CPC Exam Guide: Requirements, Cost, Format & Pass Rate (2026)
The CPC exam is the test that turns a medical coder into a Certified Professional Coder, and it is the most widely recognized outpatient coding credential in the US. If you want remote coding work, you will see "CPC required" or "CPC preferred" on a large share of job postings. This guide covers what the CPC exam is, what is on it, what it costs, who can take it, and how hard it really is.
What Is the CPC Exam?
The CPC exam is the certification test offered by AAPC (the American Academy of Professional Coders). It tests outpatient and physician-office coding using three code sets: CPT for procedures, HCPCS Level II for supplies and services, and ICD-10-CM for diagnoses. If you are still deciding between credentials, our medical coding certification guide compares the CPC with the CCA, CCS, and CBCS, and CCS vs. CPC covers the two big names head to head.
How Many Questions Are on the CPC Exam?
The AAPC CPC exam has 100 multiple-choice questions, and you get four hours to finish in one sitting. That works out to about 2.4 minutes per question on average. You need 70% to pass, which means at least 70 correct answers. You can take the exam online with a remote proctor or in person at an approved testing site.
What Is on the CPC Exam?
The questions are spread across roughly 17 to 18 content areas. The main ones are:
- Evaluation and management (E/M) services
- Anesthesia
- Surgery, split by body system (integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and more)
- Radiology
- Pathology and laboratory
- Medicine
- ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding
- HCPCS Level II
- Anatomy, medical terminology, and compliance basics
AAPC publishes a content outline with the exact breakdown, so check it when you plan your studying. The exam is also built around real coding scenarios, not definitions, so you will spend most of your time looking up and choosing codes.
Is the CPC Exam Open Book?
Yes, the CPC exam is open book for your coding manuals. You can use printed books or eBooks, from the current year, the previous year, or a mix of both, with one copy of each book allowed. You will need CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II. Open book does not mean easy, though, and we cover why in the difficulty section below. Our CPC exam prep guide explains how to set up and tab your books.
How Much Does the CPC Exam Cost?
AAPC sells the exam as a one-attempt voucher or a two-attempt voucher. Recent listings put one attempt at roughly $399 to $425 and two attempts at $499. On top of that you need:
- An active AAPC membership, which is required to sit for the exam
- Your code books for the year you test
- Any training course or practice exams you choose to buy
Prices change, so confirm the current fee on aapc.com before you pay. Because the two-attempt voucher costs only slightly more than a single attempt, many candidates buy it as insurance.
CPC Exam Requirements
There is no formal degree or course requirement to sit for the CPC exam. To register you need an AAPC membership and an exam voucher. AAPC does recommend formal coding training first, because the exam moves fast. To keep the credential after you pass, you must keep your membership active and earn 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years.
The experience rule matters for your job search. AAPC recommends two years of coding experience for a full CPC. If you pass without that experience, you earn the CPC-A (apprentice) designation instead. It is still a valid credential, and employers hire CPC-A coders for entry-level work. Read CPC-A apprentice status for how the designation works and how to remove it.
What Is the CPC Exam Pass Rate?
AAPC does not publish an official CPC pass rate. You will see percentages on prep-course websites, but those are estimates, not AAPC data, so treat them with caution. What you can rely on is the passing line: 70 out of 100. Candidates who fail receive feedback on weaker content areas and can retake the exam, using their second attempt if they bought the two-attempt voucher.
Is the CPC Exam Hard?
Most coders say it is demanding, mainly because of time, not because the questions are trick questions. With open books, the test is less about memory and more about how fast you can navigate your manuals. At 2.4 minutes per question, a slow code lookup habit will cost you the exam. People who struggle usually have one of three problems:
- They did not practice under a timer
- They are unfamiliar with the guidelines at the front of each code section
- They never tabbed or organized their books
Coders with a solid course behind them and a few full timed practice exams generally feel ready. If you want a head start, try our medical billing and coding test practice questions.
How to Get CPC Certified
- Learn the basics of anatomy, medical terminology, and coding guidelines, ideally through a coding course.
- Join AAPC.
- Buy your exam voucher (one or two attempts).
- Get the current-year CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II books.
- Study and take timed practice exams.
- Schedule and pass the exam.
- Start working, and clear the apprentice designation as you gain experience.
How long does it take to get CPC certified? It depends on your weekly study hours and whether you are starting from scratch. Most people plan several months from the first lesson to exam day. Once certified, check what the credential is worth in our medical coder salary guide and the upcoming CPC salary guide.
Where to Find Remote Roles
Once you hold the CPC or CPC-A, browse current openings on our AAPC CPC jobs page, or widen your search with remote medical coder jobs.