The CPC exam is comprised of 150 multiple-choice questions. The test takes five hours and 40 minutes to complete, making it fairly rigorous. There are two breaks in the middle of the test. The CPC exam costs $300 to take, but only $260 if the test-taker is a member of the AAPC (annual dues are $125 for individuals and $70 for students).The CPC exam thoroughly tests a coder's grasp of the entire coding process, from medical terminology to code sets and beyond. Per the AAPC's website, the CPC exam covers 24 subject areas, including anesthesia, radiology, and medicine.You should recognize a number of these (like Evaluation and Management, or Radiology) as sections of the CPT code manual. Others, like Anatomy and Physiology, are parts of the coder's everyday skill set.You should note that the questions on the exam are not divided or identified by the topic they are related to. That is, questions on the CPC exam will test you on all of the above 24 fields of medical coding, but they won't outright say, "This is an anesthesia question." Instead they'll just ask you about anesthesia, or surgery, or human anatomy.During the test, you'll be presented with a number of tests cases pertaining to the practice of coding. These test case questions will present you with a condensed medical report and ask you to select the correct set of codes from the answers below.For instance, a test case question might read:"Sarah, a 45-year-old patient, visits the doctor and presents symptoms including a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and a fever. After performing a rapid strep test, the doctor confirms a diagnosis of streptococcal sore throat. The doctor prescribes an Amoxicillin as an antibiotic. Which of the following are the correct codes for this diagnosis, procedure and prescription?"There are also general knowledge questions, like "Which types of joints are synovial?" that don't have an attached test case. That question's related to the musculoskeletal system, but the test won't come right out and say so. You'll have to rely on your knowledge of code sets, medical terminology, best practices, and the coding process in general to pass.Individuals who earn a score of 70 percent or better (105 correct questions) will pass the CPC exam. If you fail your first test, you are allowed one free retake.GETTING CERTIFIEDOnce you pass the CPC exam, you are not officially certified by the AAPC until you fulfill a few other criteria. In order to complete a CPC certification, you must become a member of the AAPC. Certification is also limited to coders with two years of professional experience or those willing to complete an apprentice program.As such, the CPC exam is recommended for individuals who have already started their coding career. That won't prevent us from going over the basics of this important exam.

Take your first step toward a successful career in medical coding with guidance from the most trusted name in coding education! The bestselling Buck’s Step-by-Step Medical Coding is a practical, easy-to-use resource that shows you exactly how to code using all current coding sets. To reinforce your understanding, practice exercises follow the explanations of each coding concept. In addition to coverage of reimbursement, ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, and inpatient coding, an Evolve website includes 30-day access to TruCode® Encoder Essentials. No other book so thoroughly covers all coding sets! Theory and practical review questions (located at the end of each chapter) focus on recalling important chapter information and application of codes. A step-by-step approach makes it easier for students to build coding skills and remember the material. Learning objective and glossary review questions reinforce student understanding of key chapter concepts and terms. 30-day trial to TruCode® Encoder Essentials gives students experience with using an encoder (plus access to additional encoder practice exercises on the Evolve website). UNIQUE! "Real-life" coding reports (cleared of any confidential information) simulate the reports students will encounter as coders, and help them apply coding principles to actual cases. Online activities on Evolve provide extra practice with assignments, including coding reports. More than 450 illustrations help in understanding the types of medical conditions and procedures being coded, and include examples taken directly from Elsevier's professional ICD-10 and HCPCS manuals. UNIQUE! Four coding-question variations — covering both single-code questions and multiple-code questions and scenarios — develop students’ coding ability and critical thinking skills. UNIQUE! Coders’ Index in the back of the book makes it easy to quickly locate specific codes. Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting boxes show the official guidelines wording for inpatient and outpatient coding alongside in-text explanations. Exercises, Quick Checks, and Toolbox features reinforce coding rules and concepts, and emphasize key information. Valuable tips and advice are offered in features such as From the Trenches, Coding Shots, Stop!, Caution!, Check This Out, and CMS Rules. Sample EHR screenshots (in Appendix D) show examples similar to the electronic health records students will encounter in the workplace. NEW! Coding updates include the latest information available, promoting accurate coding and success on the job. NEW! Coverage of CPT E/M Guidelines changes for Office and Other Outpatient codes.

Providing extra practice with medical record documentation for coding students and practicing coders, this volume reflects the latest coding information, and the cases have been tailored to the coordinate with Diamond's "Mastering Medical Coding, 3rd Ed.," but can also be used as a stand-alone study guide.

CPT(R) 2022 Professional Edition is the definitive AMA-authored resource to help healthcare professionals correctly report and bill medical procedures and services.

Prepare to succeed on your physician coding certification exam with Buck's Physician Coding Exam Review 2019: The Certification Step! This extensive exam review provides complete coverage of all topics included on the physician coding certification exam — including anatomy, terminology, and pathophysiology for each body system; reimbursement issues; CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10-CM coding; and more. Four full practice exams (answers and rationales included) simulate the testing experience and provide enough practice to reassure even the most insecure exam-taker. It's the only physician coding exam review you need! - UNIQUE! Four full practice exams on Evolve simulate the experience of taking the actual physician coding exam, allowing you to assess your strengths and weaknesses in order to develop a plan for focused study. - Answers and rationales to the practice exams are available on Evolve to help you check your work. - Concise outline format helps you access key information quickly and study more efficiently. - Mobile-optimized quick quizzes offer on-the-go practice with over 350 medical terminology, pathophysiology, CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10-CM questions. - Success Strategies section guides you step-by-step through the entire exam process. - Concrete "real-life" coding reports (cleared of any confidential information) simulate the reports that you will encounter on the job and challenge you to apply key coding principles to actual cases. - NEW! Updated content features the latest coding information available, promoting accurate coding and success on the job.