AAPC Family Practice (CFPC) Examination Practice Test
Family practice coding draws on clinical knowledge across primary care, where patients may present with acute concerns, chronic conditions, preventive needs, or minor injuries. CFPC practice questions sample clinical scenarios involving respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, pediatric, eye, and skin conditions, along with screening, vaccination, diagnostic evaluation, and initial management decisions.
Exam overview
About the AAPC Family Practice (CFPC) Examination Exam
These scenarios call for recognizing relevant symptoms and findings, distinguishing stable conditions from urgent presentations, and identifying reasonable next steps in evaluation or care. Examples include confirming suspected asthma with pulmonary testing, determining how to follow up an abnormal glucose result, and recognizing when persistent hoarseness or a painful photophobic eye needs prompt evaluation. Preventive-care questions address topics such as adolescent HPV vaccination, while injury scenarios test practical decisions about wound assessment and closure preparation. Working through the cases can reinforce how primary-care context, patient age, symptom duration, examination findings, and red flags shape clinical decisions. For coding study, connect each documented condition and service to the appropriate code-selection process without assuming that a clinical vignette alone establishes a diagnosis or a code.
Sample Practice Questions
Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.
A 20-year-old patient has episodic wheezing during exercise but no symptoms at rest. The patient has never had spirometry. Which test can help confirm variable airflow obstruction in suspected asthma?
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Correct answer: ASpirometry with bronchodilator testing can demonstrate airflow obstruction and significant reversibility, supporting an asthma diagnosis. A normal result between episodes does not always exclude asthma, and additional testing may be considered when clinical suspicion remains.
A 58-year-old patient with no history of diabetes has a fasting plasma glucose of 132 mg/dL during a routine visit. The patient has no symptoms of hyperglycemia. What is the most appropriate next step to establish the diagnosis?
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Correct answer: BIn the absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia, an abnormal diabetes diagnostic test should generally be confirmed with a repeat test or a second abnormal diagnostic test. A single elevated result in an asymptomatic patient is not usually sufficient for diagnosis.
A 42-year-old patient experiences burning discomfort behind the breastbone after large meals and when lying down. There is no difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, or unexplained weight loss. Which initial lifestyle measure is reasonable?
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Correct answer: APost-meal reflux symptoms may improve by avoiding recumbency for several hours after eating; meal timing and other individualized triggers can also be addressed. Alarm features such as dysphagia, bleeding, or unexplained weight loss call for further evaluation rather than routine empiric management alone.
A 3-year-old child has a barking cough and inspiratory noise that occurs only when upset. The child is alert, drinking fluids, and has no stridor at rest. Which general management is most appropriate?
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Correct answer: AA barking cough with symptoms limited to agitation is consistent with mild croup. Supportive care and observation are generally appropriate; stridor at rest, respiratory distress, cyanosis, or inability to maintain hydration warrants prompt escalation of care.
A 65-year-old patient with a long history of smoking develops painless hoarseness that has persisted for 5 weeks. There is no recent respiratory infection. What is the most appropriate next step?
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Correct answer: BPersistent unexplained hoarseness, particularly in a patient with tobacco exposure, warrants evaluation of the larynx to identify structural disease, including malignancy. A prolonged delay or empiric antibiotics without evidence of bacterial infection is not an appropriate substitute for evaluation.
A 36-year-old patient reports months of fatigue and constipation. Examination shows dry skin and a slow pulse. Which initial laboratory test is most appropriate to evaluate for primary hypothyroidism?
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Correct answer: ASerum thyroid-stimulating hormone is the usual initial laboratory test for suspected primary hypothyroidism in a stable outpatient. An abnormal result is generally interpreted alongside free thyroxine and the clinical picture.
A 16-year-old presents for a routine visit and has never received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Which recommendation is generally appropriate?
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Correct answer: ARoutine HPV vaccination is recommended in early adolescence, and catch-up vaccination is advised for those not previously vaccinated. Starting before the 15th birthday generally calls for a two-dose series, with doses separated by the recommended interval. Vaccination is most effective before exposure and does not replace later screening.
How to use this practice test
The free practice session draws up to 20 random questions from the published CFPC question bank. Answer the cases, then use the displayed results to identify which clinical topics or decision points need more review. Repeating a session can expose you to different scenarios from the bank.
Preparation tips
- For respiratory cases, distinguish stable chronic symptoms from acute exacerbation and review how spirometry supports asthma evaluation.
- Practice interpreting common screening and diagnostic findings, including when an abnormal fasting glucose result needs confirmation.
- Review primary-care red flags such as persistent hoarseness, painful photophobic red eye, and respiratory distress, and identify the appropriate urgency of evaluation.
- Refresh preventive-care recommendations relevant to family practice, including HPV vaccination, and apply them to the patient’s age and history.
- For minor injuries, work through assessment details—wound depth, contamination, bleeding, and possible tendon involvement—that affect preparation for closure.