipment (DME), and non-physician services. Less heavily tested than CPT, but present on the exam.
4. Anatomy and Medical Terminology:
Understanding anatomical terms, body systems, and medical terminology is essential for interpreting operative reports and selecting correct codes — especially in the Surgery and Radiology sections.
5. Medical Coding Guidelines:
HIPAA compliance basics, coding ethics, and the AAPC Standards of Ethical Coding. For comprehensive preparation, use our cpca exam practice resources and the official CPC study guide from AAPC.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| CPCA has a defined, publicly available content blueprint — candidates know exactly what to prepare for | The scope of tested content requires substantial preparation time that competes with existing professional or academic commitments |
| Multiple preparation pathways (self-study, courses, coaching) accommodate different learning styles and schedules | No single resource covers the full content scope — candidates typically need multiple study tools for comprehensive preparation |
| A growing ecosystem of study resources means candidates at any budget level can access quality preparation materials | Test anxiety and exam-day performance variability mean preparation effort does not always translate linearly to scores |
| Clear score reporting allows candidates to identify specific strengths and weaknesses for targeted remediation | Registration, preparation, and potential retake costs accumulate into a significant financial investment |
| Professional recognition associated with strong performance provides tangible career and academic benefits | Content and format can change between exam versions, making older preparation materials less reliable |
Try these questions from our free CPCA Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A patient has a malignant melanoma of the skin of the left upper eyelid. What code category applies?
Answer: A. C43
Category C43 covers malignant melanoma of skin, with additional characters specifying site and laterality.
A laser procedure is performed under general anesthesia in an ASC. How is anesthesia reported separately?
Answer: B. Report CPT anesthesia codes (00100–01999) with time units by the anesthesiologist
The anesthesiologist reports a CPT anesthesia code from the 00100–01999 range with appropriate base and time units; modifier 47 (anesthesia by surgeon) is used only when the operating surgeon personally provides regional/general anesthesia.
What additional code must be reported with a non-pressure ulcer of the lower limb (L97) when gangrene is also present?
Answer: A. I96
I96 (gangrene, not elsewhere classified) must be reported additionally when gangrene accompanies a non-pressure lower limb ulcer.
Which of the following is an example of a compensating control in a compliance framework?
Answer: A. Implementing encryption in place of an unachievable technical requirement
A compensating control is an alternative measure implemented when a primary required control cannot be met, such as using encryption to substitute for a specific technical safeguard.