Intro of Certified Professional coder (CPC) Exam

Medical coders are in high demand everywhere because of use of ICD 10. Now, if you see most of the projects are based on ICD 10 coding. But, hiring a medical coder is a very complex process. There are two types of coders, Certified and Non-Certified medical coders.

Certified coders have Certification or credentials from AAPC or AHIMA. CPC (Certified Professional Coder) Certified coders from AAPC are more in number in the certification race. CPC exam is conducted from AAPC and has great value for jobs opportunities.

I have also cleared CPC exam long back, I really believe if you also want to make your future in coding, do clear this exam in 2022.

Now, if you are a fresher in coding and has no knowledge about this exam, then don’t worry. 

I will guide you step by step for clearing this Certification exam for year 2022. The only thing you have to do is to follow all these tips carefully and give your best while preparing for this exam.

Know about the Certified Professional coder  (CPC) Exam Question Paper

If you know the question paper, then you can prepare your strategy for preparation of this exam. From 2022, the CPC exam syllabus has changes. The new CPC exam pattern will be have only 100 questions instead on 150 questions. The time limit is also reduced from 5 hours 40 mintues to 4 Hours only. The CPC exam will now have 100 MCQ questions with The time limit is 4 hours .  Here, you may find the time more, compared to the number of questions, but the difficulty level of questions will be different in each section.

Surgery section is the tough one, where questions will be around 4-5 lines and it will take at least 2-3 minutes to understand the whole question. So, here you have to understand where to spend and save time while solving your question paper.

Not to worry, their will be also questions of 1 line only, which can be answered in the matter of 30 seconds. So, you should plan your time to solve your question paper.

From 2022, new 10 cases have been added in Certified Professional coder (CPC) exam, these new cases need to coded with correct CPT, ICD-10 and HCPCS code. So, coders need to have good understanding and analytical skills to code these cases.

The CPC Exam

• 100 multiple choice questions (proctored)
• 4 hours to finish the exam
• One free retake
• $399 ($325 AAPC Students)- one free retake 
• Open code book (manuals)

The Exam covers question from each chapter

6 questions from 10,000 series codes

6 questions from 20,000 series codes

6 questions from 30,000 series codes

6 questions from 40,000 series codes

6 questions from 50,000 series codes

6 questions from 60,000 series codes

6 questions from Evaluation and Management

4 questions from Anesthesia

6 questions from Radiology

6 question from Laboratory and Pathology

6 questions from Medicine

4 question from Medical Terminology

4 question from Anatomy

5 question from ICD 10-CM/Diagnosis

3 questions from HCPCS Level II

7 questions from Coding Guidelines

3 questions from compliance and Regulatory

Cases -10 cases (Note: New Section from 2022)

Ten cases will test your ability accurately code medical record documentation using CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II. The cases will cover 10000 series, 20000 series, 30000 series, 40000 series, 50000 series, 60000 series, medicine, anesthesia, radiology, pathology and laboratory, and evaluation and management services. Medical terminology, anatomy, compliance, and regulatory information may also be tested in the cases.

Certified Professional Coder Salary

The BLS reports that the median salary for a medical records and health information technician, under which medical billers and coders fall, was $45,240 per year in 2020. If you earn industry certification, however, such as the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential from the AAPC then gain years of experience, you could earn more.

Read also: How to become Perfect in using Modifiers in Medical coding

Plan before you start solving the question paper

Without planning nothing can work out. Yes, when you are giving an important exam either in this year or next year, you should be able to plan every minute of the exam. Each second or minute is important during the Certified Professional coder (CPC) exam.

I would always suggest medical coders, to start your question paper with easy questions of 1-2 lines. If the start is good, the end will always be good, which I have learnt from all my previous exams.

If you answer some questions correctly in the first hour of the exam, your confidence will be increased which will surely help in answering the other question. The more your mind is balance the more you can easily find the answer.

DO NOT take the difficult question in the beginning hour of the exam. For example, if you solve the surgery section in the beginning, you might take too much time solving them. If you solve 10 question in 1 hour, this will automatically make you mentally nervous, since you have still 90 question left.

On the contrary if you solve around 50 easy questions in 1 hour, you will have 50 questions only left in 3 hours. This way you can manage time easily and can give equal time for each question.

Read also: Superb tips for Suture removal CPT code

Solve Sample Certified Professional coder  (CPC) Exam papers

There are many sample CPC Exam questions and answers available online of 2020 or 2021 for the preparation of CPC exam. Yes, the more you practice the more you will build confidence for clearing  this exam in 2022.

If you are really looking to clear this exam in first attempt, you should really start solving model question papers of CPC Exam. Read the rationale of each answer which will help to gain more knowledge about the question.

Practice always make everything Perfect. Hence, do not stop solving medical coding certification exam papers. Time is important factor here. When you are solving the sample questions do also learn to manage time. If you are able to solve the whole paper in allotted time, then you can easily finish your CPC exam paper on time.

Time doesn’t wait for anyone, so practice a lot till you finish the model CPC exam paper in the given time.

Read also: ICD 10 codes for Breast Mass

Make use of No Negative marking

When you have a question where you do not have negative marking, then you should not leave any question unanswered. If you really want to pass this exam, you have to answer all the questions, even guessing work sometimes.

For clearing CPC exam, one must have to achieve 70% or more to pass the exam in 2022. I can definitely say, around 60 to 70% chances are always there to clear the CPC exam, if you have attempted all the questions.

I would suggest to complete the question before 1 hour of allotted time. Checking your questions and answers is also important at the end. In last hour, you need to check whether you have attempted all the questions and you have answered them correctly. Sometimes you may choose the wrong answer by mistake.

Read also: 8 minute Medicare rule for coding Physical Therapy CPT codes

Know every page of 2022 Codebook 

You have to carry the original updated codebooks. CPT, ICD 10 and HCPCS original 2022 codebooks will be required for solving the CPC exam. You have to follow each and every coding guideline of these codebooks.

If you are finding it difficult to search the pages or the guidelines in the codebooks then do follow the below tips.

Use a Highlighter to highlight the important points in codebook

Bookmark the page or fold the page which has most of the important guidelines.

I have followed these tips during preparation of my CPC exam and it has really helped me to find things quickly during exam.

Number of Questions for Each Chapter

10,000 series CPT codes: Expect 6 questions on the subject of surgical procedures performed on the integumentary system. By definition, the integumentary system is an organ that protects the body from damage; skin, nails and hair are all part of this system.

20,000 series CPT codes: Be prepared to respond to at least 6 questions on the topic of surgical procedures performed on the musculoskeletal system, including those parts of the system located in the head, neck, back, spine, abdomen, shoulder, arm, hand, fingers, pelvis, hip, leg foot and toes.

30,000 series CPT codes: Total of 6 questions concerned with surgical procedures carried out on respiratory systme, cardiovascular system, Hemic and lymphatic systems & Mediastinum and diaphragm

40,000 series CPT codes: 6 questions will focus on surgical procedures performed on the digestive system.

50,000 series CPT codes : Expect to encounter 6 questions concerned with surgical procedures carried out on the Urinary system, male and female reproductive system, matenity and delivery & Endocorine system.

60,000 series CPT codes: 6 questions pertaining to surgical procedures performed on the nervous system (e.g., brain, spine and extracranial and peripheral nerves).

70,000 series CPT codes: 6 questions on radiology, including specific questions on diagnostic radiology and ultrasounds, mammography, bone and joint studies.

Conclusion

Be calm and prepare confidently for Certified Professional coder (CPC) exam. Do not get nervous before or during CPC exam. If you have really work hard then you will surely pass this exam. Be focused and concentrate while preparing for this exam. You have two free attempt for this exam, but always try to clear the exam in first attempt. All the best!