Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Practice Exam
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Practice Exam
About the Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Exam
A COC certification validates your expertise in outpatient hospital coding, demonstrating proficiency with ambulatory payment classifications (APCs), payment status indicators, and Medicare severity-diagnosis-related groups (MS-DRGs). Coders with a COC credential are qualified to report outpatient services in various settings, including:
- Hospital emergency departments
- Outpatient hospital clinics
- Outpatient therapy departments
- Outpatient cancer centers
- Dialysis services
- Outpatient radiology departments
- Ambulatory surgery centers
Exam Format
- Total Question: 100 Questions
- Type of Questions: Multiple-choice questions
- Exam Format: Online and Offline Exam
- Exam Duration: Four hours
Experience Requirements
- High-level knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology.
- Understanding the proper application of CPT® procedure codes, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes.
Maintaining Your Certification
- Maintain your AAPC annual membership.
- Earn 40 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years.
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Exam Outline
The Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Exam covers the following topics -
Domain 1 - Understanding Medical Terminology and Anatomy (10%)
- Understanding and application of medical terminology.
- Knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
Domain 2 - Understanding Coding Guidelines and Compliance (10%)
- Familiarity with ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting.
- Understanding of CPT® and HCPCS Level II coding guidelines.
- Compliance with coding ethics and standards.
Domain 3 - Understanding Outpatient Facility Coding (30%)
- Proficiency in coding for hospital outpatient services.
- Knowledge of ambulatory payment classifications (APCs).
- Application of Medicare severity-diagnosis-related groups (MS-DRGs).
- Understanding of payment status indicators.
Domain 4 - Understanding Outpatient Services Coding (25%)
- Accurate coding for outpatient hospital clinics.
- Coding for emergency departments and outpatient surgery centers.
- Proficiency in coding for outpatient therapy departments and radiology.
Domain 5 - Understanding Billing and Reimbursement (15%)
- Knowledge of outpatient billing processes.
- Understanding of reimbursement methodologies.
- Familiarity with payer policies and procedures.
Domain 6 - Understanding Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines (10%)
- Adherence to HIPAA regulations.
- Knowledge of compliance programs and regulatory guidelines.
- Understanding of fraud and abuse prevention in coding and billing.
