Credential type: certification examination · verified on the issuer's site September 20, 2026 issuer page
The Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) exam, offered by AAPC, validates expertise in reviewing medical records, applying ICD‑10‑CM codes for risk adjustment, mapping diagnoses to CMS Hierarchical Condition Categories, and ensuring compliance with audit standards. It consists of 100 multiple‑choice questions delivered in a linear format, lasts 340 minutes, and requires a 70 % score to pass. Certification remains active for two years.
Health information technicians, medical coders, and risk‑adjustment analysts who work with home‑health OASIS data and have experience coding ICD‑10‑CM diagnoses should pursue the CRC to demonstrate their competency in HCC mapping and compliance auditing.
Study the AAPC CRC exam guide and review the CMS risk‑adjustment technical specifications. Complete practice exams on the AAPC site to become comfortable with the linear format and timing. Focus on OASIS documentation, ICD‑10‑CM to HCC conversion, and audit rules. Join a study group or forum to discuss tricky coding scenarios, and schedule regular timed sessions to build stamina for the 340‑minute exam.
Medical Record Documentation Review focuses on evaluating OASIS entries such as patient age, gender, admission source, and functional status. Candidates must understand how to interpret and code these data elements accurately for risk‑adjusted calculations.
ICD‑10‑CM Coding for Risk Adjustment requires mapping home‑health diagnoses to the correct ICD‑10‑CM codes and then to CMS HCC categories. Mastery of the annual CMS mapping updates and coding guidelines is required.
HCC Mapping and Validation covers the creation and testing of hierarchical condition categories, including logistic regression coefficient application and validation against development and validation samples. Understanding statistical significance and clinical plausibility is key.
Compliance and Audit addresses the procedures for updating risk models, conducting OASIS data audits, and adhering to CMS all‑payer reporting requirements. Candidates should know audit steps, model recalibration, and documentation of compliance activities.
Arrive early with a government‑issued ID, bring a pen, and review the exam instructions. Pace yourself to answer all 100 questions within the 340‑minute window, flag uncertain items, and double‑check calculations before submitting.
The CRC exam contains 100 multiple‑choice questions presented in a linear format. All questions must be answered, and there is no penalty for guessing, so you should attempt every item within the allotted time.
The exam requires a minimum score of 70 percent to pass. With 100 questions, you need to answer at least 70 correctly to earn the Certified Risk Adjustment Coder credential.
The CRC test is a 340‑minute, linear examination. You have just under six hours to complete all 100 multiple‑choice items, so manage your time carefully to avoid rushing.
The non‑member fee for the CRC exam is $399, while AAPC members pay $299. Prices are listed on the AAPC certification page and include the exam attempt and official score report.
Verified 2026-09-02
Content was compiled by reviewing the official AAPC CRC exam guide, AAPC study resources, and CMS risk‑adjustment technical specifications, then distilled into concise guidance for each domain.