Taking the CIRCC® Exam
Current trends reveal increasing numbers of percutaneous nonvascular and vascular procedures being performed in interventional radiology departments and angio suites, cardiac catheterization labs, endovascular suites, the operating room and in other departments and clinics performing non-vascular intervention.
Charging and coding within the facility is often fragmented between technologists and HIM coders. Physician practice coding is usually through a single coder who must have a high level of expertise for accurate billing. Many physicians are combining cardiac and peripheral procedures during the same encounter for patient benefit resulting in additional complexities to accurate coding
With these issues in mind, the CIRCC credential was designed to eliminate reimbursement and compliance errors. The goal for the CIRCC is to perform proficiently in the physician practice, the single specialty lab, the operating room, the swing lab, and within the HIM department or business office.
To employers, a CIRCC certification demonstrates your mastery of interventional radiology cardiovascular coding, including common diagnoses and procedures specific to interventional radiology cardiovascular physician practices.
A specialty certification like this is a great way to both establish your coding skills and differentiate yourself within this growing field.
Who should take the CIRCC exam?
If you’re an experienced interventional radiology cardiovascular coder, you can demonstrate your expertise to employers with a CIRCC certification. CIRCC certification also elevates your earning potential above that of people without an AAPC certification. With enough experience and expertise, you can skip the essentials. We do, however, recommend getting the study guide and practice exam to help ensure that you pass on the first attempt.
What to expect on exam day
The exam has a total of 100 questions to be answered in four hours. People often wonder if the CIRCC exam is hard. We’ll say this: If you have studied and are familiar with your CPT® and HCPCS Level II code books, the test will be demanding, but not difficult.
Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:
Before you begin the test, take a moment and breathe. You have prepared for this. You have your code books by your side and know how to use them. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your interventional radiology cardiovascular coding expertise.
You'll have four hours to finish the exam, giving you approximately 2.4 minutes to answer each of the 100 multiple-choice questions. You can save time by reading the answer choices before reading each question and by saving the more difficult questions for last. It’s important to answer every question, even if you aren’t sure. Your best guess is better than no answer at all.
The questions assess several areas of knowledge, most of which are presented as coding scenarios or cases, to test application of CPT® procedure codes and HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes.
Most questions on the CIRCC exam are presented in a case report format. Diagnostic angiography, non-vascular interventions, and percutaneous vascular interventions account for approximately 25 percent of the exam. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization and basic coronary arterial interventions make up 10 percent of the exam. Test sections on basic coding, anatomy, and terminology account for less than 10 percent of the test.
You will be able to reference approved medical code books during the exam — the AMA's CPT® Professional Edition, as well as your choice of HCPCS Level II code book. You can also use your choice of anatomical charts or pictures of the vascular tree to assist in catheter selection (labeled with catheter selectivity). To be clear, these are the only code books you are allowed to use.
Live Remote Proctored exam
Our Live Remote Proctored (LRP) exam* is taken on a computer at home and proctored remotely by Examity® via an external webcam.
After purchasing your exam voucher, you’ll receive a Notice to Schedule email from Meazure Learning. When you are ready to schedule your exam, you may select one of our two electronic testing options (LRP or Testing Center) at the time of registration for a date and time convenient to you. For step-by-step instruction on scheduling your exam as well as guidelines and policies for each exam format, watch our exam video tutorial.
On the day of an LRP exam, you will log into your Meazure Learning account, then connect with your Examity proctor to complete a security check and take your exam. A valid, government-issued photo ID is required. Temporary, copies, paper or digital IDs are not permitted.
*Live Remote Proctored exams are available in the US, Bahamas & Jamaica only.
Equipment required: A reliable high-speed internet connection, a computer, working speakers and microphone, and an external webcam that can be positioned to show your face, hands, keyboard, and the area around the keyboard (about 10 inches).
Location: Taken at home in a closed room with window coverings, free from distraction or interruption.
Exam format: 100 multiple-choice questions delivered in one sitting
Time allowed: 4 hours
Proctor to examinee ratio: 1 to 2
Cancellation and rescheduling policy:
Within 24 hours prior to exam: cancellation and rescheduling is unavailable. If you do not show for your exam time, you will be considered a "no-show." Your exam attempt will be forfeited and a new voucher must be purchased (or a 2nd attempt used, if available) to reschedule.
24 hours or more prior to exam: you may reschedule or cancel with no applicable fee.
Availability: Schedule now
Testing center exam
Our testing center exam is taken on a computer, in-person, at one of Meazure Learning testing sites and is proctored by testing center personnel.
After purchasing your exam voucher, you’ll receive a Notice to Schedule email from Meazure Learning. When you are ready to schedule your exam, you may select one of our two electronic testing options (LRP or Testing Center) at the time of registration for a date and time convenient to you. For step-by-step instruction on scheduling your exam as well as guidelines and policies for each exam format, watch our exam video tutorial.
Plan to arrive at your test center location 15 minutes early. A valid, government-issued photo ID is required. Temporary, copies, paper or digital IDs are not permitted.
Equipment required: All computer equipment required is provided by testing center
Location: Taken at a testing center, often at a college or university
Exam format: 100 multiple-choice questions delivered in one sitting
Time allowed: 4 hours
Proctor to examinee ratio: Testing center personnel may vary
Cancellation and rescheduling policy:
Within 48 hours prior to exam: cancellation or rescheduling is unavailable. If you do not show for your exam time, you will be considered a "no-show." Your exam attempt will be forfeited and a new voucher must be purchased (or a 2nd attempt used, if available) to reschedule.
Fifteen (15) days to 48 hours prior exam: $25.00 fee applies to cancel or reschedule.
Fifteen (15) or more days prior to exam: no fee applies to cancel or reschedule.
Availability: Schedule now
Passing grades
An overall score of 70% or higher is required to pass the certification exam. For a passing score of 70%, you must get at least 70 questions correct. If you incorrectly answer more than 30 questions, you will not pass. If you don’t pass, you will be notified of the categories/areas of study with sub-scores of 65% or less to help you prepare for retesting.
All AAPC certification exams exclusively measure proficiencies relating to the one credential named in the exam. To earn additional medical coding credentials, you will be required to pass additional certification exams.
Your results will be shared with you online in your My AAPC Account Dashboard under My Exams. You can expect the results within 7-10 business days after taking the exam. Once you have passed, your certificate will be sent to you in the mail.
Materials allowed on the day of the exam
Approved code books
AMA's CPT® Professional Edition (current year)
HCPCS Level II (current year), any publisher
Anatomical Charts or pictures of the vascular tree
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.
Calculator
An online calculator is provided in the electronic testing platform. Physical calculators are not permitted.
Book notes
Handwritten notes are acceptable in the code books only if they pertain to daily coding activities. Long passages of information are not permitted on the blank pages. Questions from the study guides, practice exams, or the exam itself are prohibited. Altering, whiting out, painting, or printing over any pages within the code books (e.g., marketing pages, table of contents, reference pages, etc.) to supplement information is prohibited.
Book tabs
Tabs may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued, or stapled in the code books so long as the obvious intent of the tab is to earmark a page with words or numbers, not supplement information in the book.
NOTE: Electronic devices with an on/off switch (phones, tablets, etc.) are not allowed into the examination room. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disqualification of your exam.
Breakdown of the 100-question CIRCC exam
Passing the CIRCC exam requires you to correctly answer a minimum of 70 questions specifically related to interventional radiology cardiovascular coding.
CIRCC exam
100 multiple choice questions (proctored)
4 hours to finish the exam
Open code book
$450 for 2 exam attempts
The exam will measure proficiency in the correct application of specialty-related CPT® codes, HCPCS Level II codes, modifiers, and healthcare regulations.
Requirements
A current AAPC membership.
A current email and valid address on AAPC account.
A valid, unused electronic exam voucher.
A valid, government-issued photo ID. First and last name must EXACTLY match your exam confirmation. Temporary, paper, copies, or digital IDs are NOT permitted.
We strongly recommend that you have at least two years of experience in the specialty prior to sitting for the certification exam. Please be aware that these are difficult, high-level examinations not intended for individuals with little, limited, or no coding experience.
Maintaining certification
Maintaining your certification(s) will require current AAPC membership and earning continuing education units (CEUs). For CEU requirements, please see our CEU Information page.