News and guides · October 14, 2026
CPC Exam 2026: Format, Cost, Passing Score and What Each Section Covers
Everything AAPC publishes about the CPC exam in one place: 100 questions in 4 hours, a 70% passing score, $425 or $499, open code books, and the 17 areas tested.
Key takeaways
- 100 multiple-choice questions in one four-hour sitting, about 2.4 minutes per question.
- Pass with 70% (at least 70 correct). Results arrive in 7–10 business days.
- Open book: AMA CPT® Professional Edition plus any publisher's ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II, printed or eBook.
- $425 for one attempt or $499 for two; take it at home with a live remote proctor or at a testing center.
Format and timing
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) exam from AAPC has 100 multiple-choice questions to answer in four hours, in one sitting. That is roughly 2.4 minutes per question, so speed with your code books matters as much as knowledge. Most questions are coding scenarios, and the exam ends with 10 short medical-record cases, one question each.
AAPC's own advice: answer every question (a guess beats a blank), consider reading the answer choices before the question, and leave the hardest questions for last.
What you can bring
You may use the AMA's CPT® Professional Edition and an ICD-10-CM and a HCPCS Level II code book from any publisher, one copy of each, from the current or previous year. Printed books or the platform's searchable eBooks are both allowed.
In printed books, short handwritten notes about everyday coding and tabs that mark pages are fine. Long passages, questions from practice exams, and altered or printed-over pages are not. An on-screen calculator is provided; phones and other electronic devices are not allowed.
Passing score and results
You need an overall score of 70%, meaning at least 70 correct answers; more than 30 wrong answers is a fail. If you don't pass, AAPC reports the areas where you scored 65% or less to guide your retake. Results appear in your AAPC account within 7–10 business days.
The 17 areas and how many questions each has
Medical terminology (4), anatomy (4), compliance and regulatory (3), coding guidelines (7), ICD-10-CM (5), HCPCS Level II (3), CPT® 10,000 through 60,000 series (6 each), radiology (6), pathology and laboratory (6), medicine (6), E/M (6), anesthesia (4), and 10 medical-record cases.
Diagnosis coding also appears inside the CPT® sections, so the ICD-10-CM conventions and Official Guidelines matter well beyond the five dedicated questions.
Cost, scheduling and keeping the credential
AAPC lists the exam at $425 for one attempt or $499 for two. You can take it online at home with a live remote proctor (external webcam required) or at a testing center, and you must register at least three weeks before your exam date.
To keep the CPC once you earn it, AAPC requires an annual membership and 36 continuing education units every two years.