AAPC CPB Exam Guide: Certified Professional Biller Format, Score & Sample Questions
The CPB is AAPC's medical billing certification, covering billing and collections across the revenue cycle. Here is AAPC's exam format, the seven domains with question counts, the open-book rules, cost and renewal, plus the 12 sample questions from our video.
The AAPC CPB exam has 135 multiple-choice questions in one 4-hour sitting, and you need 70% (at least 95 correct) to pass. It is open book for approved code books only: AMA CPT Professional Edition, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II. One attempt costs $425, or $499 for two. Case analysis is the largest domain, with 34 questions.
AAPC CPB facts at a glance
| Questions | 135: multiple choice, one sitting |
|---|---|
| Time limit | 4 hours: about 1.7 minutes per question |
| Passing score | 70%: at least 95 correct; missing more than 41 fails |
| Exam fee | $425: $499 for two attempts |
| Book policy | Code books only: CPT Professional Edition, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II; current or prior year, one copy each |
| Delivery | Home or test center: at home with a live remote proctor, or at a testing center |
| Results | 7 to 10 business days: in your AAPC account dashboard |
| Maintenance | 36 CEUs / 2 years: plus annual AAPC membership |
Checked against the official AAPC page and the sources listed at the end of this page on 2026-10-26.
Watch: AAPC CPB video
AAPC CPB Exam 2026: Certified Professional Biller Format, Passing Score & Sample Questions
CPB sample questions: 12 practice questions
The 12 questions from our CPB video, in three groups of four: claims and forms, payers and payments, and compliance, coding and the revenue cycle. The real exam is open book; try these from memory first. Every question is original, not from a real exam.
9 or more correct (75%) is a comfortable target in our estimate, a little above AAPC's 70% pass mark. Twelve questions are a check, not a prediction.
CPB exam domains and question counts
AAPC lists seven domains. Case analysis is about a quarter of the exam, and coding is only 10 questions: this is a billing exam first, with code books as tools.
| Domain | Questions |
|---|---|
| Case analysis | 34 |
| Types of insurance | 29 |
| Reimbursement and collections | 19 |
| Claims and billing | 19 |
| Billing regulations | 17 |
| Coding | 10 |
| HIPAA and compliance | 7 |
Source: AAPC: Taking the CPB Exam
What the CPB certifies
CPB stands for Certified Professional Biller. It shows skills across the revenue cycle: billing and collections for both patient and payer accounts. AAPC lists no formal eligibility requirements, but recommends a solid grasp of medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology, and offers a CPB training course starting at $1,495.
Compared with AAPC's coding credential, the CPC, the CPB is about what happens to a claim after it is coded: submitting it, tracking it, working denials and collecting payment.
Open-book rules and exam day
You may use the AMA CPT Professional Edition, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II from any publisher, current or prior year, one copy of each, in print or as eBooks (eBooks are provided through the exam platform). Handwritten notes in printed books are allowed only if they relate to day-to-day coding. An online calculator is built in; physical calculators are not allowed.
Case analysis questions come with source documents such as CMS-1500 claim forms, payment policies, LCDs, NCDs, appeal letters and preauthorizations. The answer is in the document, so find the policy line before you choose.
Results, retakes and keeping the credential
Results post to your AAPC account dashboard in 7 to 10 business days. If you do not pass, AAPC's report gives sub-scores for the areas where you scored 65% or below, which tells you what to review. Buying the two-attempt package ($499) up front costs less than two single attempts.
To keep the CPB, maintain your annual AAPC membership and earn 36 continuing education units every two years.
A CPB study plan
This is our planning estimate, not AAPC guidance: six to ten weeks.
- First weeks: the life of a claim, from the CMS-1500 to status follow-up, and the main payer types.
- Middle weeks: read claim forms, remittance advice and denial reasons; practice coordination of benefits and appeals.
- Final weeks: timed sets, and tab your code books so you can find codes and guidelines fast.
- On exam day: answer every question, since a blank is always wrong, and save the slowest case-analysis items for last.
Sample AAPC CPB questions with answers
One question from each content area of the practice set above, with the answer and explanation. Try it before you open the answer.
Claims and billing
Which claim form do physician offices use for professional services?
- UB-04
- CMS-1500
- Superbill
- Explanation of benefits
Show answer
B. CMS-1500
This is the CMS 1500. It is the standard paper claim for professional services, and the UB zero four is the institutional form used by hospitals and other facilities. A superbill is an internal encounter form, not a claim.
Types of insurance, reimbursement
Which document tells a provider how a payer processed a claim?
- Remittance advice
- Superbill
- Encounter form
- Advance beneficiary notice
Show answer
A. Remittance advice
The remittance advice, sent electronically as an ERA, shows how the payer processed the claim: paid, adjusted, or denied. The patient gets a similar explanation of benefits. An advance beneficiary notice is a Medicare notice about possible non-coverage.
HIPAA, coding, revenue cycle
Which code set reports the diagnosis on a professional claim?
- CPT
- HCPCS Level II
- Place of service codes
- ICD-10-CM
Show answer
D. ICD-10-CM
ICD 10 CM reports diagnoses and conditions. CPT reports the procedures and services performed, and HCPCS Level Two covers items such as supplies, drugs, and some services.
AAPC CPB FAQ
How many questions are on the CPB exam?
135 multiple-choice questions in a single 4-hour sitting.
What is the CPB passing score?
70%, which means at least 95 of 135 correct. Missing more than 41 questions fails the exam.
How much does the AAPC CPB exam cost?
AAPC lists one attempt at $425 and two attempts at $499.
Is the CPB exam open book?
Yes, for approved code books only: the AMA CPT Professional Edition, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II, current or prior year, one copy each, in print or as eBooks.
What is the difference between the CPB and the CPC?
The CPC is AAPC's coding credential, built around assigning the right codes. The CPB is its billing credential, about submitting claims, working denials and collecting payment.
Related practice and guides
Sources
Exam facts on this page were checked against these official pages on 2026-10-26.
OpenExamHub is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with AAPC. CPB and AAPC are registered trademarks of AAPC. The sample questions are original, not from a real exam. Exam formats, fees and requirements are set by AAPC and can change; confirm them on AAPC's site before you register.