Failed CPC (Certified Professional Coder)? Here's Your Recovery Plan

Pro tip: Contact the exam provider directly for their specific retake policy.

• Bringing an unapproved code book or a fourth book to the exam. Candidates often assume a specialty guide or a coder's desk reference is allowed because the exam is open book.
  AAPC permits exactly three books: the AMA CPT Professional Edition, one ICD-10-CM manual and one HCPCS Level II manual, one copy each. Pack those three and nothing else.
• Writing study guide or practice exam content into the margins of the code books. Candidates treat their books as a cheat sheet and copy answer explanations into the blank pages.
  AAPC allows handwritten notes only if they relate to daily coding activities, and explicitly prohibits notes from study guides, practice exams or the exam itself. Long passages on blank pages are also barred. Keep margin notes to short working reminders.
• Using tabs that supplement rather than mark. Some candidates print mini reference cards and staple them in as tabs.
  Tabs may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued or stapled, but only to earmark a page with a word or a number. Anything that adds information to the book can disqualify you at check-in.
• Buying next year's code books because they are on sale before the exam date.
  Upcoming year books are not allowed. AAPC accepts the current year or the immediately preceding year only, and books older than one year are refused. If you use a second attempt in a new calendar year, you cannot sit the previous year's version of the exam.
• Spending eight minutes on a difficult 60000 series nervous system question early in the paper and running out of time before the 10 cases.
  The cases are worth 10 questions and sit at the end. Answer everything you can inside two minutes on a first pass, mark the rest, and reserve at least 45 minutes for the case section.
• Leaving questions blank because you are not confident in the answer.
  There is no penalty for a wrong answer. AAPC's own guidance is that a one in four chance beats a zero chance, so mark something on every one of the 100 questions before time expires.
• Treating the four ICD-10-CM chapters you find hardest as optional because only five questions are labelled ICD-10-CM.
  AAPC states that diagnosis questions also appear inside the CPT sections and in the 10 cases. Weak diagnosis coding costs you far more than five questions.
• Choosing the at-home remote proctored option without an external webcam.
  AAPC requires an external webcam for the at-home format, not the laptop's built-in camera. Run the technical check well before exam day or book a testing centre instead.
• Booking the exam before AAPC membership is active, then finding the voucher cannot be redeemed.
  Current AAPC membership, a valid email and address on file, and an unused electronic exam voucher are all listed as basic exam requirements. Verify all three in your My AAPC Account before scheduling.

• Open book - bring your code books
• Master ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS
• Time management is critical
• Tab and highlight your books
• Practice medical terminology
• AAPC or CCO for prep courses