To decrease test anxiety and to help improve student success, AAPC offers the option of pre-ordering a retake at a highly-discounted rate.
 
Buy an exam voucher
The first step in scheduling an AAPC exam is buying an exam voucher. The exam voucher is a unique code that will enable you to select your date, time, and location of your exam.
Tip: Examinees who purchase well in advance of their desired exam date have the widest range of available options.
 
Who should take the CPMA exam?
If you have at least two years of medical coding experience and a solid understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology, take advantage of the opportunity to showcase your expertise with the CPMA certification. Earning this credential can boost your earning potential and set you apart from uncertified candidates.
To ensure you're prepared to pass the exam the first time, we recommend taking the CPMA Training Course beforehand.
What to expect on exam day
The CPMA exam is open book with 100 multiple-choice questions (proctored) to be completed in four hours. Whether you take the exam online or in person, you must complete the exam within four hours and answer 70% of the questions correctly to pass.
If you have taken the training course, studied, and are familiar with using the required 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 your code books by your side and you know how to use them. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your expertise.
You'll have 4 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 possible answers 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, covering medical record standards and documentation guidelines, coding and documentation compliance, coding and reimbursement concepts, audit scope and statistical sampling methods, medical record audit abstraction, quality assurance, risk analysis, and communication.
A minimum of two years of coding experience is strongly suggested prior to taking this exam.
You will be able to reference approved medical code books during the exam — your choice of ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II code books. All other materials/ documents required to take the exam will be provided within the electronic exam platform. To be clear, these are the only references you are allowed to use.
Exam format
100 multiple-choice questions
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.