CCS Examination Specifications

Multiple Choice—Part I consists of 60 four option multiple-choice items (50 “scored” items, and 10 “pre-test” items).  Pre-test items are unscored items that are included in the examination to assess the item’s performance prior to using it for operational use in a future examination. The pre-test items are scrambled randomly throughout the examination and do not count toward the candidate’s score.

Medical Record Coding-Part II requires you to code thirteen medical records, which contains seven outpatient records (four ambulatory surgery, one emergency room, and two records from Cardiac Cath/Interventional Radiology/Pain Management) and six inpatient records.

Inpatient diagnoses and procedures are to be coded with ICD-9-CM volumes 1-3; ambulatory care diagnoses are to be coded with ICD-9-CM volumes 1 and 2; and ambulatory care procedures with CPT.

The total testing time for the exams is 4 hours.  You cannot return to Part I after beginning Part II of the exam.