Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)® certification
Without risk adjustment coding to ensure that a complete picture of each patient’s health is captured and reported on medical claims, health plans would lack appropriate funding and planning to cover treatment for high-risk patients. Certified Risk Adjustment Coders (CRCs) play a critical role in establishing accurate risk scores for patients, which promotes optimal patient care and ethical payer reimbursement for providers and health plans.
Healthcare professionals earning their CRC credential possess demonstrated expertise in the complexity of diseases associated with chronic conditions and comorbidities, as well as mastery of ICD-10-CM guidelines and risk adjustment guidelines. As CRCs, they are equipped both to ensure clinical documentation accurately portrays the patient’s health status and to ensure all clinically documented diagnoses are properly reported.
Exam format
100 multiple-choice questions
Online or in-person options
AAPC offers online and in-person proctored exams. Choose to take the exam at home in a quiet, private location or through your local chapter or a licensed instructor. Learn more about the online proctored exam and how to prepare for the current exam.
Time allowed
In-person and online exams are administered in one sitting, with four hours to complete the exam.
Equipment required for online exam
A reliable internet connection and an external webcam that can be positioned to show your face, hands, keyboard, and the area around the keyboard (about 10 inches) are required.
Experience requirements
A high-level knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology, along with an understanding of the proper application of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes used for risk adjustment coding.
Not ready yet? We recommend taking our CRC preparation course.
Approved code books
Your choice of ICD-10-CM — published in the current year. No other code books or references are allowed.
Maintaining your certification
To maintain your credential, you must maintain your AAPC annual membership, and earn 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years.
Pricing
One attempt for $399 or $499 for two attempts. Of note:
80% of AAPC students pass on the first attempt.
Students who train with AAPC are three times more likely to pass the certification exam.
What students are saying
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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
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It's worth it I swear. Invest into it and it will reward you!
Joe Delgado
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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
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I took the online AAPC course. It was full of useful information and I passed my test the first time.
Danielle Ledford
About the CRC exam
The CRC exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions (proctored). The exam consists of questions regarding the correct application of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes used for risk adjustment coding.
Whether you take the exam online or in-person, you must complete the CRC exam within four hours and answer 70% of the questions correctly to pass.