AAPC CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL
CODER (CPC) CERTIFICATION MOCK
EXAM (2026/2027)
1. Which of the following is an example of an ICD-10-CM Z-code used to indicate a status
rather than a current illness?
A. Z51.11 (Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy)
B. Z00.00 (General adult medical examination)
C. Z79.01 (Long term use of anticoagulants)
D. Z23 (Encounter for immunization)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Status codes (Z79.01) indicate that a patient is a current user of
a long-term medication, which differs from an encounter for a specific service like an exam
or chemotherapy.
2. According to the NCCI Policy Manual, when a provider performs a biopsy of a lesion and
then immediately follows with an excision of the same lesion, how should it be coded?
A. Code only the excision
,B. Code both the biopsy and the excision with modifier 59
C. Code only the biopsy
D. Code both using modifier 51
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: NCCI guidelines state that if a biopsy is followed by a more
definitive procedure like an excision at the same site during the same session, only the
excision is reported.
3. A patient presents for a follow-up visit for hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The physician
spends 25 minutes of total time on the date of the encounter. What is the appropriate E/M
code for this office visit?
A. 99212
B. 99213
C. 99214
D. 99215
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: For established patient office visits (99212-99215), 99213
requires a minimum of 20 minutes. 99214 requires 30 minutes. Since 25 minutes was
spent, 99213 is the correct code.
, 4. Which part of the anatomy does the ‘Islets of Langerhans’ belong to?
A. Pancreas
B. Spleen
C. Liver
D. Kidney
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The Islets of Langerhans are clusters of endocrine cells located
within the pancreas that produce insulin and glucagon.
5. Which modifier is used to report a bilateral procedure when the CPT code description is for
a unilateral procedure?
A. 59
B. 51
C. RT and LT
D. 50
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Modifier 50 is the standard modifier used to report bilateral
procedures unless the CPT code description specifically states it is bilateral.
CODER (CPC) CERTIFICATION MOCK
EXAM (2026/2027)
1. Which of the following is an example of an ICD-10-CM Z-code used to indicate a status
rather than a current illness?
A. Z51.11 (Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy)
B. Z00.00 (General adult medical examination)
C. Z79.01 (Long term use of anticoagulants)
D. Z23 (Encounter for immunization)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Status codes (Z79.01) indicate that a patient is a current user of
a long-term medication, which differs from an encounter for a specific service like an exam
or chemotherapy.
2. According to the NCCI Policy Manual, when a provider performs a biopsy of a lesion and
then immediately follows with an excision of the same lesion, how should it be coded?
A. Code only the excision
,B. Code both the biopsy and the excision with modifier 59
C. Code only the biopsy
D. Code both using modifier 51
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: NCCI guidelines state that if a biopsy is followed by a more
definitive procedure like an excision at the same site during the same session, only the
excision is reported.
3. A patient presents for a follow-up visit for hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The physician
spends 25 minutes of total time on the date of the encounter. What is the appropriate E/M
code for this office visit?
A. 99212
B. 99213
C. 99214
D. 99215
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: For established patient office visits (99212-99215), 99213
requires a minimum of 20 minutes. 99214 requires 30 minutes. Since 25 minutes was
spent, 99213 is the correct code.
, 4. Which part of the anatomy does the ‘Islets of Langerhans’ belong to?
A. Pancreas
B. Spleen
C. Liver
D. Kidney
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The Islets of Langerhans are clusters of endocrine cells located
within the pancreas that produce insulin and glucagon.
5. Which modifier is used to report a bilateral procedure when the CPT code description is for
a unilateral procedure?
A. 59
B. 51
C. RT and LT
D. 50
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Modifier 50 is the standard modifier used to report bilateral
procedures unless the CPT code description specifically states it is bilateral.
