100+ Free COC Outpatient Coding Practice Questions

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What does the medical term 'cholecystectomy' refer to?

Removal of the gallbladder

Incision into the bile duct

Removal of the appendix

Surgical repair of the stomach

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: COC Outpatient Coding Exam

100

Exam Questions

AAPC

Exam Duration

AAPC

70%

Passing Score

AAPC

Open-book

Testing Format

AAPC

$425/$499

Exam Fee (1/2 attempts)

AAPC

2026

Content Refresh

Current code-year prep

AAPC lists COC as a 100-question, 4-hour open-book certification exam requiring 70% to pass. Content areas include medical terminology, anatomy, ICD-10-CM, CPT procedural coding, HCPCS Level II, OPPS/APC payment methodology, and outpatient compliance. Candidates may use CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS code books during testing.

Sample COC Outpatient Coding Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your COC Outpatient Coding exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What does the medical term 'cholecystectomy' refer to?

A.Removal of the gallbladder

B.Incision into the bile duct

C.Removal of the appendix

D.Surgical repair of the stomach

Explanation: Cholecystectomy means surgical removal of the gallbladder. The prefix 'chole-' refers to bile/gallbladder, 'cyst-' refers to bladder/sac, and the suffix '-ectomy' means surgical removal. This is one of the most commonly coded outpatient surgical procedures.

2The suffix '-otomy' in medical terminology indicates which type of procedure?

A.Surgical repair

B.Cutting into or incision

C.Visual examination

D.Surgical removal

Explanation: The suffix '-otomy' means cutting into or making an incision. For example, a thoracotomy is an incision into the chest wall. This differs from '-ectomy' (removal) and '-oscopy' (visual examination). Understanding these suffixes is essential for accurately coding surgical procedures.

3What does the medical term 'suprapubic' describe?

A.Within the peritoneal cavity

B.Behind the bladder

C.Above the pubic bone

D.Below the kidney

Explanation: The prefix 'supra-' means above or over, and 'pubic' refers to the pubic bone. Suprapubic describes a location above the pubic bone. This term is commonly encountered in outpatient coding for procedures such as suprapubic catheter placement.

4The term 'anastomosis' in a surgical context refers to:

A.A connection made between two tubular structures

B.Breaking up of kidney stones

C.The removal of a tumor

D.Suturing a wound closed

Explanation: Anastomosis refers to a surgical connection between two tubular structures, such as blood vessels or portions of the intestine. This term frequently appears in operative reports for gastrointestinal, vascular, and urological procedures coded in the outpatient setting.

5Which medical term describes the condition of abnormally rapid heart rate?

A.Bradycardia

B.Tachycardia

C.Cardiomegaly

D.Arrhythmia

Explanation: Tachycardia refers to an abnormally rapid heart rate, typically defined as over 100 beats per minute at rest. 'Tachy-' means fast and '-cardia' refers to the heart. Bradycardia is a slow heart rate, arrhythmia is an irregular rhythm, and cardiomegaly is an enlarged heart.

6What does the abbreviation 'ASC' stand for in outpatient facility coding?

A.Ambulatory Surgical Center

B.Acute Surgical Care

C.Advanced Specialty Clinic

D.Ambulatory Service Classification

Explanation: ASC stands for Ambulatory Surgical Center, a healthcare facility where surgical procedures that do not require hospital admission are performed. ASCs are a key setting for outpatient coding and have their own specific payment system under Medicare.

7The medical term 'dyspnea' refers to:

A.Difficulty breathing

B.Painful urination

C.Difficulty swallowing

D.Excessive sweating

Explanation: Dyspnea means difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. The prefix 'dys-' means difficult or painful, and '-pnea' refers to breathing. This is a common presenting symptom in emergency department and outpatient encounters that coders must recognize in clinical documentation.

8Which anatomical structure is the largest organ in the abdominal cavity and is responsible for bile production?

A.Spleen

B.Pancreas

C.Liver

D.Kidney

Explanation: The liver is the largest organ in the abdominal cavity and is responsible for producing bile, which aids in fat digestion. Understanding hepatic anatomy is important for outpatient coders because liver biopsies, ablations, and other hepatic procedures are commonly performed in outpatient settings.

9The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize which joint?

A.Hip joint

B.Knee joint

C.Shoulder joint

D.Elbow joint

Explanation: The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis) and their tendons that surround and stabilize the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff repairs are among the most commonly coded outpatient orthopedic procedures.

10Which of the following correctly describes the location of the mediastinum?

A.The space between the lungs in the thoracic cavity

B.The lower portion of the abdominal cavity

C.The area surrounding the kidneys

D.The space behind the peritoneum

Explanation: The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity located between the two lungs. It contains the heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus, and other structures. Coders must understand this anatomy when coding thoracic procedures and chest imaging studies.

About the COC Outpatient Coding Exam

The COC credential validates expertise in outpatient hospital and ASC facility coding using CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code sets. It covers OPPS/APC payment logic, revenue codes, and facility compliance controls.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$425 (1 attempt) or $499 (2 attempts) (AAPC)

COC Outpatient Coding Exam Content Outline

Medical Terminology

Terminology proficiency across body systems and outpatient documentation context

Anatomy

Applied anatomy for facility code selection and operative report interpretation

30%

CPT Procedural Coding

Surgery, radiology, pathology/lab, E/M, and medicine section coding for facility services

20%

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding

First-listed diagnosis sequencing, specificity, conventions, and official guidelines

15%

HCPCS Level II and Revenue Codes

Supply, drug, and ancillary coding with revenue code alignment for facility claims

15%

OPPS/APC Payment Methodology

Status indicators, APC packaging and composite rules, and OCE edit resolution

Compliance and Regulatory

Coding compliance, medical necessity, audit trails, and fraud/abuse prevention

How to Pass the COC Outpatient Coding Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 4 hours
Exam fee: $425 (1 attempt) or $499 (2 attempts)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

COC Outpatient Coding Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master OPPS status indicators and APC packaging behavior before attempting full practice exams

2Practice efficient code book navigation under timed conditions to build exam-day speed

3Focus on first-listed diagnosis rules for outpatient encounters, which differ from inpatient sequencing

4Drill revenue code and HCPCS Level II assignments in facility claim construction scenarios

5Review OCE edits and NCCI bundling rules to recognize common facility coding traps

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the COC exam format?

The COC exam is an open-book certification with 100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours. Candidates may use CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code books. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass.

How is COC different from CPC?

COC focuses on hospital outpatient and ASC facility coding with emphasis on OPPS/APC payment logic and revenue codes. CPC focuses on physician/professional outpatient coding. Both test CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS knowledge but from different perspectives.

What score do I need to pass the COC exam?

You need 70% or higher to pass, which means correctly answering at least 70 of the 100 questions. Always confirm current requirements in your AAPC candidate handbook.

Is the COC exam open-book?

Yes. AAPC allows candidates to use CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code books during the exam. No other reference materials are permitted.

How should I prepare for COC in 2026?

Focus on facility-specific coding scenarios: OPPS status indicators, APC packaging rules, first-listed diagnosis logic, and revenue code assignment. Practice timed blocks using your code books for efficient navigation.

What careers does COC certification support?

COC holders typically work in hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers, revenue integrity teams, and facility coding compliance roles.