AHIMA Certified Coding Associate Examination Practice Test
CCA preparation involves coding diagnoses from health record documentation and managing the information that supports accurate, complete records. Practice topics include using the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index and Tabular List, responding to insufficient documentation, protecting record integrity, and understanding claim transactions and coding review.
Exam overview
About the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate Examination Exam
Coding decisions depend on following classification instructions and using only the specificity supported by the record. A coder who cannot determine an appropriate code from available documentation must recognize the limitation rather than infer missing details. Health information work also includes maintaining reliable patient identification through the master patient index, addressing mismatched or conflicting record content, and handling approved amendments without obscuring the original documentation. Compliance and quality review involve comparing code assignments with the record and applicable guidance, identifying recurring errors, and supporting corrective action. Knowledge of electronic administrative transaction standards helps coders understand how coded information moves through claims processes. Together, these skills connect code selection to documentation integrity, auditability, and accurate information exchange.
Sample Practice Questions
Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.
A coder finds that the documentation supports a diagnosis but does not provide enough detail to select a more specific code. What is the most appropriate general coding practice?
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Correct answer: BCode assignment should be supported by the health record. When documentation does not establish additional specificity, the coder should not infer unsupported details.
Which statement best describes the purpose of a master patient index (MPI)?
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Correct answer: AAn MPI helps identify patients and link them to their records, supporting record retrieval and reducing duplicate or mismatched identities. It is not a clinical-note repository or payment calculator.
A coder sees that a medication list in the health record conflicts with the medication reconciliation completed for the current encounter. What should the coder do before assigning a code that depends on medication use?
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Correct answer: BA material documentation conflict should be clarified through established procedures rather than resolved by guesswork. The coder should not make clinical assumptions about which medication information is correct.
An auditor selects a sample of coded records and compares code assignments with documentation and applicable guidelines. What is the primary purpose of this review?
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Correct answer: AA coding audit evaluates whether code assignments are accurate and supported by documentation and applicable rules. Findings can identify education needs, process issues, or opportunities to improve compliance.
A health information department discovers that a scanned document was attached to the wrong patient's electronic record. Which response best addresses the immediate record-integrity concern?
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Correct answer: BA misfiled document should be corrected through the organization's approved process, with actions traceable in the audit trail. Unrecorded deletion or leaving incorrect information in place can compromise record integrity.
A facility identifies that a batch of claims contains a recurring coding error. Which action is most appropriate as part of an effective compliance program?
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Correct answer: BAn effective compliance response includes investigating the issue, assessing its scope, correcting errors when appropriate, and addressing the underlying cause through education or process controls.
A record retention schedule specifies how long records are kept and how they are disposed of. What should staff do when a legal hold applies to records scheduled for routine destruction?
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Correct answer: BA legal hold generally suspends routine destruction for records within its scope. Staff should follow the organization's legal-hold procedures and preserve relevant information until authorized release of the hold.
How to use this practice test
The free US Practice Tests CCA practice set draws up to 20 random questions from its 50-question bank per session. After submitting a session, review the results to identify areas to revisit, such as codebook navigation, documentation limits, record integrity, or coding audits.
Preparation tips
- For ICD-10-CM scenarios, practice moving from the Alphabetic Index to the Tabular List and checking instructional notes before confirming a code.
- When a case lacks detail, distinguish what the documentation supports from what would require clarification; do not add specificity by inference.
- Review how a master patient index supports patient identification, and consider the record-integrity response to a document filed under the wrong patient.
- Compare coding audit findings with the source documentation and applicable guidance; connect recurring errors to focused corrective action.
- Learn the role of electronic administrative transaction standards in exchanging claims information, and distinguish transaction formatting from diagnosis code selection.