AAPC CPC

Overview

The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is a medical coding credential from AAPC, a US professional body for healthcare coders. It shows that a coder can handle outpatient and physician-office coding using ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS Level II codes, along with compliance, payer rules and reimbursement. AAPC describes it as a sound first credential for a coding career, since it can later be extended into inpatient coding, risk adjustment, auditing, compliance and specialty certifications.

Who can apply

AAPC lists these groups as the intended candidates:

• People starting a medical coding career.

• Experienced coders who are not yet certified.

• Clinical or administrative healthcare staff moving into coding.

• Professionals who want a base for advanced or specialty credentials.

Training for the CPC assumes solid knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology. Candidates without that background can take AAPC prerequisite courses first.

Exam pattern

The exam tests the correct use of CPT procedure codes, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. Since 2024 every AAPC exam is taken electronically, in one of two formats:

• At home, online, with a live remote proctor. A system check on your computer is part of scheduling.

• At a Meazure Learning testing centre, from hundreds of locations across 110 countries.

When you redeem your voucher you choose whether to use ebooks or print books during the exam, from AAPC's list of approved books. AAPC says the vast majority of its certification exams have 100 questions and run for 4 hours; it does not state the CPC figures separately on the pages read, so confirm them on the exam page.

Syllabus

AAPC groups what the credential covers into three areas.

• Core coding knowledge: ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding across body systems, CPT and HCPCS Level II coding of procedures, services and supplies, and the guidelines, conventions and sequencing rules behind them.

• Outpatient and physician services: evaluation and management (E/M) services for new and established patients, procedures in physician practices, outpatient clinics and same-day surgery centres, and linking diagnoses to procedures to show medical necessity.

• Compliance and payer requirements: Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payer guidelines, correct use of modifiers, and fraud, abuse and compliance standards.

Fees

A core exam voucher costs $425 for one attempt or$499 for two attempts, and AAPC's exam-preparation training starts at $2,799 (prices shown on the AAPC site in 2026). Check the AAPC site for the current price of your chosen package. Exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, but you have one year from purchase to take the exam. AAPC runs no exams from 30 December until the second Monday of the new year.

How to apply

1. Buy an exam voucher. A payment confirmation email follows, and the voucher appears under Purchases in your AAPC account.

2. Redeem the voucher in your account and choose ebooks or print books for the exam.

3. Within an hour you receive a Notice to Schedule email. Use its link to pick your exam format and a date and time.

AAPC states that you must register three weeks before the exam date. Candidates who need ADA accommodations can apply through AAPC's accommodation request page. Exams can be rescheduled or cancelled through AAPC.

After the exam

To keep the credential you must stay an AAPC member each year and earn 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years. AAPC says results are available within 7 to 10 business days of finishing the exam, which can vary with volume and time of year.

AAPC describes apprentice status, shown as CPC-A after the credential, as a temporary step in a coding career. It says its CPC Job-Ready programme is the only training that includes removal of that status.

Preparation tips

• Build medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology knowledge first, using AAPC's prerequisite courses if needed.

• Practise with the approved code books you will use in the exam, so that looking up codes is quick.

• AAPC offers self-paced and virtual instructor-led exam preparation courses, as well as practice exams and exam review products.