Medical Billing and Coding Exam

What is the CPC Exam? The CPC exam, offered by the AAPC, is a multiple-choice exam that covers 17 different knowledge domains. It lasts five hours and 40 minutes, and a passing score is 70%. The AAPC offers the CPC exam online or in-person at a physical testing center.

You might also be wondering: how hard is the CPC exam? The answer depends largely on your preparation. The exam requires strong background knowledge in anatomy and physiology, as well as medical terminology. You will also need to be familiar with the different types of codes used to submit medical claims. But don’t panic – you won’t need to memorize all the codes as you will be able to reference approved coding books during the exam.

Offered by AHIMA, the CCA exam is a two-hour computer-based test consisting of 90 to 115 questions across six knowledge domains. Students must score a 300 to pass. You will be able to use approved reference books to look up specific codes.

Passing the CCA exam is largely a matter of preparation. The test uses many different types of questions to test your skills, knowledge and experience. AHIMA recommends that before taking the exam, you either take a prep course, work for at least six months in a coding position or brush up on your knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and diagnostic and procedural codes.

The CCS exam is AHIMA’s more advanced test, designed for experienced coding professionals. The four-hour computer-based exam consists of 115 to 140 items, divided into two sections: multiple choice and medical scenario. A minimum score of 300 is needed to pass.

AHIMA recommends that those preparing for the exam have either two years of coding experience or another coding credential with one year of experience. You will also need strong foundational knowledge in areas such as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology and reimbursement methodology.

The CPC exam focuses largely on surgical procedures across 10 different areas of the body, such as the digestive, respiratory and nervous systems. There are also questions in the domains of evaluation and management, radiology, anesthesia, path/lab, medical specialties, medical terminology, anatomy, ICD diagnosis, compliance and various coding guidelines and modifiers.

The CCA exam focuses on six different areas. Most questions are in the area of clinical classification systems, including vocabulary and terminology, data interpretation and assigning codes. The next biggest focus is on reimbursement methodologies, including linking diagnoses and codes to payer guidelines and responding to denied claims. Other areas of focus include health records, compliance, information technologies and confidentiality.

Questions on the CCS exam are drawn from four domains. Most questions focus on coding knowledge and skills, including modifiers, sequencing, edits and reimbursement classifications. The next largest area of focus is regulatory compliance, including health record integrity, HIPAA and adherence to ethical standards. Other domains include coding documentation and provider queries.