How to Register for the CPC Exam: Vouchers, Dates, and Locations
Registering for the CPC exam means becoming an AAPC member, purchasing a one- or two-attempt exam voucher, and scheduling your session either in person at a proctored testing center or remotely with a live online proctor. Vouchers are valid for one year from purchase, and AAPC closes exam scheduling annually for a blackout period starting around December 30 to roll in the next year’s code-set updates.
The logistics trip people up more often than the content does. A candidate who studies for months but doesn’t check voucher expiration dates or the year-end blackout window can end up scrambling to reschedule, or losing money on an unused voucher entirely.
(CPC Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by AAPC or Pearson VUE. This article describes registration logistics as generally published by AAPC; always confirm current scheduling details on AAPC’s own site before you register.)
What’s the actual registration sequence?
First, confirm your AAPC membership is active, since it’s required both at registration and when results are released. Second, purchase your exam voucher, one attempt or two. Third, schedule your testing session, choosing between an in-person testing center and a remote, live-proctored option. Fourth, use your voucher within its one-year validity window; unused vouchers past that point are forfeited (AAPC: How long is my exam voucher(s) valid?, accessed 2026-07-18).
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Confirm membership | Active AAPC membership required, not just at signup |
| 2. Buy a voucher | $425 (1 attempt) or $499 (2 attempts); student pricing available |
| 3. Choose testing format | In-person proctored center, or live online remote proctoring |
| 4. Schedule within one year | Vouchers expire 1 year from purchase if unused |
What’s the difference between in-person and online testing?
Both follow the same 100-question, open-book format and the same code-book rules. In person means testing at a physical proctored center on a set schedule. Online means a live remote proctor watches you test from your own space, with the same restrictions on outside materials and devices. Choose based on what fits your schedule and whether you have a quiet, private space that meets remote-proctoring requirements; neither format is easier or harder on the content itself.
What is the annual blackout period, and how does it affect scheduling?
AAPC pauses exam scheduling for a window starting around December 30 each year, giving them time to update the exam for the coming year’s CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS code changes. If you’re planning to test in late December or very early January, check the current blackout dates before you lock in a date, since no exams run during that window regardless of voucher validity.
How long is your voucher actually good for?
One year from your purchase date. If you buy a voucher and don’t use it within that window, the payment is forfeited rather than refunded or extended. This matters most for candidates who buy a voucher early to lock in current pricing but then push their study timeline back further than planned; track the purchase date, not just your target exam date.
What happens if you need to reschedule?
Rescheduling policies and any associated fees depend on how far in advance you make the change and which testing format you chose. The safest approach is to lock in your exam date only once your prep is genuinely close to done, using timed practice results as the signal rather than a calendar guess. See CPC exam prep for how to build a study timeline that ends with realistic, timed practice before you commit to a date.
What if your second attempt voucher goes unused because you passed the first time?
Two-attempt vouchers exist specifically as a hedge against needing a retake. If you pass on your first attempt, the second attempt in the bundle typically isn’t refundable separately, since it was priced as part of the bundle rather than as two independent purchases. Factor that into whether a two-attempt voucher makes sense for your specific risk tolerance; see CPC exam cost for the full cost comparison between the two voucher tiers.
Before you lock in a registration date, check your own readiness with the free CPC practice exam, and make sure you understand what’s on the exam so test day itself holds no surprises.
FAQ
How do I register for the CPC exam? Confirm active AAPC membership, purchase an exam voucher, and schedule your session either in person or with a live online proctor.
How long is a CPC exam voucher valid? One year from the purchase date. Vouchers unused past that window are forfeited.
Can I take the CPC exam online instead of in person? Yes, AAPC offers live remote-proctored testing as an alternative to in-person testing centers, with the same format and material rules either way.
What is AAPC’s annual exam blackout period? A scheduling pause starting around December 30 each year, giving AAPC time to update the exam for the coming year’s code changes. No exams run during that window.
Do I need AAPC membership before I can buy an exam voucher? Yes, and it needs to remain active both at registration and when your results are released, not just at the moment you buy the voucher.
Bottom line: registering for the CPC exam is straightforward, active membership, a voucher, and a scheduling choice, but the details that trip people up are logistics: the one-year voucher window and the year-end blackout period, not the content itself.