CPC Practice Test 2026 — Free CPC Exam Prep Questions
The CPC exam from AAPC tests whether you can apply CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II rules to real physician-service documentation. Our practice questions cover every content area AAPC publishes, from surgery by body system and E/M to anesthesia, radiology, lab, medicine, coding guidelines and compliance. Each question comes with an explanation of the rule it tests.
A pain physician performs an interlaminar epidural steroid injection at L5–S1 under fluoroscopic guidance for lumbar radiculopathy. Which code(s) should be reported?
CPC format, scoring & key facts
In person at an AAPC testing site, or online with a live remote proctor. Open book: AMA CPT Professional Edition plus ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II manuals for the current calendar year.
| Questions | 100 multiple choice, including 10 medical-record cases |
|---|---|
| Time | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Cost | $425 (1 attempt) or $499 (2 attempts); AAPC membership required |
| Open book | AMA CPT Professional, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II, current calendar year |
| Testing | In person or online with a live remote proctor |
| Credential | CPC-A until 2 years of experience (or approved alternative) is documented |
| Maintain | 36 CEUs every 2 years |
Facts last verified Oct 17, 2026. Source: cache.aapc.com/cache/pdf/examinee-instructions.pdf. Always confirm details with AAPC before your exam.
When can you take the CPC?
Offered year-round in person and online; the exam is updated each January for the new code sets.
Plan backwards from your exam date
What the CPC covers
Every PrepBanq CPC test mirrors the official domain weights.
Domain distribution
% of the exam| Content domain | Weight | ≈ Questions on exam | Our practice questions |
|---|---|---|---|
Surgery (CPT 10000–60000 Series)Integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory/cardiovascular/hemic-lymphatic, digestive, urinary/reproductive/maternity/endocrine and nervous system procedures (6 questions per series). | 36% | ~36 | 60 questions → |
Evaluation and Management (E/M)Selecting E/M category and level by place of service, patient status, medical decision making or time. | 6% | ~6 | 10 questions → |
AnesthesiaAnesthesia time reporting, qualifying circumstances, physical status modifiers and anesthesia for surgical, diagnostic and obstetric services. | 4% | ~4 | 7 questions → |
RadiologyDiagnostic and interventional radiology, ultrasound, guidance, mammography, radiation oncology and nuclear medicine. | 6% | ~6 | 10 questions → |
Pathology and LaboratoryPanels, drug testing, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, surgical and anatomic pathology. | 6% | ~6 | 10 questions → |
MedicineImmunizations, infusions/injections, dialysis, chemotherapy administration and specialty medicine services. | 6% | ~6 | 10 questions → |
ICD-10-CM and Coding GuidelinesDiagnosis coding across all ICD-10-CM chapters, ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, CPT guidelines/parenthetical notes and modifier use. | 12% | ~12 | 20 questions → |
HCPCS Level IIHCPCS Level II codes and modifiers for supplies, drugs and professional services for Medicare patients. | 3% | ~3 | 5 questions → |
Compliance and RegulatoryMedicare Parts A–D, payment policy, place of service, fraud and abuse, NCCI, NCDs/LCDs, HIPAA, ABNs and RVUs. | 3% | ~3 | 5 questions → |
Medical Terminology and AnatomyMedical terminology and anatomy for all body systems. | 8% | ~8 | 13 questions → |
How to register for the CPC
- 1Join AAPCAn active AAPC membership is required before you can buy and schedule the exam.
- 2Buy the examChoose one attempt ($425) or two attempts ($499); student pricing is lower.
- 3Get the current-year booksAMA CPT Professional plus ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II for the current calendar year. Next year's books aren't allowed.
- 4Schedule in person or onlinePick an in-person testing site or a live remote-proctored online session.
- 5Pass and maintainScore 70% or higher. Earn 36 CEUs every two years and remove the CPC-A once you document experience.
Eligibility
A current AAPC membership is required to sit the exam. There is no experience prerequisite: candidates who pass without two years of coding experience earn the CPC-A (apprentice) designation.
What to bring
- A valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration, and your approved code books: the AMA CPT Professional Edition (no other CPT publisher), plus ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II from any publisher. Books may be highlighted, tabbed and carry brief coding notes, but not copied questions or long passages. In person, a manual calculator is allowed; phones and smartwatches are not.
Retake policy
The two-attempt package includes one retake. Exams use the current calendar year's code sets and are refreshed every January.
Score release
Results are posted to your AAPC account after the exam is scored.
Credential renewal
Keep the credential active with 36 CEUs every 2 years (more for multiple credentials) and an active AAPC membership. Remove the CPC-A by documenting 2 years of coding experience, or 1 year plus 80 contact hours of coding education, or another AAPC-approved route.
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CPC FAQ
How many questions are on the CPC?
The CPC has 100 questions and you have 4 hours to finish. Question types: Multiple choice. Most questions are short coding scenarios (procedure statements, operative-note excerpts, visit summaries) asking which CPT, ICD-10-CM or HCPCS Level II code(s) to report; 10 are longer medical-record cases..
How long is the CPC exam?
Testing time for the CPC is 4 hours.
What is the passing score for the CPC?
CPC passing standard: 70%.
How much does the CPC cost?
The CPC registration fee is $425 (1 attempt) or $499 (2 attempts); students $400 / $475. Check the official site for current fees before you register.
What is on the CPC?
The CPC covers Surgery (CPT 10000–60000 Series) (about 36%), Evaluation and Management (E/M) (about 6%), Anesthesia (about 4%), Radiology (about 6%), Pathology and Laboratory (about 6%), Medicine (about 6%), ICD-10-CM and Coding Guidelines (about 12%), HCPCS Level II (about 3%), Compliance and Regulatory (about 3%), Medical Terminology and Anatomy (about 8%).
Who administers the CPC?
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam is administered by AAPC. Delivery: In person at an AAPC testing site, or online with a live remote proctor. Open book: AMA CPT Professional Edition plus ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II manuals for the current calendar year..
Can you retake the CPC?
The two-attempt package includes one retake. Exams use the current calendar year's code sets and are refreshed every January.
Is there a free CPC practice test?
Yes. PrepBanq has 15 free CPC practice tests with 150 exam-style questions in the real CPC formats, and every answer is explained. No credit card is needed.
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