A grueling exam for aspiring medical coders, lasting almost 6 hours, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) CPC or Certified Professional Coder certification exam is brutal and does not boast a very high pass rate for the test. for the first time. -takers If you have failed the CPC exam, believe me, you are not alone. Although the CPC exam is an open book exam, there are many factors to consider.

First, you need to get a 70% pass rate to pass the CPC exam. It used to be that you need to get 70% on each of the 3 sections of the CPC exam, which means that if you fail to get 70% on just one section, you will not pass the CPC exam.

For this reason, many study guides exist to help you prepare to retake the CPC exam. There are some AAPC-recommended as well as online prep courses taught by experienced coders and trainers that can help you hone your coding skills.

You can retake the CPC exam within 12 months of your failed test without having to pay the hundreds of dollars that the first test cost. That alone should come as a relief to you, so now not only do you have the opportunity to take the exam again, but you can do so at no additional cost to you. The thing to remember is that you must take the test within 12 months of the initial exam or you will be charged a fee. Don’t take too long to take the test because all the studying you did will still be fresh in your mind. If you have to wait longer before retaking the CPC exam, you’ll need to keep your study efforts at a high level to ensure you don’t forget and lose the information you’ve worked so hard for.

When you receive your scores, you will be notified of which sections were problematic for you, so you can focus your studies and improve your weaknesses. Being able to fine-tune your studies to pass the CPC exam is a great benefit for you. Not only will you see what areas you are successful in, but by being able to focus on your low scores, it will be much easier to focus all your energy and effort for the next round. Talk to other students, as well as your mentor or coach, so you can specifically target weak areas.

Take more timed practice tests to get back in the groove and refine your study strategies and answer questions. When you return on exam day, you will be more relaxed and better prepared for the CPC exam. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you. Go in with a positive mindset and confident that you will do well this time.