\nCertified Coding Specialist Study Guide<\/a>
\nCertified Coding Specialist Flashcards<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
<\/span> Exam Eligibility<\/h2>\nThe following are not technically requirements for taking the CCS exam. However, AHIMA strongly recommends that you have at least one of the following:<\/p>\n
\n- One year of coding experience directly applying codes, and educational courses in anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate\/advanced ICD diagnostic coding, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding experience<\/li>\n
- Two years of related coding experience directly applying codes<\/li>\n
- One year of coding experience directly applying codes and hold a Certified Coding Associate (CCA) credential<\/li>\n
- Hold a coding credential from a certifying organization other than AHIMA and one-year coding experience directly applying codes<\/li>\n
- Hold a Certified Coding Specialist \u2013 Physician-based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Certified Coding Specialist Exam Outline<\/h2>\nThe Certified Coding Specialist exam contains 107 questions, 10 of which are unscored, and you will be given a time limit of 4 hours.<\/p>\n
![\"exam](\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Certified-Coding-Specialist-Exam-Outline.svg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe exam is split into 5 domains, each of which has its own set of tasks.<\/p>\n\n1. Coding Knowledge and Skills (39%-41%)<\/summary>\n\n- Assign diagnosis and procedure codes based on health record documentation<\/li>\n
- Determine the principal or first-listed diagnosis procedure<\/li>\n
- Apply coding conventions and guidelines<\/li>\n
- Attach CPT\/HCPCS modifiers to outpatient procedures<\/li>\n
- Determine appropriate sequencing of diagnoses and procedure codes<\/li>\n
- Apply POA guidelines<\/li>\n
- Demonstrate knowledge of coding edits<\/li>\n
- Demonstrate knowledge of reimbursement classifications<\/li>\n
- Abstract applicable information from health records<\/li>\n
- Identify major co-morbid conditions (MCC) and co-morbid conditions (CC)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
2. Coding Documentation (18%-22%)<\/summary>\n\n- Resolve conflicting documentation in the health record<\/li>\n
- Ensure all required documentation for assigning a specified code is available<\/li>\n
- Verify and validate documentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
3. Provider Queries (9%-11%)<\/summary>\n\n- Identify elements of an ethical complaint query<\/li>\n
- Determine if a provider query is compliant<\/li>\n
- Analyze current documentation to identify query opportunities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
4. Regulatory Compliance (18%-22%)<\/summary>\n\n- Ensure completeness and accuracy of health records<\/li>\n
- Understand appropriate payer-specific guidelines<\/li>\n
- Identify PSIs and HACs based on the provider’s documentation<\/li>\n
- Ensure compliance with HIPAA guidelines<\/li>\n
- Ensure adherence to AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding<\/li>\n
- Ensure compliance with the UHDDS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
5. Information Technologies (9%-11%)<\/summary>\n\n- Distinguish various types of EHRs<\/li>\n
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of encoding and grouper software<\/li>\n
- Exhibit an understanding of CAC software<\/li>\n
- Ensure compliance with HITECH guidelines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Check Out Mometrix's Certified Coding Specialist Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tGet Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"](\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/certcodespec.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/span>Certified Coding Specialist Online Prep Course<\/h2>\nIf you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online CCS prep course<\/strong> designed to give you everything you need to succeed!<\/p>\nHere’s what you’ll find in the Certified Coding Specialist course:<\/p>\n
<\/span>Certified Coding Specialist Exam Outline<\/h2>\nThe Certified Coding Specialist exam contains 107 questions, 10 of which are unscored, and you will be given a time limit of 4 hours.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe exam is split into 5 domains, each of which has its own set of tasks.<\/p>\n\n1. Coding Knowledge and Skills (39%-41%)<\/summary>\n\n- Assign diagnosis and procedure codes based on health record documentation<\/li>\n
- Determine the principal or first-listed diagnosis procedure<\/li>\n
- Apply coding conventions and guidelines<\/li>\n
- Attach CPT\/HCPCS modifiers to outpatient procedures<\/li>\n
- Determine appropriate sequencing of diagnoses and procedure codes<\/li>\n
- Apply POA guidelines<\/li>\n
- Demonstrate knowledge of coding edits<\/li>\n
- Demonstrate knowledge of reimbursement classifications<\/li>\n
- Abstract applicable information from health records<\/li>\n
- Identify major co-morbid conditions (MCC) and co-morbid conditions (CC)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
2. Coding Documentation (18%-22%)<\/summary>\n\n- Resolve conflicting documentation in the health record<\/li>\n
- Ensure all required documentation for assigning a specified code is available<\/li>\n
- Verify and validate documentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
3. Provider Queries (9%-11%)<\/summary>\n\n- Identify elements of an ethical complaint query<\/li>\n
- Determine if a provider query is compliant<\/li>\n
- Analyze current documentation to identify query opportunities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
4. Regulatory Compliance (18%-22%)<\/summary>\n\n- Ensure completeness and accuracy of health records<\/li>\n
- Understand appropriate payer-specific guidelines<\/li>\n
- Identify PSIs and HACs based on the provider’s documentation<\/li>\n
- Ensure compliance with HIPAA guidelines<\/li>\n
- Ensure adherence to AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding<\/li>\n
- Ensure compliance with the UHDDS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n
5. Information Technologies (9%-11%)<\/summary>\n\n- Distinguish various types of EHRs<\/li>\n
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of encoding and grouper software<\/li>\n
- Exhibit an understanding of CAC software<\/li>\n
- Ensure compliance with HITECH guidelines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Check Out Mometrix's Certified Coding Specialist Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tGet Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/span>Certified Coding Specialist Online Prep Course<\/h2>\nIf you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online CCS prep course<\/strong> designed to give you everything you need to succeed!<\/p>\nHere’s what you’ll find in the Certified Coding Specialist course:<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe exam is split into 5 domains, each of which has its own set of tasks.<\/p>\n Check Out Mometrix's Certified Coding Specialist Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tGet Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online CCS prep course<\/strong> designed to give you everything you need to succeed!<\/p>\n Here’s what you’ll find in the Certified Coding Specialist course:<\/p>\n1. Coding Knowledge and Skills (39%-41%)<\/summary>\n
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2. Coding Documentation (18%-22%)<\/summary>\n
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3. Provider Queries (9%-11%)<\/summary>\n
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4. Regulatory Compliance (18%-22%)<\/summary>\n
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5. Information Technologies (9%-11%)<\/summary>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/span>Certified Coding Specialist Online Prep Course<\/h2>\n