1.2 Exam Format & Logistics
Key Takeaways
- The CPB exam is 100 multiple-choice questions with a 4-hour time limit and a 70% passing threshold (70 of 100 correct).
- The exam fee is $300 for current AAPC members and $400 for non-members; active AAPC membership is required to register and sit.
- The CPB is delivered electronically, either by live remote proctoring (LRP) from your own computer or at an approved testing center.
- The CPB is an open-code-book exam: only the current-year CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II manuals are allowed - no notes, study guides, or other references.
- Confirm the calculator policy with AAPC before exam day; remote-proctored exams typically restrict external devices and may provide an on-screen calculator.
Exam Format & Logistics
Quick Answer: The CPB exam has 100 multiple-choice questions, a 4-hour time limit, and a 70% passing score. It costs $300 for AAPC members and $400 for non-members, and active AAPC membership is required. You may bring only the current-year CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code books - nothing else.
Exam Format at a Glance
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 multiple-choice |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% (70 of 100 correct) |
| Question style | Scenario- and case-based, single best answer |
| Cost - AAPC member | $300 |
| Cost - non-member | $400 |
| Membership | Active AAPC membership required to register |
| Delivery | Electronic: live remote proctored or testing center |
All figures above reflect the AAPC CPB exam specifications. AAPC does not publicly publish a CPB pass-rate percentage, so treat any specific pass-rate number you see elsewhere as an estimate, not an official statistic.
Membership Requirement
You must hold current AAPC membership to register for and sit the CPB exam. Membership is renewed annually and is also what keeps your credential active after you pass. Budget the membership fee separately from the exam fee - the $300 member exam price assumes membership is already paid.
How the Exam Is Delivered
The CPB is an electronic exam offered two ways:
- Live Remote Proctored (LRP) - you take the exam on your own computer while a proctor monitors you by webcam and microphone. This requires a stable internet connection, a working camera, and a quiet, private room with a clear desk.
- Testing center - you sit the same electronic exam at an approved physical location.
Choose the format that matches your equipment and environment. LRP candidates should run AAPC's system check well before exam day.
Allowed Code Books - and Nothing Else
The CPB is an open-code-book exam. You may use only the official manuals for the current code year:
- CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
- ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification)
- HCPCS Level II (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, Level II)
You may not bring study guides, printed notes, practice exams, textbooks, or any other reference. Tabbed and highlighted code books are generally permitted, but handwritten notes added to the margins are not - confirm AAPC's current annotation rules before exam day. Because reference is limited to code books, your billing knowledge must come from memory and reasoning.
Calculator Policy
CPB scenarios can involve arithmetic - allowed amounts, coinsurance, deductibles, and patient balances. Always confirm the current calculator policy with AAPC before your exam. Remote-proctored exams typically restrict external devices, and an on-screen calculator may be provided. Do not assume a physical calculator is allowed for an LRP exam without checking.
How many questions does the CPB exam contain, and what passing score is required?
Which reference materials may a candidate use during the CPB exam?
What is the standard CPB exam fee for a current AAPC member?