Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
The CPC, one of AAPC’s professional coding credentials
What it attests to, what the exam assesses, and what it takes to maintain it. Explained without assuming you already work in the field.
Next group: November 24, 2026. Enrollment is reserved before October 30.
See the programThe exam
See the exam from the inside
How it is scheduled, where you take it, and what happens on exam day.
The preparation
Prepare for the credential
Twelve weeks of live classes taught in Spanish, with the official code books and the exam included.
What a Certified Professional Coder is
The CPC attests to command of medical coding for outpatient and physician office services: applying ICD-10-CM, CPT®, and HCPCS Level II codes, and understanding compliance rules, payer requirements, and how a reimbursement is supported.
It is also the base for AAPC’s other credentials: what you study here comes back in hospital coding, risk adjustment, auditing, and compliance. That is why it is usually the first one people prepare for.
Why earn it
- It is one of AAPC’s professional coding credentials.
- It attests that you can code outpatient and physician office services accurately and in compliance.
- It gives you a base in medical terminology, anatomy, and coding guidelines that carries over to any specialty.
- It assesses core professional medical coding knowledge: CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, guidelines, and compliance.
- It covers core competencies that also relate to other areas, such as auditing, risk adjustment, and healthcare reimbursement.
AI and the future of the coder: the instructor’s analysis, with the AMA and CMS documents →
What the exam assesses
The exam measures three things, and all three are trained during the program:
Core coding knowledge
- Applying ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across every body system.
- Assigning CPT® and HCPCS Level II codes to procedures, services, and supplies.
- Handling the guidelines, conventions, and sequencing rules.
Outpatient and physician office services
- Coding evaluation and management (E/M) services for new and established patients.
- Procedures in physician offices, outpatient clinics, and same-day surgery centers.
- Linking diagnosis and procedure to support medical necessity.
Compliance and payer rules
- Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payer guidelines.
- Correct use of modifiers to support reimbursement.
- Compliance, fraud, and abuse rules.
See what the exam is like inside: format, where you take it, and how to schedule it →
Who it is for
- People who want to prepare to demonstrate professional medical coding knowledge through the CPC exam.
- Someone who already knows coding and wants to validate that knowledge with an AAPC credential.
- Administrative or clinical support staff who want to study coding on a structured base.
- Someone who wants a knowledge base on which to study other certifications later.
What you need before you start
CPC training starts from a base in medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology. People coming from healthcare already have it, and people coming from outside build it during the first weeks of the program.
In our program those fundamentals are included at no additional cost: the first weeks cover medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and clinical documentation. You can start with no prior healthcare experience.
How the credential is maintained
Once earned, the credential is maintained with AAPC’s annual membership and 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years. You keep the credential by staying current, because the codes and the regulations change every year.