Free CCS Exam Prep
Certified Coding Specialist
Prepare for the CCS exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.
Quick Facts
Buy on Amazon
Online course on MometrixExplore More AHIMA Certifications
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
CCS AHIMA Certifications License: Complete Roadmap
Follow this path to organize your licensing and exam preparation
ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Coding & UHDDS GuidelinesYou are here
Master UHDDS principal diagnosis selection, organ system pathology, acute versus chronic sequencing, sepsis hierarchies, and present on admission indicators.
ICD-10-PCS Inpatient Procedure Coding
Learn the 7-character PCS structure, 31 Medical/Surgical root operations, root operation decision trees, CABG coding logic, joint replacements, and mechanical ventilation.
MS-DRG Reimbursement & Regulatory Compliance
Study IPPS grouping mechanics, CC and MCC severity capture, OPPS APC status indicators, NCCI edits, HAC penalties, and AHIMA ethical coding standards.
Clinical Documentation, Queries & Health IT
Practice analyzing complex inpatient charts, identifying conflicting notes, formulating AHIMA/ACDIS-compliant queries, and evaluating CAC software suggestions.
Timed Case Studies & Mock Exam Simulations
Complete full-length 4-hour practice exams with official codebooks to build speed, navigate tabular lists, and master scenario-based question pacing.
Free CCS Prep Tools
140+ Practice Questions
Practice by topic with detailed answer explanations
AI Tutor Explains Mistakes
Understand why answers are wrong, not just which ones
Updated for 2026
Review the latest update date on each resource
$0 Forever
Start without a credit card or trial
What You'll Study
15 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide
Chapter 1: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Fundamentals & UHDDS Guidelines
3 sections
Chapter 2: Circulatory, Cardiac & Vascular Inpatient Coding
4 sections
Chapter 3: Respiratory, Sepsis & Infectious Conditions Coding
3 sections
Chapter 4: Renal, Endocrine, Gastrointestinal & Nutritional Disorders
4 sections
Chapter 5: Neoplasms, Obstetrics, Perinatal, Injury & Trauma Coding
4 sections
Chapter 6: ICD-10-PCS Architecture, Conventions & Approaches
3 sections
Chapter 7: ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Cutting Out, Taking Out & Altering Body Parts
4 sections
Chapter 8: ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Putting In, Putting Back & Moving Body Parts
3 sections
Chapter 9: High-Volume Inpatient Surgical & Medical Procedures in ICD-10-PCS
3 sections
Chapter 10: Outpatient CPT & HCPCS Level II Coding & Modifiers
3 sections
Chapter 11: Inpatient Record Review, Clinical Validation & Documentation Integrity
3 sections
Chapter 12: Compliant Provider Queries & AHIMA/ACDIS Standards
3 sections
Chapter 13: Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) & MS-DRG Mechanics
4 sections
Chapter 14: Outpatient Reimbursement, Coding Edits & Fraud/Abuse Compliance
4 sections
Chapter 15: Health Information Technology, CAC, Encoders & Data Security
3 sections
CCS Exam Details
Certified Coding Specialist
Administered by AHIMA
Exam Content Breakdown
Based on the official AHIMA content outline
Diagnosis and procedure code assignment, principal/first-listed diagnosis and procedure selection, official conventions and guidance, CPT/HCPCS modifiers, sequencing, POA indicators, edits and medical necessity, DRG/APC reimbursement, data abstraction, and CC/MCC identification
Resolving conflicting documentation, confirming that required documentation is present in the health record, and verifying and validating documentation for code assignment
Ethical and compliant query elements, non-leading queries supported by clinical indicators, and identification of appropriate query opportunities
Complete and accurate records, payer-specific guidance, Patient Safety Indicators and Hospital-Acquired Conditions, HIPAA requirements, AHIMA ethical standards, and UHDDS requirements
Health record system types, encoding and grouper software, the impact of Computer-Assisted Coding, and HITECH requirements
What's Included
15 Chapters
Complete exam coverage
Practice Quizzes
With detailed explanations
Free to Start
No credit card required
Quality Exam Prep Shouldn't Cost Hundreds
I'm Ran Chen, an engineer with 20+ years of coding experience. I passed my Life Insurance license, EA exam, SIE, Series 6, 63, 65, and finally the CFP® exam.
Through all these exams, one thing became clear: exam prep is expensive. But with AI, we can change that. Quality preparation can now be free for everyone.
What's Next After the CCS?
After passing the CCS, you can pursue these career paths
Inpatient Hospital Coding Specialist
Assign ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes for acute care inpatient admissions and validate MS-DRG assignment.
Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) Specialist
Bridge clinical care and coding by analyzing inpatient charts and issuing compliant provider queries.
Coding Quality & DRG Compliance Auditor
Review inpatient and outpatient coded records for regulatory compliance, DRG validation, and revenue cycle integrity.
HIM Coding Supervisor / Lead Coder
Manage coding workflows, train coding staff, oversee unbilled accounts, and interface with hospital billing departments.
CCS Exam FAQ
Official AHIMA Resources
Verify information with these official sources
More Free Resources
Ready to Start Your Free CCS Prep?
Review the study guide, practice key concepts, and use the free tools at your own pace.