Which Medical Coding & Billing Certification Exam Should You Take – the CBCS or CPC?

As a medical billing and coding specialist, you should consider taking a certification exam to potentially improve your chances of getting hired, increase your earning potential, and to reaffirm to employers and colleagues you have the skills needed to do the job.

According to the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) 2025 Industry Outlook Report, 61% of employers require certification for medical billing and coding specialists, while 33% encourage it. That means that to qualify for a job with over half of medical billing and coding employers, having some kind of certification is a must.

In the same report, 85% of employers also said that when they’re screening applicants for medical billing and coding jobs, certification is one of the criteria they look for and 58% said that they believe that even being newly certified shows that a billing and coding specialist is prepared for the job.

Besides potentially helping your resume get seen, being certified can make a difference to your paycheck. Certified medical records specialists (including medical billing and coding specialists) can make up to 20.7% more than those who aren’t certified.

There isn’t one medical coding and billing certification that is necessarily better than another, but rather ones that are better for specific jobs or job titles you hope to get. You can also gain multiple certifications to supercharge your resume and cover all your bases, but when you’re just starting out, that isn’t particularly necessary.

There are several different medical coding and billing certification exams, but the most common are the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam, the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam, and the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam.

Read more: Your Medical Billing & Coding Salary Guide

The Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) certification offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is designed to make sure medical billing and coding professionals know how to properly code for illnesses, procedures, and other common medical needs in accordance with insurance standards. The CBCS covers the broad, foundational skills that are vital to medical billers and coders who want to work in physician’s offices, hospitals, dental offices, nursing homes, insurance companies, and other medical facilities. The exam takes about 3 hours to complete, is 100 scored questions, and is timed. In order to take the exam, you’ll need to register on the NHA website. You’ll then have the option to take the test at a testing center near you or remotely. If you’re a Penn Foster Medical Billing and Coding Program graduate, the cost of your exam is covered by your tuition and prep materials are included so you can properly prepare to pass the test and become certified.

CBCS Exam Quick Facts:
Number of Questions: 100
Format: Multiple choice
Time limit: 3 hours
Passing score: 390/500 points
Cost: $129 (exam only)
Administered by: NHA
Perfect for: beginners and professionals seeking to validate their foundational skills in medical billing, insurance claims processing, and healthcare reimbursement.

Before taking the exam, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible, so definitely take advantage of the prep materials included in your program, allow yourself enough study time, and get a good night's sleep before your test day. If you don’t pass the CBCS exam, you are allowed up to 3 retakes. However, you do need to pay a fee for each time you retake the exam and NHA requires you to wait at least 30 days before each exam to be eligible for a retake.

Read more: Going Back to School as an Adult

The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is the most popular medical billing and coding certification students pursue. The CPC concentrates on outpatient coding and covers how to assign diagnoses, procedures, and medical codes for an array of clinical services and cases. The exam is 100 multiple choice questions and test takers are allowed up to 4 hours to complete the exam. You’ll have the option to register to take the exam at a testing center near you or online.

CPC Exam Quick Facts:
Number of questions: 100
Format: Multiple choice
Time limit: 4 hours
Passing score: 70%
Cost: $425–$499 (exam) + membership required
Administered by: AAPC
Perfect for: beginners new to healthcare, working medical billers who want to transition into roles focused more on coding, and professional coders who may not have credentials but want to validate their knowledge.

The CPC exam isn’t easy, so be prepared to study hard and take advantage of practice tests and prep materials. If you don’t pass the first time, you can retake the exam. With Penn Foster’s online Medical Coding Professional Program, your tuition covers the cost of a 1-year student membership, your initial exam, and 1 retake if you need it.

Something to remember, also, is that when you pass the exam, you will initially have a CPC-A credential. The “A” stands for apprentice. To remove apprentice status and be considered fully certified, you either need to gain two years of medical coding work experience or complete the AAPC Practicode course. The Practicode course is also included in the Medical Coding Professional Program!

Read more: CPC Exam Guide: Requirements, Costs, and Tips to Pass on Your First Try

The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) certification offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) covers all-around coding across various settings including hospitals and physicians. This medical coding and billing certification validates your skills in coding procedures for recordkeeping, compliance, and confidentiality.

CCA Exam Quick Facts:
Number of questions: 105
Format: Multiple choice
Time limit: 2 hours
Passing score: 300
Cost: $199 for AHIMA members, $299 for non-members
Administered by: AHIMA
Perfect for: beginners new to healthcare, working medical billers who want to transition into roles focused more on coding, and professional coders who may not have credentials but want to validate their knowledge.

Read more: Should Moms Go Back to School? How Education Fits with Parenting

Yes, the CBCS is a good certification to have as a medical billing and coding professional. Earning the CBCS credential proves that you have the necessary foundational skills in coding and healthcare to be an asset to any healthcare organization.

After you pass the CPC exam, if you don’t take the Practicode course, you’ll be considered an apprentice. Once you’ve gotten two years of experience under your belt, you can submit that information to the AAPC to have the “A” removed from your credential and become a fully Certified Professional Coder.

Later, you may also want to consider pursuing additional, advanced certifications. These additional certifications can help you advance in your career and even potentially help you earn more money. You may want to get your Certified Professional Biller (CPB) certification to add to your coding expertise. Or you may choose to specialize and become certified in a specific aspect of billing and coding such as inpatient or outpatient coding.

Read more: Does Education Make a Difference in Salary? (How Learning More May Help You Earn More)

The CBCS, CPC, and CCA are all entry-level healthcare coding certifications, but they have different focuses. CBCS (NHA) emphasizes medical billing and coding fundamentals, making it a good choice for those interested in billing and revenue cycle roles. CPC (AAPC) is the most widely recognized certification for professional outpatient and physician-based coding and is often preferred by employers hiring medical coders. CCA (AHIMA) provides a broader coding foundation across healthcare settings and is a good starting point for those interested in hospital coding or pursuing advanced AHIMA credentials like the CCS.

Jaime has this advice for those unsure which certification they should go for: “Which certification you choose may depend on what stage in your career you are and the type of healthcare setting you want to work in. The CPC certification is considered the ‘gold standard’ for medical coders. So, a good option for many students is to get the CBCS or CCA certification and then advance to get CPC certification. Another good thing is that you can complete the Medical Billing & Coding program and get your CBCS certification and then transfer some of your courses to the Medical Coding Professional program and get your CPC certification.”

Other differences include exam cost and experience requirements. 

Read more: Medical Coding Professional vs. Medical Billing and Coding: What’s the Difference?

The average salary for a certified medical billing and coding specialist is $50,250. Specializing in particular areas of billing and coding, however, can potentially allow you to earn even more! Specialties can include radiology, oncology, outpatient or inpatient coding, physician coding, and emergency coding.

In order to qualify for more advanced roles in the medical billing and coding field, such as becoming an emergency department coder, you may need to pursue further education and you will definitely need to earn additional credentials and certifications.  

Read more: 6 Tips to Going to Career School or College as an Adult

Getting certified can make a big difference in your career as a medical billing specialist or medical coding professional, from helping you potentially qualify for more jobs to increasing your salary. Whether you’re brand new to healthcare and want to prepare for an entry-level job or you’re a veteran who wants to level up through credentials, our online medical billing and coding programs can help you take the first step.

If you know which program you want to enroll in, you can get started online 24/7. If you have some more questions, want to talk through your options, or just want some help getting started, call our Admissions Specialists at 1-800-275-4410!