Medical coding is one way to build a career in healthcare without working directly with patients. Medical coders review clinical documentation and assign standardized codes to diagnoses, procedures, and healthcare services.
For many people starting out, the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential from AAPC is one of the main certification options to consider.
The usual path is:
Learn medical terminology and anatomy → complete medical coding training → prepare for a certification exam → pass the exam → gain practical experience → apply for coding jobs.
| Key Information | Current Details |
|---|---|
| Popular certification | Certified Professional Coder (CPC) |
| CPC exam | 100 questions |
| Exam duration | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| CPC exam cost | $425 for 1 attempt / $499 for 2 attempts |
| AAPC membership | $229 annually |
| Median wage for medical records specialists | $51,140 |
| Employment outlook | 8% growth, 2025–2035 |
| Projected annual openings | About 14,000 |
AAPC currently lists the CPC exam at $425 for one attempt or $499 for two attempts, while individual membership is $229. The salary and employment figures are for the broader BLS occupation of medical records specialists, which includes medical coding-related work.
What Does a Medical Coder Do?
Medical coders review patient records and translate information about diagnoses, procedures, and services into standardized medical codes.
The work commonly involves:
- Reviewing medical documentation
- Assigning appropriate codes
- Using CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code sets
- Checking documentation for accuracy
- Researching coding guidelines
- Identifying missing or inconsistent information
It is primarily detail-oriented, computer-based work. You need to be comfortable reading medical terminology and following specific coding rules.
How to Become a Medical Coder?
1. Learn Medical Terminology and Anatomy
If you’re new to healthcare, start with the basics.
Understanding anatomy, medical terminology, diseases, procedures, and common abbreviations makes it much easier to understand clinical documentation.
You don’t necessarily need to become a healthcare professional first. The goal is to develop enough medical knowledge to understand what you’re reading.
2. Learn Medical Coding
Next, learn how the major coding systems work.
For CPC preparation, AAPC focuses on:
- CPT
- ICD-10-CM
- HCPCS Level II
Don’t focus only on memorizing codes. Good coding requires you to understand documentation and apply coding guidelines to specific situations.
3. Choose a Certification
The CPC is one of the most recognized credentials for people pursuing medical coding through AAPC.
Other credentials exist, including AHIMA’s CCA and CCS certifications. The best choice depends on the type of coding work you want to pursue and what employers in your target market request.
4. Pass the Certification Exam
The CPC exam currently has 100 multiple-choice questions, with four hours to complete it. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass.
AAPC says the exam covers multiple areas of coding knowledge, including CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II.
5. Build Practical Experience
Passing the CPC exam is an important step, but certification alone doesn’t guarantee a job.
AAPC uses the CPC-A designation for candidates who pass the exam but have not yet fulfilled the experience requirements for full CPC status. AAPC describes experience and other approved pathways for removing the apprentice designation.
This is why beginners should think about how they will gain practical coding experience, not just how they will pass the exam.
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Medical Coder?
The CPC exam itself currently costs:
- $425 for one attempt
- $499 for two attempts
AAPC also currently lists individual membership at $229 per year.
Those aren’t necessarily your total costs.
You may also need to pay for:
- Medical coding training
- Code books
- Practice exams
- Study materials
- Additional preparation
Training prices vary significantly by provider, so compare what each program actually includes rather than looking only at the advertised tuition.
How Much Do Medical Coders Make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups medical coding-related work within the broader medical records specialists occupation.
For May 2025, BLS reported a median annual wage of $51,140 for medical records specialists. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,000, while the highest 10% earned more than $81,150.
| Wage level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | Below $37,000 |
| Median | $51,140 |
| Highest 10% | Above $81,150 |
These figures should not be treated as a guaranteed salary for someone with a CPC certification. Actual pay can vary based on experience, location, employer, specialty, and job responsibilities.
Is Medical Coding a Good Career?
Medical coding can be a good option if you want to work in healthcare but prefer documentation, data, and computer-based work over direct patient care.
The employment outlook is also relatively strong. BLS projects 8% employment growth for medical records specialists from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations. About 14,000 openings per year are projected on average.
However, technology is changing the field. BLS notes that increasing use of AI-powered solutions could make some coding processes more efficient and affect demand for workers.
That makes strong coding knowledge and the ability to interpret documentation particularly important.
Can Medical Coders Work From Home?
Yes. Medical coding can be performed remotely, and work-from-home positions are available.
But getting a remote job isn’t necessarily easy for a beginner.
Remote positions can attract applicants from a much wider geographic area, and employers may prefer candidates with certification, experience, or knowledge of a particular coding specialty.
If remote work is your main goal, look at current job postings before choosing a training program. You’ll get a much better idea of what employers actually expect.
Is CPC Certification Worth It?
For someone serious about entering medical coding, CPC is worth considering.
AAPC’s exam directly tests the coding knowledge used in professional coding, and the credential is specifically designed around medical coding.
But don’t view certification as a guaranteed job.
A better approach is to consider the entire pathway:
Training → certification → practical experience → job search → career development.
Before spending money, review actual medical coding job postings and see which credentials, skills, and experience employers in your preferred location are asking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a degree to become a medical coder?
Not necessarily. Medical records specialists typically enter the occupation with a postsecondary nondegree award, although education requirements can vary by employer.
How much does the CPC exam cost?
AAPC currently lists the CPC exam at $425 for one attempt or $499 for two attempts.
How many questions are on the CPC exam?
The CPC exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and four hours of testing time. The passing score is 70%.
How much can a medical coder earn?
The BLS median annual wage for the broader medical records specialist occupation was $51,140 in May 2025. Individual medical coder salaries can differ considerably.
Can medical coders work remotely?
Yes. Remote medical coding jobs exist, although employers may expect certification and experience, particularly for competitive work-from-home positions.
Is medical coding difficult?
It can be challenging because the work requires medical terminology, anatomy knowledge, coding guidelines, and careful attention to detail. The CPC exam also requires candidates to apply coding knowledge to specific scenarios rather than simply memorize information.