CPC – Certified Professional Coder
CPC – Certified Professional Coder vs 3 alternatives compared
Exam fee, level, duration, validity and salary side by side. Blank cells mean we do not have verified data yet.
| CPC – Certified Professional Coder | USMLE Step 1 – US Medical Licensing Exam | PANCE – Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam | NCLEX-RN – National Council Licensure Exam (Nursing) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | AAPC | USMLE / NBME | NCCPA | NCSBN |
| Level | Intermediate | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced |
| Exam fee | $299–$399 | $645 | $475 | $200 |
| Duration | — | one day (8‑hour testing session) | — | — |
| Passing score | — | — | — | — |
| Valid for | — | — | — | — |
| Typical salary | $55K–$80K | $200K–$350K (post-residency) | $110K–$150K | $70K–$120K |
| Prerequisites | — | — | — | — |
Which should you choose?
Should I take CPC – Certified Professional Coder or USMLE Step 1 – US Medical Licensing Exam first?
CPC – Certified Professional Coder is the lower-level certification (Intermediate vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.
Should I take CPC – Certified Professional Coder or PANCE – Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam first?
CPC – Certified Professional Coder is the lower-level certification (Intermediate vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.
Should I take CPC – Certified Professional Coder or Nursing first?
CPC – Certified Professional Coder is the lower-level certification (Intermediate vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.