CPC study guide
CPC · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) is a medical coding credential offered by AAPC, described by its issuer as the most respected medical coding certification in the healthcare industry. It validates comprehensive knowledge of outpatient and physician services coding: applying ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across all body systems, assigning CPT® and HCPCS Level II codes for procedures, services, and supplies, following coding guidelines, conventions, and sequencing rules, coding evaluation and management services for new and established patients, handling procedures performed in physician practices, outpatient clinics, and same-day surgical centers, linking diagnoses to procedures to establish medical necessity, and applying compliance and payer requirements including modifiers, Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payer rules, plus fraud, abuse, and compliance standards. The CPC study guide has 6 sections and about 2,602 words.
01Coding Guidelines, Conventions, and Sequencing Rules
This domain tests whether you can move from documentation to a compliant code set using the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, Tabular List, and Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. Expect questions on punctuation, exclusion notes, sequencing, and seventh characters, not just code lookup.
472 words, about 2 min02ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Across All Body Systems
This domain tests chapter-specific ICD-10-CM rules across the 21 chapters, with heavy emphasis on diabetes, circulatory disease, respiratory disease, neoplasms, injuries, pregnancy, and mental health. The exam expects you to apply combination codes, chapter notes, and external cause rules rather than memorize isolated codes.
441 words, about 2 min03CPT® and HCPCS Level II Procedure, Service, and Supply Coding
This domain tests how you select procedure and supply codes from CPT® and HCPCS Level II, apply section guidelines and modifiers, and avoid unbundling. Expect questions on add-on codes, global packages, units, and the boundary between CPT® and HCPCS Level II.
428 words, about 2 min04Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services
This domain tests level selection for office and outpatient E/M services and the rules for other E/M families. The exam focuses on medical decision making, total time, site of service, and same-day procedure interactions.
436 words, about 2 min05Outpatient and Physician Services, Including Same-Day Surgical Centers
This domain tests site-of-service rules, facility versus nonfacility payment, same-day surgery coding, and multiple-procedure logic. The exam expects you to distinguish what the physician reports from what the facility reports and to apply the correct modifier to same-day services.
417 words, about 2 min06Compliance and Payer Requirements
This domain tests whether claims are supported by documentation, medical necessity, and payer rules. Expect questions on National Correct Coding Initiative edits, local and national coverage determinations, advance beneficiary notices, and program integrity.
408 words, about 2 min