Embarking on a medical coding career path offers stability, growth, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the healthcare industry. A crucial step in this journey is mastering medical coding practices and proving your expertise through certification. This guide will explore how to effectively prepare for your medical coding career, focusing on the importance of practice medical coding tests and understanding the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam as a benchmark for professional excellence.
Is a Medical Coding Career Right for You?
A successful medical coding career requires a blend of analytical skills, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, and coding systems. Specifically, knowledge of CPT (Current Procedural Terminology), HCPCS Level II (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System), and ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) coding is essential.
If you possess these aptitudes and are eager to enter a field with high demand, a medical coding career could be an excellent choice. Earning the CPC certification can significantly enhance your job prospects and earning potential, validating your skills and knowledge to potential employers.
Eligibility for the CPC Exam: Building a Foundation for Your Medical Coding Career
To be eligible for the CPC exam, administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), candidates should demonstrate proficiency across a range of medical coding areas. These include evaluation and management, anesthesia, surgery, radiology, pathology, and medicine. A robust understanding of medical coding guidelines and regulations is also necessary, alongside mastery of anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology relevant to coding diagnoses and services. Furthermore, grasping how medical coding integrates with payment policy changes and the reimbursement process is crucial.
These competencies can be acquired through practical experience in medical coding or by completing an AAPC-approved training program, both of which provide a solid foundation for a successful medical coding career.
Understanding the CPC Exam: A Key Medical Coding Test
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam is a comprehensive medical coding test designed to assess your expertise in coding medical services and procedures. This includes accurately coding patient symptoms, diagnoses, and diagnostic tests. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and is timed for 4 hours.
The exam covers 18 key knowledge areas, including specific sections on CPT coding series, Evaluation and Management, Anesthesia, Radiology, Pathology/Laboratory, Medicine, Medical Terminology, Anatomy, ICD-10-CM/Diagnosis, HCPCS Level II, Coding Guidelines, and Compliance and Regulatory issues. A significant portion of the exam, ten questions, is dedicated to case studies that evaluate your practical coding skills using medical record documentation.
Breakdown of CPC Exam Content Areas:
CPT Coding Series:
- 10,000 Series CPT (6 questions): Integumentary system surgeries (skin, subcutaneous, nails, breast, etc.)
- 20,000 Series CPT (6 questions): Musculoskeletal system surgeries.
- 30,000 Series CPT (6 questions): Respiratory, cardiovascular, hemic, lymphatic systems, mediastinum, and diaphragm surgeries.
- 40,000 Series CPT (6 questions): Digestive system surgeries.
- 50,000 Series CPT (6 questions): Urinary, male and female reproductive, and endocrine system surgeries.
- 60,000 Series CPT (6 questions): Nervous system surgeries.
Core Coding Knowledge:
- Evaluation and Management (6 questions): Place and level of service, preventative medicine, virtual services, critical and intensive care, and more.
- Anesthesia (4 questions): Time reporting, qualifying circumstances, physical status modifiers.
- Radiology (6 questions): Diagnostic and interventional radiology.
- Laboratory/Pathology (6 questions): Organ panels, drug assays, molecular pathology, hematology, microbiology, surgical pathology, etc.
- Medicine (6 questions): Specialty-specific coding scenarios.
- Medical Terminology (4 questions): Understanding of terms across all systems.
- Anatomy (4 questions): Knowledge of human anatomy across all systems.
- ICD-10-CM/Diagnosis (5 questions): Diagnosis proficiency and ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines.
- HCPCS Level II (3 questions): Modifiers, supplies, medications, and professional services for Medicare.
- Coding Guidelines (7 questions): ICD-10-CM, CPT, and modifier guidelines.
- Compliance and Regulatory (3 questions): Medicare Parts A, B, C, D, fraud and abuse, HIPAA, and more.
- Cases (10 questions): Coding medical record documentation accurately, testing terminology, anatomy, compliance, and regulations.
For comprehensive preparation, consider the Mometrix CPC Study Guide, offering practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed lessons to enhance your medical coding career practice.
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CPC Online Prep Course: Your Partner in Medical Coding Career Practice
To maximize your preparation for the CPC exam and your medical coding career, an online CPC prep course can be invaluable. Mometrix offers a comprehensive online CPC prep course designed to equip you with the necessary tools for success.
The CPC course includes:
- Over 30 review lessons covering all exam topics.
- 400 CPC practice questions to simulate the medical coding test environment.
- More than 250 digital flashcards for efficient learning and memorization.
- A money-back guarantee, reflecting confidence in the course’s effectiveness.
- Mobile access, allowing you to study anytime, anywhere, fitting study into your medical coding career practice schedule.
Recognizing diverse learning styles, the CPC online prep course is structured to cater to individual needs, ensuring every learner is well-prepared for the CPC exam and their future medical coding career.
Explore the CPC online prep course to take a significant step towards your medical coding career!
Registration for the CPC Exam
To register for the CPC exam, AAPC membership is required, with fees of $190 annually ($125 for students). Once a member, you can register for the exam through your AAPC account. The exam fee is $349 for a single attempt or $449 for two attempts. Note that refunds are not provided if you pass on the first attempt when opting for the two-test bundle.
Test Day: Navigating Your Medical Coding Test
On test day, you can choose between in-person or remote testing (Live Remote Proctoring – LPR). Both formats share key requirements. You will need a current, valid government-issued ID. Allowed materials include a basic manual calculator, handwritten notes related to daily coding activities, and three essential reference books:
- AMA Professional edition of CPT.
- Your chosen ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines (highlighting, underlining, and brief notations permitted).
- Your chosen HCPCS Level II.
Using current year code books is essential as exam questions are based on the current calendar year’s code sets. Prohibited items include electronic devices with on/off switches, image capturing devices, study guides (except allowed references), and specific coding resources like Procedural Coding Expert and similar publications.
In-Person Testing Details
Arrive 15-30 minutes early at the testing center. Bring your photo ID, two No. 2 pencils, an eraser, manual calculator, and approved coding books. Personal belongings should be left elsewhere. After ID verification, you’ll be directed to your station and complete a tutorial before starting the exam. Breaks are permitted but do not extend the exam time.
Live Remote Proctoring (LPR) Details
Log in 5-10 minutes before your scheduled time to address any technical issues. Present your ID to the proctor and perform a 360-degree room scan with your webcam for approval. Ensure your face, hands, keyboard, and surrounding area remain visible throughout the exam. Permitted items on your desk include water, pencils, eraser, blank paper, approved references, and a manual calculator.
Exam Scoring and Retakes
A passing score on the CPC exam requires correctly answering 70 out of 100 questions. Results are typically available in your AAPC account within 7-10 days post-exam. Contact AAPC if results are not received after ten days. If unsuccessful, exam retakes are possible. If you purchased a two-test bundle, no additional fee is required for the retake. Otherwise, the standard $349 registration fee applies for each attempt.
To further aid your medical coding career practice, Mometrix offers CPC Flashcards.
Effective Study Strategies for Your Medical Coding Career Practice
Effective preparation is key to success in your medical coding career practice and on the CPC exam. It’s not just about study hours, but studying effectively. Regular use of CPC practice tests is a powerful tool to gauge your progress and identify areas needing improvement. When reviewing practice test results, focus on:
- Questions answered incorrectly.
- Questions guessed correctly.
- Questions that were challenging or time-consuming.
Analyze why these questions posed difficulty – was it content understanding, vocabulary, or speed? Address these weak areas through targeted review.
Utilizing Answer Explanations
CPC practice tests often provide answer explanations. While helpful, explanations may not cover the full scope of the concept. Thoroughly investigate every concept related to a question, even if the explanation seems clear, to ensure comprehensive understanding.
Comprehensive Topic Comprehension
Remember that practice tests are for practice. Memorizing answers is less effective than understanding the underlying concepts. Focus on understanding the material deeply, enabling you to answer any question format on the actual medical coding test.
Strategic CPC Practice Approach
Incorporate this strategy into your medical coding career practice:
- Initial Untimed Practice: Take your first practice test without time limits, using notes and study guides. Focus on applying learned strategies and understanding questions.
- Timed “Open Book” Practice: Take the second test with study aids but under timed conditions to develop pacing.
- Simulated Test Day Practice: Simulate actual test conditions for subsequent tests. Time yourself, remove study materials, and practice in a quiet setting to mimic the testing center environment.
- Consistent Practice: Regularly take practice tests until you are satisfied with your performance or exam day arrives. This builds familiarity with the test format and reduces test-day anxiety, allowing you to concentrate on recalling information.
FAQs: Medical Coding Career and CPC Exam
Q
How long is the CPC exam?
A
The CPC exam has a 4-hour time limit.
Q
How many questions are on the CPC exam?
A
The CPC exam includes 100 questions.
Q
What is a passing score for the CPC exam?
A
A score of 70 correct answers is required to pass.
Q
How much does the CPC exam cost?
A
The CPC exam fee is $349.
By Kate Nockunas
Kate has been Mometrix’s Nursing and Medical Editor for over four years. She holds degrees in Communications, Nursing, and Education, with experience as a critical care registered nurse.
by Mometrix Test Preparation | Last Updated: February 14, 2025
