10 free, exam-style Certified Professional Coder (CPC) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CPC practice test to study every exam domain.
These 10 free CPC questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Professional Coder blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
A surgeon excises a 1.8 cm benign lesion from the patient's forearm with 0.3 cm margins on each side. What is the appropriate CPT code?
Correct answer: C - 11403 (2.1-3.0 cm)
Excision size = lesion diameter + (2 x margin). The calculation is 1.8 cm + 0.6 cm (0.3 x 2) = 2.4 cm. The forearm falls under the trunk/arms/legs series (11400-11406). Code 11403 covers 2.1 to 3.0 cm.
A lesion on the eyelid is excised and the physician documents it clinically as a 'benign nevus'. However, the pathology report returns as 'squamous cell carcinoma'. Which code series is used?
Correct answer: B - Malignant excision (11640-11646)
Coding is ALWAYS determined by the final pathology report, not the physician's clinical impression at the time of surgery. Since the path report confirms malignancy, you must use the malignant excision series (11640-11646).
A cardiologist performs a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) with balloon angioplasty of the LAD. During the same session, he places a drug-eluting stent in the same vessel (LAD). How is this coded?
Correct answer: B - 92928
In the same major coronary vessel, 'lesser' procedures are bundled into 'greater' procedures. Stenting (92928) includes the work of angioplasty (92920). You report ONLY the stent code (92928) for that vessel.
A colonoscopy reaches the cecum. The surgeon removes three polyps by snare technique and takes two biopsies from different sites in the transverse colon. How should this be coded?
Correct answer: B - 45385, 45380
1) Diagnostic colonoscopy (45378) is bundled into therapeutic procedures. 2) Code each unique technique ONCE per session. Report 45385 (snare) once for the polyps and 45380 (biopsy) once for the biopsies. Use modifier -59/X{EPSU} on the biopsy code if required by payer.
A urologist performs a diagnostic cystoscopy to evaluate obstruction, followed immediately by a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) during the same operative session. Which codes are reported?
Correct answer: B - 52601
A diagnostic cystoscopy (52000) is considered part of the surgical package when performed in the same session as a definitive endoscopic procedure (TURP 52601). Report ONLY the TURP (52601).
A new patient office visit is documented with High Level Medical Decision Making (MDM), but the total time spent on the date of the encounter was only 40 minutes. Which code is correct?
Correct answer: B - 99205
You may select the E/M level based on EITHER Medical Decision Making (MDM) OR Time-whichever is more advantageous to the provider. 40 minutes only qualifies for a 99203, but High MDM qualifies for a 99205. Therefore, code 99205.
Anesthesia is provided for a hip replacement on a 75-year-old patient with controlled hypertension (P2). Code 01214 has 8 base units. The anesthesia time is 135 minutes. Calculate the total units.
Correct answer: D - 18 units
Base + Time + Physical Status + Qualifying Circumstances. 1) Base = 8. 2) Time (135 min / 15) = 9 units. 3) P2 = 0 units. 4) Age >70 (99100) = 1 unit. Total: 8 + 9 + 0 + 1 = 18 units.
A patient undergoes a CT scan of the abdomen after drinking oral barium contrast only. No IV contrast was administered. Which code is correct?
Correct answer: A - 74150 (without contrast)
In CPT coding, 'With Contrast' implies Intravenous (IV), Intra-arterial, or Intrathecal administration. Oral or Rectal contrast is considered 'Without Contrast' for coding purposes. Code 74150.
A patient has Type 2 diabetes and is diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. How should this be coded?
Correct answer: B - E11.311 (combination code)
The word 'With' in the index implies a causal relationship. Diabetes with Retinopathy is a combination code. E11.311 captures Type 2 diabetes + unspecified diabetic retinopathy + macular edema all in one code.
A patient is in the post-operative period for a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). Two weeks later, they require an appendectomy for acute appendicitis (totally unrelated). Which modifier is used for the appendectomy?
Correct answer: B - Modifier -79
Modifier -79 indicates an UNRELATED procedure by the same physician during the post-operative period. Modifier -78 is used for related complications (like a bleed). Since the appendix is unrelated to the gallbladder, use -79.
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