Category: Exam Prep
Tags: ICD-10-CM, Medical Coding, CPC Exam, Coding Guidelines, Flashcards
If you are studying the ICD-10-CM guidelines for the CPC or for a coding job, you have probably run into at least one of these problems. They come up again and again in medical coding communities online, and each has a practical fix. One note up front: flashcards help you learn and recall the rules. They do not replace your code books, practice exams or the official exam instructions.
“CPC Exam Experience”
— r/MedicalCoding post title, view the thread
Problem 1: Running out of time
Time is the complaint candidates mention most:
“I need help practicing for my CPC exam how did you manage to beat the clock? I’m taking practice exams and I’m always running out of time on it”
— r/MedicalCoding, view the comment
The fix: two things, because they do different jobs. Timed practice exams train your pace. Flashcards make the rules automatic, so you do not spend minutes re-reading a convention you could recall at once, such as what an Excludes1 note means. Here is a real card from our ICD-10-CM guidelines deck:
Excludes1 Note
Definition: An Excludes1 note is a pure excludes note and means “NOT CODED HERE!” It indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the note. It is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Example: Both excludes types indicate that codes excluded from each other are independent of each other.
Tip: Excludes1 = never together (with one exception for unrelated conditions).
This kind of repeated recall (practice testing and spaced practice) is rated a high-utility study technique in learning research (Dunlosky et al., 2013).
Problem 2: Slow lookups with books or e-books
How you find a code matters as much as knowing it:
“CPC Exam with eBooks: How Did You Manage Without Notes?”
— r/MedicalCoding post title, view the thread
The fix: practice your lookup routine with the reference format you will actually use, and check the exam provider’s current instructions on allowed materials. The guidelines give the routine itself, and it is worth drilling until it is automatic:
Locating a Code: Index, Then Tabular
Definition: It is essential to use both the Alphabetic Index and the Tabular List when locating and assigning a code. The Alphabetic Index does not always provide the full code; selection of the full code, including laterality and any applicable 7th character, can only be done in the Tabular List.
Example: Read and be guided by instructional notations that appear in both the Alphabetic Index and the Tabular List.
Tip: Never code from the Index alone.
Problem 3: Scenarios that don’t come out right
Applying the rules to a case is harder than reciting them:
“Passed my CPC exam- Struggling with practicode”
— r/MedicalCoding post title, view the thread
The fix: many wrong answers come from sequencing and instructional notes: what to code first, when two codes can be reported together, when a symptom code should be left out. Learn those rules as small separate facts first, then practise on full scenarios. Cards are good for the first step and do not replace the second.
Problem 4: Outdated study material
Books and guidelines change on a schedule:
“CPC Exam 2026 – Should I use my 2025 books or ebooks provided?”
— r/MedicalCoding post title, view the thread
The fix: always know which edition your study material is based on. The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting are updated every year; the FY 2027 edition covers October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Our deck is written from that edition and says so in its listing. For real coding work, use the current official guidelines.
Ready to try it?
- Check out the format: download the free sample files to see how our printable PDFs, interactive HTML app and Anki decks look. The sample is a general example deck on a different topic.
- Get the ICD-10-CM deck: ICD-10-CM Guidelines Flashcards (FY2027) on Etsy, 230 cards. It covers the ICD-10-CM guidelines only, with no CPT, no HCPCS and nothing else from the CPC exam.
- Want a deck built around your own topic? Order custom flashcards on our Fiverr gig.
- New to Anki? Read our guide to studying with Anki.
Quotes are public posts and post titles from the r/MedicalCoding community on Reddit, shown with links to the original threads. They are not endorsements, and we are not affiliated with Reddit or the posters. Our flashcards are written with AI from the official guidelines text and checked against it; they are a supplement, not a substitute for the official code books or guidelines, and no exam result is guaranteed. CPC® is a registered mark of AAPC. MyFlashDecks is not affiliated with or endorsed by AAPC. Study-technique reference: Dunlosky, Rawson, Marsh, Nathan & Willingham (2013), “Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques,” Psychological Science in the Public Interest.