Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)® certification

Training
Need exam prep training?
  • Self-paced and virtual instructor-led course options

  • Everything you need to prepare and take the COC exam.

Starting at $2,199

Exam
Want to schedule exam?
  • 80% of AAPC students pass on the first attempt.

  • Students who train with AAPC are three times more likely to pass the certification exam.

Starting at $499

With some physicians choosing to join hospital groups over private practices, the need for certified outpatient coders continues to escalate, making COC certification a smart career move. A COC certification demonstrates your mastery of outpatient hospital coding, including working knowledge of ambulatory payment classifications (APCs), payment status indicators, and Medicare severity-diagnosis-related groups (MS-DRGs). Coders who earn their COC credential go on to report outpatient services in a variety of settings, such as:

  • Hospital emergency departments

  • Outpatient hospital clinics

  • Outpatient therapy departments

  • Outpatient cancer centers

  • Dialysis services

  • Outpatient radiology departments

  • Ambulatory surgery centers

Exam format

100 multiple-choice questions

Two ways to take the exam

Choose to take the exam online at home with a live remote proctor, or on a computer at a testing center. Learn more about your exam options and how to prepare.

Time allowed

Exams are administered in one sitting, with four hours to complete the exam.

Equipment required for exam

Our live remote proctored exam requires a closed room free from distraction with window coverings, a reliable, high-speed internet connection, a computer, and an external webcam that can be positioned to show your face, hands, keyboard, and the area around the keyboard (about 10 inches).

Exams taken at a testing center do not require any special equipment from the test-taker.

Experience requirements

A high-level knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology, along with understanding of the proper application of CPT® procedure codes, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes.

Not ready yet? We recommend taking our COC preparation course.

Approved code books

Current year books are highly recommended as code sets are updated annually. You may choose to utilize books from the preceding year, the current year, or a
combination of both; however, only one copy of each book is allowed. 

Any officially published updates (errata) for the above code books may also be used.

Maintaining your certification

To maintain your dual credentials, you must maintain your AAPC annual membership, and earn 40 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years.

Pricing

An exam purchase includes two exam attempts for $499.

What students are saying

  • Lamontica Alexander

    Testimonial

    It hasn't even been a year since I passed my exam and I've had 3 remote job offers, with no experience.

    Lamontica Alexander

  • Joe Delgado testimonial

    Testimonial

    It's worth it I swear. Invest into it and it will reward you!

    Joe Delgado

  • Nilayana Sterling testimonial

    Testimonial

    As a stay at home mom and homeschooling two kids, it was a challenge; but if I can do, so can you all.

    Nilayana Sterling

  • Danielle Ledford student testimonial

    Testimonial

    I took the online AAPC course. It was full of useful information and I passed my test the first time.

    Danielle Ledford

About the COC exam

The COC exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions (proctored). The exam consists of questions regarding the correct application of CPT®, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes used for coding and billing outpatient facility/hospital and freestanding ASC services to insurance companies.

Whether you take the exam online or in-person, you must complete the COC exam within four hours and answer 70% of the questions correctly to pass.

Need help preparing for an exam?