You will have as many tries as you need to pass the proficiency test by Sept. 30, 2015. For each $60 fee you get two tries. If you only hold a CPPM, CPCO, CIRCC you will not be required to take the test to keep that certification with the AAPC. If you don't pass the proficiency test by the 2015 deadline, you will loose all of your AAPC certifications except the CPPM, CPCO, CIRCC and have to retake them.
Here are the Rules:
•Required for all AAPC credential holders (excluding CPPM®, CPCO™, and CIRCC®), recommended for all others working with the new code set
•Two (2) years to take and pass the assessment, beginning October 1, 2013 (one year before implementation of ICD-10) and ending September 30, 2015 (one year after implementation)
•75 questions, 3.5 hours, open-book, online, unproctored, use any resource available
•Coders will have two (2) attempts at passing (reaching an 80% score) over a two year window (Oct 1, 2013 – Sept. 30, 2015) for the $60 administration fee
•ICD-10-CM only (ICD-10-PCS will not be covered in the assessment)
•No CEUs given