CPC (Certified Professional Coder (AAPC)) — Free Online Mock Test
AAPC outpatient physician coding gold standard. 100 multiple-choice questions across CPT, HCPCS Level II, ICD-10-CM, anatomy/terminology, and compliance. 4-hour open-book exam — must score 70% to pass. · Official language: English.
CPC exam at a glance
CPC full-length mock tests
Attempt 50 full-length CPC mock tests, each a distinct question set built on the real 100-question, 240-minute pattern — with instant scoring and section-wise analysis. The first 3 are free.
See all 50 CPC mock tests →CPC key facts & eligibility
| Conducting body | AAPC. |
|---|---|
| Official website | aapc.com ↗ |
| Mode | An open-book, proctored exam (online or in person) of 100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours; approved coding manuals are allowed. |
| Frequency | Year-round by appointment. |
| Scoring & marking | 100 questions on correctly applying CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II codes across medical scenarios; you need 70% (70 correct) to pass. |
| Score validity | The CPC is maintained through AAPC membership and continuing education units (CEUs). |
| Language | English. |
Who is eligible for CPC?
No hard prerequisite to sit; AAPC recommends an associate degree and coding coursework. You need two years of experience to drop the apprentice (CPC-A) designation, plus AAPC membership.
Last verified July 2026 against AAPC — CPC certification. Always confirm current details on the official website before you register.
CPC section breakdown
The CPC mock test on Wrexa Edge replicates the real exam's section structure — same names, same question count per section, same time limits. No inter-section breaks — the timer runs continuously.
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CPC Full Exam (100 Q)
CPC scoring & marking scheme
Strategy: CPC has no negative marking. Attempt every question — blank answers cost you potential marks but cannot pull your score down.
Scale: CPC (pass 70%).
How CPC is conducted
- Mode
- Test format
- Backtracking
- Mark for review
CPC time strategy
With 100 questions in 240 minutes, you have about 144 seconds per question on average. Successful candidates aim for the following pacing on each section:
- CPC Full Exam (100 Q)
Wrexa Edge's analytics show your actual time-per-question after every mock so you can spot which sections you're losing time on.
CPC topics covered
Across the 50 Wrexa Edge variants of CPC, the following topics appear most often (sample distribution from one variant):
CPC Full Exam (100 Q)
- ICD-10-CM · 20
- CPT — Modifiers · 15
- Claims / Billing · 11
- CPT — E/M · 7
- ICD-10-PCS · 7
- HCPCS · 6
- IPPS / POA · 5
- CPT — Symbols · 4
CPC difficulty calibration
Advanced tier. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep.
AAPC outpatient physician coding gold standard. 100 multiple-choice questions across CPT, HCPCS Level II, ICD-10-CM, anatomy/terminology, and compliance. 4-hour open-book exam — must score 70% to pass. · Official language: English.
Verified content — Wrexa Edge's CPC bank has been deeply curated with real exam-aligned content (estimated 100% syllabus coverage).
How Wrexa Edge prepares you for CPC
- Real test-day interface
- 50 distinct variants
- Detailed analytics
- Spaced repetition (Notebook)
- Optional proctoring
- Free to start
Expert take: what CPC really tests
The CPC is an open-book exam, which fools people into under-preparing — but with 100 dense coding scenarios in four hours, the difference between passing and failing is usually how fast you can navigate CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS. Well-tabbed, annotated code books and lots of timed practice turn the open-book format into an advantage rather than a time trap; the pass mark is 70%.
Preparation tips
- Tab and annotate your code books so lookups are near-instant during the exam.
- Practise coding full clinical scenarios, not just isolated code lookups.
- Do timed practice — the open-book format still leaves little spare time per question.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating "open book" as a reason to under-prepare, then running out of time.
- Weak guideline knowledge, so you mis-select between similar CPT or ICD-10 codes.
CPC study plan
A phase-by-phase roadmap from your first concept to test-ready. Stretch or compress each phase to fit the time you have before your attempt.
- Learn CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II structure and conventions
- Study the official coding guidelines and how the manuals are organised
- Practise locating codes quickly — the exam is open-book but time-pressured
- Code full clinical scenarios across anatomy, medicine, surgery and E/M
- Annotate and tab your code books for fast navigation
- Do timed question sets to build coding speed and accuracy
- Take full-length timed practice exams — 100 questions in 4 hours
- Aim comfortably above the 70% pass mark
- Refine your book navigation so lookups cost as little time as possible
Where CPC can take you
A strong CPC result opens up these careers and higher-study paths:
- Medical coder
- Billing & revenue cycle
- Auditing & compliance
- Remote & specialty coding
Best books & official prep for CPC
- CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II code books — AMA / AAPC / Optum
- AAPC CPC preparation course — AAPC
- CPC practice exams — AAPC / Various
- Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting — CMS / NCHS
Official practice: AAPC provides the preparation course and practice exams; because it is open-book, fast, confident navigation of the code manuals is decisive.
Previous-year papers: AAPC does not release past exams; official practice exams are the closest match.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the CPC exam pattern?
- Certified Professional Coder (AAPC) contains 100 questions across 1 section: CPC Full Exam (100 Q). Total duration is 240 minutes (about 144 seconds per question).
- Does CPC have negative marking?
- No — CPC has no negative marking. Each correct answer is worth 1 mark, so attempt every question.
- How is CPC scored?
- Scaled score range: 100 to 1000. CPC (pass 70%).
- How can I practise CPC online for free?
- Wrexa Edge gives you 3 free full-length CPC mock tests — with instant scoring, detailed explanations and analytics — plus 47 more with Pro. Start practising in under a minute, no card required.
- What is the difficulty level of CPC?
- CPC is rated Advanced difficulty on Wrexa Edge. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep. AAPC outpatient physician coding gold standard. 100 multiple-choice questions across CPT, HCPCS Level II, ICD-10-CM, anatomy/terminology, and compliance. 4-hour open-book exam — must score 70% to pass. · Official language: English.
- How long is the CPC exam?
- CPC runs for 240 minutes total. On Wrexa Edge the timer is enforced exactly as on the real exam — including no inter-section breaks.
- What topics are covered in CPC?
- CPC is split into: CPC Full Exam (100 Q). Each section is timed and weighted separately. AAPC outpatient physician coding gold standard. 100 multiple-choice questions across CPT, HCPCS Level II, ICD-10-CM, anatomy/terminology, and compliance. 4-hour open-book exam — must score 70% to pass. · Official language: English.
- What tools or aids are allowed during CPC?
- No special tools are required. Note: real exam is proctored — Wrexa Edge mirrors this with a webcam-based proctoring flow you can enable.
- Is the CPC test adaptive?
- No — CPC is a fixed-form (linear) test. Every candidate sees the same number of questions per section.
- How many CPC mock tests does Wrexa Edge offer?
- Wrexa Edge generates 50 distinct CPC variants — each with different question content, not just shuffled options — the first 3 free for everyone and 47 more with Pro. That's 5000 unique practice questions in the real test-day interface.
- Is there a free CPC test series 2026?
- Yes. The Wrexa Edge CPC test series for 2026 gives you 3 free full-length mock tests (50 in total) plus subject-wise and topic-wise tests — instant scoring and detailed analysis, no card required.
- Are CPC previous year question–style papers included?
- Every CPC mock is modelled on the official exam pattern and the style of previous years' papers — the same 100-question structure, sections and marking — so your practice mirrors the real paper you'll sit.
- Which is the best free CPC mock test online?
- Wrexa Edge's CPC mock test replicates the real exam interface, timing and marking scheme, with instant score, section-wise analysis and 50 fresh variants — a strong free choice for 2026 preparation.
- Can I take the CPC mock test on mobile?
- Yes. CPC mock tests run in any browser on mobile, tablet or desktop — no app or download needed. Start on your phone and your progress and analytics sync when you sign in.
- What is the CPC syllabus?
- The CPC syllabus maps to its 1 section: CPC Full Exam (100 Q). Wrexa Edge's mock tests cover the complete syllabus topic by topic — see the topics-covered breakdown above — so you practise every area at real exam difficulty.
- What is the eligibility for CPC?
- No hard prerequisite to sit; AAPC recommends an associate degree and coding coursework. You need two years of experience to drop the apprentice (CPC-A) designation, plus AAPC membership. Wrexa Edge focuses on realistic CPC practice: 3 free full-length mocks in the exact exam pattern, ready whenever you are.
- When is the CPC exam and how should I prepare?
- Official CPC exam dates are announced by the conducting body for each cycle — check the latest notification for the current schedule. To be ready, follow a phased study plan and take full-length timed mocks; Wrexa Edge gives you 3 free CPC mocks with instant scoring so you can track your readiness week by week.
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