Free Practice Questions for CCS
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Key Facts: CCS Exam
107
Total Questions
AHIMA CCS page
97
Scored Items
AHIMA CCS page
4 hrs
Appointment Time
AHIMA certification FAQs
300
Passing Score
AHIMA CCS page
$299/$399
Member/Non-Member Fee
AHIMA CCS page
84%
2025 First-Time Pass Rate
AHIMA CCS page
The current AHIMA CCS exam has 107 total items, including 97 scored items and 10 pretest items, and the four-hour appointment includes five minutes for the agreement and three hours 55 minutes for testing and instructions. The passing score is 300, the current exam fee is $299 for AHIMA members or $399 for non-members, exams delivered on or after May 1, 2026 require 2026 code books, and CCS is delivered in person at Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers rather than through OnVUE.
Sample CCS Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CCS exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 493+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1An inpatient is admitted solely for treatment of anemia due to documented active primary lung cancer. Which diagnosis is sequenced first?
2A patient has type 2 diabetes with documented diabetic nephropathy, but no chronic kidney disease diagnosis or stage. Which code is supported?
3In ICD-10-CM, what does the seventh character "A" indicate in injury codes?
4A patient is admitted with pneumonia due to MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). The correct ICD-10-CM coding includes:
5According to ICD-10-CM guidelines, when should a code from category Z38 (Liveborn infants according to place of birth and type of delivery) be assigned?
6A patient undergoes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. What is the correct ICD-10-PCS root operation for this procedure?
7Which fifth-character PCS approach value describes a procedure performed through a natural opening with percutaneous endoscopic assistance?
8A patient undergoes a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) using the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). What is the correct ICD-10-PCS coding?
9An established patient is seen in the office. Using 2021+ CPT guidelines, code selection is based on medical decision making (MDM) of low complexity. Which CPT code range applies and which level is appropriate?
10Which modifier indicates the left side of the body in a procedure claim?
About the CCS Exam
The AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credential validates facility coding proficiency across medical-record abstraction, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding, ICD-10-PCS procedure coding, CPT/HCPCS outpatient and emergency department coding, documentation quality, compliant provider queries, regulatory compliance, and coding information technologies.
Exam sponsor: AHIMA / Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
107 questions
Time Limit
4-hour appointment; 3 hours 55 minutes testing and instructions
Passing Score
300 scaled score
Reported exam pass rate: 84% first-time tester pass rate in 2025. AHIMA reports CCS first-time tester pass rates of 84% in 2025, 75% in 2024, and 64% in 2023. This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Coding Knowledge and Skills
Diagnosis and procedure coding, principal/first-listed selection, sequencing, guidelines, modifiers, POA, NCCI/medical necessity edits, DRG/APC methodology, abstraction, and MCC/CC identification.
Coding Documentation
Resolving conflicting documentation, confirming documentation supports a specified code, and verifying/validating health-record documentation.
Provider Queries
Ethical compliant query elements, non-leading clinical indicators, and documentation analysis for query opportunities.
Regulatory Compliance
Completeness and accuracy, payer-specific guidelines, PSIs, HACs, HIPAA, AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding, and UHDDS compliance.
Information Technologies
EHR types, encoder and grouper software, computer-assisted coding, HITECH, and coding-data quality workflows.
Preparing for the CCS Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 300 scaled score
- Exam length: 107 questions
- Time limit: 4-hour appointment; 3 hours 55 minutes testing and instructions
- Exam / certification fees: $299 AHIMA member / $399 non-member Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 493 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CCS: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the CCS exam?
AHIMA lists the CCS exam as 107 total questions: 97 scored items and 10 pretest items. The CCS crosswalk breaks this into 79 scored multiple-choice items, 7 pretest multiple-choice items, 18 scored case-scenario items, and 3 pretest case-scenario items.
How long is the CCS exam?
The four-hour CCS appointment includes five minutes for the agreement and three hours 55 minutes for testing and instructions. Candidates can move back and forth between items after selecting an answer, flag items, and review items before submitting if time remains.
What score do I need to pass CCS?
The AHIMA CCS passing score is 300. The score is not the same thing as a simple raw percentage because AHIMA uses certification-exam scoring methods.
Can I take the CCS exam online with OnVUE?
No. Pearson VUE states RHIA, RHIT, CCA, CCS, and CCS-P are available in person at Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers. OnVUE online delivery is listed for CHDA, CHPS, and CDIP only.
What code books do I need for CCS in 2026?
AHIMA states CCS exams delivered on or after May 1, 2026 require 2026 code books. Candidates who do not bring the correct required code books to the test center are not allowed to test and forfeit exam fees.
What are the current CCS domains?
The effective CCS outline has five domains: Coding Knowledge and Skills 39-41%, Coding Documentation 18-22%, Provider Queries 9-11%, Regulatory Compliance 18-22%, and Information Technologies 9-11%. Medical scenarios are split evenly across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department scenarios.
What is the CCS retake policy?
AHIMA states unsuccessful CCS candidates must submit a new application and fee. Candidates must wait at least 30 days before the new application is approved, and AHIMA says it cannot waive retest periods due to test security policy.