CPC Exam Day Checklist
The AAPC CPC exam is open book. You will sit for 100 multiple-choice questions over 4 hours with your own codebooks in front of you. That means preparation is about knowing where to look, not just memorizing codes.
Use this checklist to make sure you arrive ready. Check off each item below and your progress is saved automatically.
1 Before Exam Day
2 Codebooks to Bring (Open Book Exam)
Only the edition year in effect for your exam date is accepted. Verify on the AAPC website.
3 Morning of the Exam
! Not Allowed in the Exam Room
- x Electronic devices: phones, tablets, smartwatches, calculators (unless approved)
- x Food or drinks inside the exam room
- x Notes on loose paper. All annotations must be inside your codebooks
CPC Exam Rules: What AAPC Allows
AAPC runs the CPC. Unlike most other certs, it's open-book: your own CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS sit in front of you the whole time. The catch is that 100 questions in 4 hours means you need to navigate fast. Knowing the rules before you walk in removes one less thing to worry about.
Allowed
- + Tabbed and highlighted codebooks
- + Handwritten notes inside codebooks
- + Pre-printed reference pages bound inside a codebook
- + AAPC study guides (if using a proctored in-person exam)
- + Pencils and erasers provided by the testing center
Not Allowed
- - Smartphones, tablets, laptops
- - Calculators (unless AAPC approves for your session)
- - Loose notes or flashcards
- - Food or beverages inside the room
- - Prior year codebook editions (for exams requiring current year)
Rules may change. Always verify the final policy on the official AAPC website before your exam date.
Codebook Preparation Tips
Code book organization is the single biggest time-saver on exam day. Your hand should reach for the right section automatically. Here is how candidates who pass on the first attempt build that reflex.
Tab by body system and category
Use color-coded adhesive tabs on your CPT to mark the major sections: E/M, Anesthesia, Surgery subsections (Integumentary, Musculoskeletal, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Digestive, etc.), Radiology, Pathology, and Medicine. Add a separate set of tabs for ICD-10-CM chapters. The goal is to open directly to the right section in under 5 seconds.
Highlight guidelines, not just codes
Exam questions frequently test the guidelines at the beginning of each CPT section. Highlight key phrases like "separate procedure," "add-on code," and "do not report separately." This is faster than hunting through the index cold.
Write cross-references in the margins
When you discover a note during study (e.g., "See also 99213-99215 for split shared visits"), write it directly in the margin next to the relevant code. Handwritten notes in your codebook are permitted and can save you minutes per question.
Practice the index, not just the tabular
Most candidates skip practicing the Alphabetic Index. The exam rewards candidates who can locate a procedure or diagnosis through the index first, then confirm in the tabular list. Train yourself to look up the main term, then verify the code. This two-step is faster than scanning the tabular list cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CPC exam open book? v
Yes. The CPC exam is fully open book. You may bring your own CPT Professional, ICD-10-CM Professional, and HCPCS Level II codebooks. Tabs, highlights, and handwritten notes inside the books are permitted. Loose papers and notes are not. The challenge is speed: 100 questions in 4 hours means about 2.4 minutes per question while flipping through codebooks.
What ID do I need for the CPC exam? v
A valid, government-issued photo ID is required. A driver's license or passport works. The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your exam registration. Expired IDs are generally not accepted.
Can I bring a calculator to the CPC exam? v
Electronic calculators and devices are generally not permitted unless specifically approved by AAPC for your exam session. A small number of math calculations may appear (e.g., drug dosage or anesthesia time), but they are designed to be solvable without a calculator. Check your exam confirmation and the AAPC website for the most current policy.
How many questions are on the CPC exam and what is a passing score? v
The CPC exam has 100 multiple-choice questions. The time limit is 4 hours. A passing score is 70 percent (70 out of 100 correct). All questions are weighted equally. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question even if you are unsure.
Practice for exam day
Drill your terminology before the exam
Blitz mode gives you medical terminology and modifier flashcards. Swipe through 100+ cards, build your streak, and arrive knowing the vocab cold.
Start Blitz for FreeIndependent exam preparation tool, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the AAPC or AHIMA. Checklist content reflects publicly available AAPC exam policies. Always verify current rules on the official AAPC website before your exam date.
