Exam Agreement

There are requirements that must be met to qualify for testing. Please read the below carefully. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information, contact AAPC at 800-626-2633.

The AAPC Exam Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legally binding contract between you and AAPC that sets forth the terms and conditions under which AAPC will permit you to take AAPC certification examinations. You must read, acknowledge and accept the terms of this Agreement before you are permitted to register for, schedule, and take an AAPC examination. If you do not agree to the terms of this Agreement, you will not be permitted to register for or take any AAPC examination(s). Adherence to the Agreement is necessary to enable AAPC to maintain fair examinations, ensure the validity of examination results, and maintain the integrity and value of AAPC professional certifications.

By registering for and participating in an AAPC certification exam, you are affirming to AAPC that all of the below representations and statements to AAPC are true and correct, and you are acknowledging that you have read and understand all of these requirements, rules, and policies, and that you agree to abide by all of the following:

Exam Scheduling, Payment, and Cancellation

  • I agree to follow the cancellation and rescheduling guidelines of my chosen exam format.

  • I understand that cancellations or reschedules may not be made less than 48 hours before the exam and will result in a no-show status and forfeiture of the exam voucher.

  • I acknowledge that exam fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable and must be used within one year of purchase, or payment will be forfeited.

Certification Content and Requirements

  • I understand that exam content is determined by an independent committee and is unrelated to any course material or curricula offered by AAPC or other training program curricula.

  • I agree not to represent myself as certified until I receive an official written communication from AAPC advising me that AAPC has determined that I have met all requirements of certification and that AAPC has granted me a certification for which I have applied.

  • I understand that certification maintenance requires active membership, payment of applicable fees, and completion of continuing education within my CEU timeframe.

  • If I do not submit proof of two years’ experience before my exam date, I understand that I will receive an Apprentice (A) designation (applies to CPC and COC exams only) and will maintain such designation until proof of required work experience has been met and provided.

  • I understand that all exams go through the same quality checks and grading process to ensure the accuracy of the final score.

Exam Conduct and Ethics

  • I have read and agree to abide by the AAPC Code of Ethics ("Code").

  • If the Code is violated as determined by the AAPC Ethics Committee, at any time, thereafter, such conduct may result in the loss of membership and, collaterally, all credentials conferred upon me by AAPC.

  • I understand and agree that at the sole discretion of AAPC and/or AAPC Ethics Committee, if it is determined that I have falsified information to purchase or take an exam, including the falsification of geographic or location information, this is a direct violation of AAPC’s Code of Ethics and will result in a per se violation of the AAPC Code of Ethics, which, as determined by the AAPC Ethics Committee, could result in the loss of membership with AAPC and, collaterally, the loss of any previously earned credentials.

  • I understand and agree that engaging in any of the following, whether attempted or completed, is strictly prohibited and is considered a per se violation of the AAPC Code of Ethics:

    • Copying, capturing, recording, collecting, reconstructing, memorizing, discussing, soliciting, transmitting, broadcasting, streaming, or distributing AAPC exam content;

    • Receiving or giving unauthorized assistance (including proxy testing, remote access, VPN, live help, or by any other means) on an AAPC exam;

    • Viewing the content of another examinee’s computer display or examination papers during an AAPC exam;

    • Accessing prohibited items (e.g., cell phones or any device that connects to a cellular network or the Internet, notes, electronic devices, or any other prohibited item) while inside a room where an AAPC exam is being administered, during the exam breaks, for any purposes other than the at home proctored exam check-in process;

    • Possessing, accessing or using any electronic device, camera, recording device, or photographic equipment of any kind while inside a room where an AAPC exam is being administered;

    • Possessing, accessing or using any books, notes, papers, note-taking materials, study materials or test-taking aids of any kind, unless explicitly allowed as a reference, while inside a room where an AAPC exam is being administered or in any location during unscheduled exam breaks;

    • Speaking aloud to myself or any other person during a remote online proctored exam administration at my home, office, or other location;

    • Intentionally positioning myself for obscuring webcam visibility during online proctored exam administration at my home, office, or other location;

    • Failing or refusing to submit to security screening or the inspection of personal items upon request by a test administrator at any time prior to or during an AAPC exam administration;

    • Failing or refusing to strictly comply with the instructions and requests of a test administrator at any time prior to or during an AAPC exam administration

  • I agree to follow the instructions and requests of all test administrators and proctors, and understand that my failure or refusal to follow instructions or comply with requests from a test administrator or proctor shall be considered a violation of the Agreement.

  • I understand that if, in the sole determination of AAPC, I engage in any of the above conduct, my examination results will be invalidated, and that AAPC has the right to require future tests in a specific format or location. In addition, I may be subject to investigation by the AAPC Ethics Board. I further understand that termination of membership results in the automatic loss of credentials that I may have previously earned.

Exam Integrity & Investigations

  • I understand AAPC reserves the right to use psychometric and statistical analyses to evaluate the validity of examination response data and scores.

  • I understand and agree that AAPC utilizes these reliable scientific methods to determine whether scores should be withheld, invalidated, canceled, or investigated further to determine whether a candidate violated the terms of the Agreement.

  • I further understand and agree that, if AAPC has a reasonable basis to question the validity of any AAPC examination response data or examination result, whether identified through the use of statistical analysis, psychometric analysis or any other reliable method or source of information, AAPC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to withhold, cancel and invalidate examination scores, without any requirement to demonstrate that I or any other candidate violated the terms of the Agreement.

  • I agree that if AAPC invalidates my examination score, I will not be entitled to a refund for the examination, and I will be required to pay the established fee to take the examination again, if I am permitted by AAPC to take the examination again.

  • I agree that AAPC may withhold or invalidate scores based on irregularities—even without proving misconduct.

  • I understand and agree that AAPC reserves the right to, but is not obligated to, investigate any alleged violation of this Agreement or any alleged activity or circumstance that may compromise the validity, integrity, or security of any portion of a AAPC examination, or the results thereof. Upon discovering evidence of misconduct, AAPC may turn the evidence over to AAPC’s Ethics Committee. Upon receiving notice from AAPC’s Ethics Committee that it is conducting an investigation related to the examination, I understand and agree that I am required to:

    • Fully cooperate with any investigation;

    • Disclose to AAPC all knowledge that could potentially relate to the investigation;

    • Produce all documents, data and materials requested by AAPC;

    • Upon request, submit to an in-person or remote interview, in AAPC’s Ethics Committee’ sole discretion, conducted by or on behalf of AAPC; and

    • Truthfully and completely answer all questions asked by AAPC’s Ethics Committee.

  • I also understand and agree that if I provide false or misleading information to AAPC or to AAPC’s Ethics Committee at any time, violate the terms of this Exam Agreement, refuse to comply with any directions given to me by a test administrator, engage in any activity that may compromise the validity, integrity, or security of any AAPC examination, or fail to fully cooperate in any investigation related to AAPC examinations, that AAPC may, in its sole discretion, directly or through its authorized representatives:

    • Interrupt, suspend and/or terminate the administration of my AAPC examination;

    • Confiscate any item from me during a AAPC examination administration that a test administrator reasonably believes is relevant to a potential violation of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, notes, electronic devices and other prohibited personal items;

    • Withhold, cancel, or invalidate my examination scores, before or after the scores are reported, without a refund;

    • Prohibit or disqualify me from taking AAPC examinations for a fixed period of time or permanently;

    • Impose special conditions of taking future AAPC examinations.

    • If I previously passed any AAPC certification exam and obtained any AAPC certification, suspend or revoke all of my AAPC certifications for a fixed period of time or indefinitely; and

    • Pursue a civil lawsuit against me based upon my conduct in violation of the Exam Agreement and/or refer the matter for criminal prosecution by state and/or federal authorities or any government agency with jurisdiction.

Exam Administration

  • I agree to follow all instructions and requests made by proctors or test administrators.

  • I understand proctors are not responsible for exam content or functionality questions.

  • I agree to respect proctor authority and behave in a professional, courteous manner. The proctors are following the AAPC guidelines to ensure exam security is maintained. Proctors are unable to assist with content or exam functionality.

  • I understand that U.S. exams are updated annually on January 1 to reflect the current year’s codes and coding guidelines. International exams are updated annually as needed, based on the release of revised code sets for the respective regions.

Resources & Materials

  • I am strongly encouraged to bring current-year coding books to the exam, when applicable to the certification. Review approved resources.

  • I understand that books are subject to inspection by proctors. Notes are only permitted if directly related to daily coding activities.

  • Questions from the Study Guides, Practice Exams, or the Exam itself are prohibited.

  • I understand that if my books contain unauthorized content, they may be disallowed, and no replacement books will be provided.

  • I understand that if I choose to take the exam at a later date or time, I will do so at my own cost and will not be entitled to a refund of the exam voucher.

Exam Registration & Results

  • I will receive a registration confirmation via email. If my chosen exam site or date is not shown, I understand I may not be fully registered and will not be permitted to take the exam.

  • I understand results require active AAPC membership and will be available online. Upon passing, certificates and diplomas are mailed within 6–8 weeks.

  • I understand that all exams undergo the same quality assurance process before scores are finalized.

Final Acknowledgment

I certify that:

  • I have read and understand this Exam Agreement.

  • I agree to adhere to all AAPC policies outlined above.

  • I acknowledge that violations may result in exam disqualification, loss of fees, loss of membership and associated credential revocation, and/or civil or criminal prosecution, at AAPC’s discretion.