The three approved books
- CPT: the AMA Professional Edition only. AAPC: no other publisher is allowed.
- ICD-10-CM: your choice of publisher.
- HCPCS Level II: your choice of publisher.
AAPC's examinee instructions list every allowed reference for each exam; check them for your exam before test day.
Which year: AAPC's rules
- All AAPC exams are based on the current calendar year's code sets, and exams are updated every January.
- You may use books from the current or the preceding year, or a mix, one copy of each.
- Books older than one year are not allowed.
- Next year's books are not allowed. A 2027 book can't be used on a 2026 exam.
- HCPCS Level II can switch later: in 2026, 2025 HCPCS codes were used until March 2, 2026. AAPC hasn't announced the 2027 date yet.
Testing in late 2026 or early 2027
| Exam date | Code set tested | Books allowed | What we'd do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until December 29, 2026 | 2026 | 2026 or 2025 (not 2027) | Use 2026 books |
| December 30, 2026 to January 10, 2027 | No exams: annual blackout | n/a | Plan around it |
| From January 11, 2027 | 2027 (HCPCS date to be announced) | 2027 or 2026 | Use 2027 books: the questions are written on 2027 codes |
AAPC's blackout starts December 30 and exams resume on the second Monday of the new year, which is January 11 in 2027. If you use a second attempt in the next calendar year, you take that year's exam.
Know you're ready for the CPC before you book your date
PassPulse trains you for the CPC under real exam time pressure. Exam style questions on every section, every answer explained, and a readiness score that tells you when you're ready.
Start preparing for the CPCNotes, tabs and highlighting
- Handwritten notes are allowed when they relate to daily coding activities.
- Not allowed: notes copied from study guides, practice exams or exam questions, and altering pages such as marketing pages, tables of contents or reference pages.
- Tabs may be inserted, taped, pasted, glued or stapled.
- AAPC's announcement of its 2024 exam changes says marking of physical books is allowed.
Print books or eBooks
AAPC exams can be taken with eBooks from a shared library on the exam platform. Your personal notes and tabs won't be in them, but you get a search function. You can switch between print and eBook up to 48 hours before the exam.
Code books are an extra cost on top of the exam fee. See the full CPC cost.
CPC FAQ
Can I use 2027 code books on the CPC exam in December 2026?
No. AAPC doesn't allow next year's books. Until the exams switch in January, use 2026 books.
Can I use 2026 books on a 2027 CPC exam?
AAPC allows the preceding year's books, but the exam is written on the current year's codes, so 2027 books are the safer choice.
Do I have to use the AMA CPT book?
Yes. For CPT, AAPC allows only the AMA Professional Edition.
Can you write in your CPC code books?
Yes, handwritten notes related to daily coding are allowed. Notes from study guides, practice exams or exam questions aren't.
When do AAPC exams switch to the new code set?
Every January. The 2026 blackout runs from December 30, and exams resume on January 11, 2027.