CPC Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

CPC Exam — At a Glance

• 100 multiple-choice questions
• 4 hours (240 minutes) total testing time
• Passing score: 70%
• Exam fee: $425 (1 attempt)

Pacing Math (must-remember)

• 240 min ÷ 100 questions = ~2.4 minutes per question — your hard budget.
• Do a time check at Q25 (≈60 min used), Q50 (≈120 min), Q75 (≈180 min).
• To pass you need 70 of 100 correct. You can miss up to 30 and still pass.
• Never leave blanks — there is no penalty math that beats a guess; a blank is a guaranteed miss.

Core Code Sets (know cold)

• CPT® — procedures/services. Category I (5-digit), Category II (performance, -F), Category III (emerging tech, -T).
• ICD-10-CM — diagnoses. Code to highest specificity; confirm laterality, episode, and combination codes.
• HCPCS Level II — supplies, drugs, DME, non-physician services (letter + 4 digits).

Modifier Quick Rules

• -25 significant, separately identifiable E/M on same day as a procedure.
• -59 distinct procedural service (use only when no more specific X{EPSU} modifier fits).
• -26 professional component; -TC technical component.
• -50 bilateral procedure; -51 multiple procedures; -76/-77 repeat by same/other physician.
• -RT / -LT right/left; -GA/-GY/-GZ ABN/liability (HCPCS).

Coding Workflow (apply to every case)

1. Read the full operative/office note before coding.
2. Diagnosis first (ICD-10-CM): Alphabetic Index → verify in Tabular List → apply all instructional notes (Includes, Excludes1/Excludes2, Code First, Use Additional).
3. Procedure (CPT): find the correct code family, read all section guidelines and parenthetical notes.
4. Append modifiers; confirm medical necessity links Dx ↔ procedure.

Excludes Notes (frequent trap)

• Excludes1 = "NOT coded here" — the two conditions can never be reported together.
• Excludes2 = "not included here" — the condition is separate; both may be coded together if documented.

Test-Day Strategy

• Tab and index your code books — the exam is open-book; speed of lookup wins.
• Eliminate obviously wrong options first, then verify the remaining answer in the book.
• Answer easy questions first; flag and return to time-sinks.
• Guess (never blank) any question you can't finish before time runs out.