Taking the CPC-M™ exam
Start your CPC-M exam with confidence.Know what to expect and avoid on exam day so you can focus on performing your best.
Who should take the CPC-M exam?
To ensure you’re prepared to pass the exam the first time, this certification is intended for highly experienced coding professionals with a strong foundation in professional fee coding and regulatory compliance. Examinees are required to have a minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience coding CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II, along with extensive experience applying reimbursement methodologies, CMS and payer-specific policies, and federal regulations. Experience in surgical and E/M coding across multiple specialties is essential.
Once you’re prepared for the exam, the CPC-M offers a powerful opportunity to formally validate your expertise. Earning this advanced credential allows you to demonstrate mastery beyond day-to-day production coding and positions you as a trusted authority in complex coding, compliance, auditing, and revenue integrity — helping you stand out for senior and leadership-level roles.
What to expect on exam day
The CPC-M exam consists of 70 questions and must be completed within four hours. The exam is rigorous by design and reflects the real-world complexity faced by experienced coding leaders. If you meet the experience requirements, have strong command of CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code books, and regularly work with complex coding and compliance scenarios, the exam will be demanding, but not difficult.
Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:
Before you begin the test, take a moment to pause and focus. You’ve built your expertise over years of experience. You’ll have your approved code books available and the opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of advanced coding, compliance, and reimbursement concepts.
You’ll have 4 hours to finish the exam, allowing ample time to work through 70 questions that include multiple-choice, multiple-select, and case-based formats. The exam includes 30 multiple-choice questions, 30 multiple-select questions, and 10 complex case studies with fill-in-the-blank responses. Time management is key — answer every question, even if you need to make an informed best guess.
The questions assess advanced, scenario-based knowledge across multiple domains, including evaluation and management, complex code assignment, regulatory compliance and risk mitigation, advanced reimbursement and revenue integrity, data analytics and quality reporting, and technology and tools utilization. Case studies require accurate assignment of CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II codes across a wide range of specialties such as anesthesia, cardiothoracic, oncology, orthopedics, interventional radiology, psychiatry, wound care, and more.
You will be able to reference approved medical code books during the exam. The only references permitted are CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code books. To be clear, these are the only code books you are allowed to use.
Exam format
70 questions total:
30 multiple-choice questions
30 multiple-select questions
10 cases with 40 blanks
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.
Approved code books
AMA's CPT® Professional Edition (current year)
ICD-10-CM (current year), any publisher
HCPCS Level II (current year), any publisher
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.
You have the option of using printed books or eBooks while taking your certification exam.
Calculator
An online calculator is provided in the electronic testing platform. Physical calculators are not permitted.
Book notes
Print books allow for 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.
eBooks are provided through the exam platform to ensure a consistent and fair testing environment for all participants. You will have access to a search function to help locate the information you need.
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.
Pricing
Choose to purchase one exam attempt for $425 or two exam attempts for $499.
Ways you can take the exam
Passing grades
An overall score of 70% or higher is required to pass the certification exam.
All AAPC certification exams exclusively measure proficiencies relating to the one credential named in the exam. To earn additional credentials, you will be required to pass additional certification exams.
Your results will be shared with you online in your Account Dashboard under Courses and 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.
Breakdown of the 70-question CPC-M exam
During the CPC-M exam, you will need to correctly identify the domains below:
Evaluation and management (18 multiple choice/multiple select questions)
Complex code assignment (7 multiple choice/multiple select questions)
Regulatory compliance and risk mitigation (12 multiple choice/multiple select questions)
Advanced reimbursement and revenue integrity (7 multiple choice/multiple select questions)
Data analytics and quality reporting (12 multiple choice/multiple select questions)
Technology and tools utilization (4 multiple choice/multiple select questions)
Case studies (10 fill-in-the-blank questions)