Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) Exam Prep
2026 Updated Practice Questions, Comprehensive
CPT ICD-10 Coding Review, Detailed Explanations,
Verified Answers, Success Workbook
SECTION I: ICD-10-CM DIAGNOSIS CODING (~20%)
1. A 68-year-old patient with known HIV is seen for a routine follow-up.
The provider documents "HIV, asymptomatic." The patient is not on
antiretroviral therapy. What is the correct ICD-10-CM code?
A) B20
B) Z21
C) B20 + Z21
D) R75
Answer: B) Z21
Rationale: Z21 (Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection
status) is assigned when the patient is HIV positive but has no symptoms or
HIV-related conditions. B20 (A) is assigned only when the patient has
symptomatic HIV or an HIV-related condition. The provider's documentation
of "asymptomatic" clearly indicates Z21. R75 (D) is for inconclusive HIV test
results.
2. A patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus is seen for a follow-up visit.
The provider documents that the patient's diabetes is "in remission."
What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) E11.9
B) E11.A
C) Z86.39
D) E11.65
Answer: B) E11.A
,Rationale: For FY 2026, a new code E11.A was introduced for Type 2 diabetes
in remission. This code should be used when the provider documents the
exact word "remission" — terms like "resolved" are insufficient. E11.9 (A) is
for Type 2 diabetes without complications. Z86.39 (C) is a personal history
code.
3. A patient is seen for a well-child visit. The provider documents
"encounter for routine child health examination with abnormal
findings." What ICD-10-CM code is assigned?
A) Z00.121
B) Z00.129
C) Z00.00
D) Z02.0
Answer: B) Z00.129
Rationale: Z00.129 (Encounter for routine child health examination with
abnormal findings) is assigned when a routine well-child visit reveals
abnormal findings. Z00.00 (C) is for a routine adult physical. Z02.0 (D) is for
examination for admission to educational institution.
4. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 due to diabetes
mellitus is seen for a follow-up. What ICD-10-CM codes should be
assigned?
A) N18.3
B) E11.22
C) E11.22, N18.3
D) N18.9, E11.9
Answer: C) E11.22, N18.3
Rationale: When CKD is due to diabetes, ICD-10-CM guidelines require
sequencing the diabetes code first, followed by the CKD code. E11.22 (Type 2
diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy) and N18.3 (Chronic kidney
disease, stage 3) should be assigned, with E11.22 sequenced first as the
underlying etiology.
,5. A patient is seen for an exacerbation of COPD. The provider
documents "acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease." The patient also has a history of tobacco dependence. What
ICD-10-CM codes should be assigned?
A) J44.1
B) J44.1, F17.210
C) J43.9, F17.210
D) J44.9
Answer: B) J44.1, F17.210
Rationale: J44.1 (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute
exacerbation) is the primary code for the COPD
exacerbation. F17.210 (Nicotine dependence, cigarettes, uncomplicated) is
assigned for the tobacco dependence if documented. J44.1 alone (A) would
miss the tobacco dependence. J43.9 (C) is for emphysema.
6. A patient is seen for a follow-up after a myocardial infarction. The
provider documents "status post acute myocardial infarction, currently
asymptomatic." What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) I21.3
B) Z86.74
C) I25.2
D) I25.10
Answer: B) Z86.74
Rationale: Z86.74 (Personal history of acute myocardial infarction) is
assigned when the patient has a history of MI but no current
symptoms. I21.3 (A) is for a current (acute) MI. I25.2 (C) is for old myocardial
infarction, but Z86.74 is the more appropriate code for personal history when
the condition is no longer being treated.
7. A patient is seen for a urinary tract infection. The provider documents
"acute cystitis with hematuria." What ICD-10-CM code should be
, assigned?
A) N30.01
B) N30.01
C) N30.00
D) R31.9
Answer: B) N30.01
Rationale: N30.01 (Acute cystitis with hematuria) is the correct code for acute
cystitis with hematuria. N30.00 (C) is for acute cystitis without
hematuria. R31.9 (D) is for unspecified hematuria, which would be coded only
if the hematuria is not associated with a specific condition.
8. A patient with Alzheimer's disease and behavioral disturbance is seen
for a follow-up. The provider documents "Alzheimer's disease with
agitation." What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) G30.9
B) F02.81
C) G30.0
D) F03.91
Answer: B) F02.81
Rationale: F02.81 (Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere with
behavioral disturbance) is assigned when Alzheimer's disease is documented
with behavioral disturbance such as agitation. The combination code captures
both the dementia and the behavioral disturbance. G30.9 (A) misses the
behavioral disturbance.
9. A patient is seen for a follow-up of breast cancer. The provider
documents "history of breast cancer, no evidence of current disease."
What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) C50.9
B) Z85.3
C) Z08
D) Z86.0
2026 Updated Practice Questions, Comprehensive
CPT ICD-10 Coding Review, Detailed Explanations,
Verified Answers, Success Workbook
SECTION I: ICD-10-CM DIAGNOSIS CODING (~20%)
1. A 68-year-old patient with known HIV is seen for a routine follow-up.
The provider documents "HIV, asymptomatic." The patient is not on
antiretroviral therapy. What is the correct ICD-10-CM code?
A) B20
B) Z21
C) B20 + Z21
D) R75
Answer: B) Z21
Rationale: Z21 (Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection
status) is assigned when the patient is HIV positive but has no symptoms or
HIV-related conditions. B20 (A) is assigned only when the patient has
symptomatic HIV or an HIV-related condition. The provider's documentation
of "asymptomatic" clearly indicates Z21. R75 (D) is for inconclusive HIV test
results.
2. A patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus is seen for a follow-up visit.
The provider documents that the patient's diabetes is "in remission."
What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) E11.9
B) E11.A
C) Z86.39
D) E11.65
Answer: B) E11.A
,Rationale: For FY 2026, a new code E11.A was introduced for Type 2 diabetes
in remission. This code should be used when the provider documents the
exact word "remission" — terms like "resolved" are insufficient. E11.9 (A) is
for Type 2 diabetes without complications. Z86.39 (C) is a personal history
code.
3. A patient is seen for a well-child visit. The provider documents
"encounter for routine child health examination with abnormal
findings." What ICD-10-CM code is assigned?
A) Z00.121
B) Z00.129
C) Z00.00
D) Z02.0
Answer: B) Z00.129
Rationale: Z00.129 (Encounter for routine child health examination with
abnormal findings) is assigned when a routine well-child visit reveals
abnormal findings. Z00.00 (C) is for a routine adult physical. Z02.0 (D) is for
examination for admission to educational institution.
4. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 due to diabetes
mellitus is seen for a follow-up. What ICD-10-CM codes should be
assigned?
A) N18.3
B) E11.22
C) E11.22, N18.3
D) N18.9, E11.9
Answer: C) E11.22, N18.3
Rationale: When CKD is due to diabetes, ICD-10-CM guidelines require
sequencing the diabetes code first, followed by the CKD code. E11.22 (Type 2
diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy) and N18.3 (Chronic kidney
disease, stage 3) should be assigned, with E11.22 sequenced first as the
underlying etiology.
,5. A patient is seen for an exacerbation of COPD. The provider
documents "acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease." The patient also has a history of tobacco dependence. What
ICD-10-CM codes should be assigned?
A) J44.1
B) J44.1, F17.210
C) J43.9, F17.210
D) J44.9
Answer: B) J44.1, F17.210
Rationale: J44.1 (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute
exacerbation) is the primary code for the COPD
exacerbation. F17.210 (Nicotine dependence, cigarettes, uncomplicated) is
assigned for the tobacco dependence if documented. J44.1 alone (A) would
miss the tobacco dependence. J43.9 (C) is for emphysema.
6. A patient is seen for a follow-up after a myocardial infarction. The
provider documents "status post acute myocardial infarction, currently
asymptomatic." What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) I21.3
B) Z86.74
C) I25.2
D) I25.10
Answer: B) Z86.74
Rationale: Z86.74 (Personal history of acute myocardial infarction) is
assigned when the patient has a history of MI but no current
symptoms. I21.3 (A) is for a current (acute) MI. I25.2 (C) is for old myocardial
infarction, but Z86.74 is the more appropriate code for personal history when
the condition is no longer being treated.
7. A patient is seen for a urinary tract infection. The provider documents
"acute cystitis with hematuria." What ICD-10-CM code should be
, assigned?
A) N30.01
B) N30.01
C) N30.00
D) R31.9
Answer: B) N30.01
Rationale: N30.01 (Acute cystitis with hematuria) is the correct code for acute
cystitis with hematuria. N30.00 (C) is for acute cystitis without
hematuria. R31.9 (D) is for unspecified hematuria, which would be coded only
if the hematuria is not associated with a specific condition.
8. A patient with Alzheimer's disease and behavioral disturbance is seen
for a follow-up. The provider documents "Alzheimer's disease with
agitation." What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) G30.9
B) F02.81
C) G30.0
D) F03.91
Answer: B) F02.81
Rationale: F02.81 (Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere with
behavioral disturbance) is assigned when Alzheimer's disease is documented
with behavioral disturbance such as agitation. The combination code captures
both the dementia and the behavioral disturbance. G30.9 (A) misses the
behavioral disturbance.
9. A patient is seen for a follow-up of breast cancer. The provider
documents "history of breast cancer, no evidence of current disease."
What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A) C50.9
B) Z85.3
C) Z08
D) Z86.0
