ICD-10-CM Certification Guide
Top Certifications
|------|----------|------|--------|
| **CPC (Certified Professional Coder)** | AAPC | $399 member / $499 non-member | 100 MCQ, 4 hrs, 70% to pass (updated format — verify against current AAPC guidance if studying from older material) |
|---|
| CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) | AHIMA | ~$299 | MCQ + coding, verify current format |
| RHIT (Registered Health Info Technician) | AHIMA | ~$229 | MCQ, verify current format |
| CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) | AAPC | ~$399 | MCQ format, verify current question count |
---
ICD-10-CM Structure
FORMAT: Letter + 2 digits + decimal + up to 4 more characters
EXAMPLE: J18.9 = Pneumonia, unspecified organism
J = Chapter 10 (Respiratory diseases)
18 = Pneumonia
.9 = Unspecified organism
CHAPTERS (1-21):
A00-B99 Infectious and parasitic diseases
C00-D49 Neoplasms
D50-D89 Blood and immune disorders
E00-E89 Endocrine, nutritional, metabolic
F01-F99 Mental and behavioral
G00-G99 Nervous system
H00-H59 Eye and adnexa
H60-H95 Ear and mastoid
I00-I99 Circulatory system
J00-J99 Respiratory system
K00-K95 Digestive system
L00-L99 Skin and subcutaneous tissue
M00-M99 Musculoskeletal and connective tissue
N00-N99 Genitourinary system
O00-O9A Pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium
P00-P96 Perinatal conditions
Q00-Q99 Congenital malformations
R00-R99 Symptoms and signs NEC
S00-T88 Injury, poisoning, external causes
V00-Y99 External causes of morbidity
Z00-Z99 Factors influencing health status
CODING GUIDELINES:
Code to highest level of specificity always
Principal diagnosis: condition after study chiefly responsible for admission
First-listed: outpatient — condition chiefly responsible for visit
Sequence: principal dx first, then comorbidities, then complications
Exclude1: cannot be coded together with code listed
Exclude2: condition not included here, code separately if present
Use additional code: required secondary codes
Code first: underlying disease must be coded first
---
Common Code Categories
DIABETES:
E11 Type 2 diabetes mellitus
E11.9 Without complications
E11.65 With hyperglycemia
E11.649 With hypoglycemia without coma
E13 Other specified diabetes
HYPERTENSION:
I10 Essential (primary) hypertension
I11 Hypertensive heart disease
I12 Hypertensive chronic kidney disease
I13 Hypertensive heart and CKD combined
HEART CONDITIONS:
I21 Acute myocardial infarction (STEMI/NSTEMI)
I25.10 Atherosclerotic heart disease
I50.9 Heart failure, unspecified
I48 Atrial fibrillation and flutter
RESPIRATORY:
J18.9 Pneumonia, unspecified
J44.1 COPD with acute exacerbation
J45.20 Mild intermittent asthma, uncomplicated
J96.00 Acute respiratory failure, unspecified
INJURIES (7th character):
A = Initial encounter
D = Subsequent encounter
S = Sequela
Revision Notes
ICD-10-CM: diagnosis coding (WHY patient was seen)
ICD-10-PCS: inpatient procedure coding (WHAT was done)
CPT: outpatient procedure coding
CODE FIRST / USE ADDITIONAL CODE: sequencing instructions
EXCLUDES1: mutually exclusive (cannot code together)
EXCLUDES2: not included here — code separately when present
7TH CHARACTER: required for injury codes — A/D/S (initial/subsequent/sequela)
