CPT Coding Certification Guide
Top Certifications
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| **CPC (Certified Professional Coder)** | AAPC | $399 member / $499 non-member | 100 MCQ, 4 hrs, 70% to pass |
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| COC (Certified Outpatient Coder) | AAPC | ~$399 | MCQ format, verify current question count |
| CPC-P (Payer) | AAPC | ~$399 | MCQ format, verify current question count |
| CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) | AHIMA | ~$299 | MCQ + coding, verify current format |
CPT knowledge is tested heavily in all AAPC certifications. The CPC exam format changed from its older 150-question/5h40m version to the current 100-question/4-hour format — if you're studying from older material, confirm the format directly against current AAPC guidance before building a study/timing plan around it. All costs above should be re-confirmed on aapc.com before registering, since pricing is revised periodically.
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CPT Code Structure
CATEGORIES:
Category I (10000-99499): Main procedure codes
Category II (0001F-9007F): Performance measurement tracking
Category III (0001T-0780T): Emerging technology codes
SECTIONS:
Evaluation and Management: 99202-99499
Anesthesia: 00100-01999
Surgery: 10004-69990
Integumentary: 10004-19499
Musculoskeletal: 20100-29999
Respiratory: 30000-32999
Cardiovascular: 33010-37799
Digestive: 40490-49999
Urinary: 50010-53899
Male/Female Genital: 54000-58999
Maternity: 59000-59899
Nervous System: 61000-64999
Eye/Ocular Adnexa: 65091-68899
Auditory: 69000-69990
Radiology: 70010-79999
Pathology/Lab: 80047-89398
Medicine: 90281-99199
MODIFIERS (append to CPT code):
-22: Increased procedural services
-25: Significant, separate E&M same day as procedure
-26: Professional component only
-51: Multiple procedures
-59: Distinct procedural service
-TC: Technical component only
-LT/-RT: Left/Right side
-50: Bilateral procedure
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High-Yield CPT Codes
E&M (most tested):
99213: Office visit, established, low complexity
99214: Office visit, established, moderate complexity
99215: Office visit, established, high complexity
SURGERY (commonly tested):
27447: Total knee arthroplasty
29827: Arthroscopy, shoulder, rotator cuff repair
43239: EGD with biopsy
45378: Colonoscopy, diagnostic
47562: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
49505: Repair inguinal hernia, initial, age 5+
LAB:
80053: Comprehensive metabolic panel
85025: CBC with automated differential
83036: Hemoglobin A1c
84443: TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
86592: Syphilis test (RPR)
Revision Notes
CPT = outpatient procedures (physician offices, outpatient facilities)
Category I most common | Category III for new/experimental tech
Modifiers change reimbursement — know the key modifiers cold
GLOBAL PACKAGE: pre-op + procedure + post-op bundled
Separate E&M with -25 on same day as procedure
Staged procedures within global: use -58
BUNDLING: check NCCI edits before coding multiple procedures
Column 1/Column 2: cannot bill together without -59/X modifier
