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Jan 25, 2024
Certified Medical Coders (CPC) are in high demand as the healthcare industry continues to grow. To stay ahead of the competition, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest changes in the medical coding field. Recently, there have been some changes announced regarding the medical coding certification exams.
At AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders), not only do certifications exams undergo annual updates reflecting code and guidelines changes, but these exams also go through constant scrutiny. These procedures ensure that each skill of the candidate is tested accurately and they have the mastery of knowledge necessary for entry-level positions with certain companies or agencies.
The new medical coding exam has changed its exam pattern starting January 1, 2022. There are several changes in the AAPC Certified Medical Coders (CPC) Exam Pattern in 2022.
Previously the CPC exam consisted of 150 questions administered in 5 hours and 40 minutes. But from January 2022 examinations,The AAPC new CPC exam question pattern will consist of 100 questions administered in 4 hours to answer. However, the pass percentage of the previous and current exams is the same- 70%.
| Exam | Before Jan 2022 | After Jan 2022 |
| No of questions | 150 | 100 |
| Duration | 5 hours 40 minutes | 4 hours |
| Pass percentage | 70% | 70% |
The AAPC certification exams have always been committed to ensuring that their test is as rigorous and comprehensive.The Length of the new CPC exam pattern 2022 is reduced while still retaining all of its required content. Below mentioned is the table in which you can find out the chapters and the number of questions that will appear for the exam.
|
CPC Exam Chapters
|
No of Questions | |
| Previous CPC Exam | New CPC Exam | |
| Coding Guidelines | 6 | 7 |
| Integumentary series (10,000 series) | 10 | 6 |
| Musculoskeletal (20,000 series) |
10 | 6 |
| Respiratory and cardiovascular (30,000 series) |
10 | 6 |
| Digestive System (40,000 series) |
10 | 6 |
| Urinary, male genital, female genital (50,000 series) |
10 | 6 |
| Nervous System (60,000 series) |
10 | 6 |
| Evaluation & Management | 10 | 6 |
| Anaesthesia | 8 | 4 |
| Radiology | 10 | 6 |
| Laboratory and Pathology | 10 | 6 |
| Medicine | 10 | 6 |
| Anatomy | 8 | 4 |
| Terminology | 8 | 4 |
| ICD | 10 | 5 |
| HCPCS | 5 | 3 |
| Compliance and Regulatory | 5 | 03 +10 case studies |
The CPC exam duration depends upon whether or not the exam is taken online or in person. If the exam is taken in person, it is 4 hours without breaks. If the exam is taken online, it will still be 4 hours long divided equally into 2 separate 2-hour sessions.
Cancellation of the AAPC certification exam works in the same way as rescheduling. Again, as long as you reschedule 21 days before the original date, it will be approved with the applicable fees
Cancellation works in the same way as rescheduling. Again, as long as you reschedule 21 days before the original date, it will be approved with the applicable fees
To know the details of when to take the exam and where to take the exam, you can:
To become a Certified Professional Coder, you need a CPC exam pass rate of 70%, that is you need to get a CPC exam score of 70 out of 100 questions.
Medical coders are responsible for translating medical procedures and diagnoses into universal medical codes. This is an important job, as it helps to ensure that insurance companies and healthcare providers understand the treatments and services provided to patients. If you're looking for a new career, or you're looking to move up in your current career, medical coding certification may be the right choice for you. Further you can enhance your skills by exploring specialized courses such as the IP DRG Coding training course, positioning yourself for success in the dynamic field of medical coding.
Medical coders play an important role in the healthcare industry, and with the right medical coding training, you can become a valuable asset to any medical organization. With certification, you'll be able to showcase your skills to potential employers and start a career as a Medical Coding Specialist. Medical coding certification shows that you are an expert in the field and have the knowledge and skills necessary to do the job correctly. Additionally, certification can help you stand out from the competition and may lead to better job opportunities.
To Conclude
In 2022, there will be some changes to the medical coding certification exam. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has just released information about the upcoming changes, which include a new test format and new content areas. If you are planning on taking the medical coding certification exam in 2022, it is important to know what to expect!
Read More: Why is Medical Coding a Smart Career Choice?
