CPB Certification: Certified Professional Biller (AAPC)

The CPB (Certified Professional Biller) is a professional credential from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It's the only billing-specific certification AAPC offers and validates your ability to manage the full revenue cycle, from patient registration and insurance verification through claims submission, payment posting, denial management, and collections.

While the CPC focuses on translating medical documentation into codes, the CPB focuses on what happens after coding: getting claims paid correctly and on time. That includes understanding payer contracts, processing claims through clearinghouses, managing accounts receivable, appealing denied claims, and staying compliant with federal and state billing regulations.

Most CPB candidates either already hold the CPC and want to formalize their billing expertise, or they're dedicated billing specialists working in physician practices, billing companies, or hospital business offices.

The CPB exam has 200 multiple-choice questions with a 5-hour, 40-minute time limit. You'll need 70% to pass, which means 140 correct answers out of 200 (AAPC, MedicalBillingAndCoding.org).

The exam is open-codebook. You can bring your current-year and previous-year coding manuals: ICD-10-CM, CPT Professional Edition, and HCPCS Level II. Codebooks can be tabbed and annotated, but loose papers and notes aren't allowed.

A big portion of the exam involves case analysis questions. Fifty of the 200 questions present case-based scenarios simulating real-world billing situations. You'll analyze documents, apply insurance rules, and make decisions about claim processing, denial resolution, and payment posting.

You can take the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online through AAPC's remote proctoring system. The online option requires a webcam, reliable internet, and a private workspace.

AAPC doesn't impose strict educational prerequisites for the CPB exam. To be eligible, you'll need the following (AAPC):

Education: There's no formal education requirement, though AAPC recommends at least a high school diploma or equivalent. An associate degree is suggested but not required.

Experience: AAPC recommends at least two years of professional experience in medical billing or a related field. That includes claims processing, reimbursement management, coding, or billing documentation. Experience from employment, externships, or apprenticeships all counts.

Membership: Active AAPC membership is required when you take the exam. That's $222/year for professionals or $157/year for students (AAPC).

If you pass without the recommended experience, you'll still receive your credential. Unlike the CPC, there's no formal "apprentice" designation for the CPB.

The CPB tests applied billing knowledge across seven content domains. The two largest sections are insurance types (44 questions) and case analysis (50 questions), which together account for nearly half the exam. Reimbursement/collections and billing each have 28 questions, billing regulations has 25, coding has 15, and HIPAA/compliance has 10.

The case analysis section is where many candidates struggle. You'll review source documents like EOBs, remittance advice, and claim forms, then identify the correct billing action. Practicing with real-world documents is the best preparation for these questions.

Your CPB must be renewed every two years. That means 36 continuing education units (CEUs) submitted within each cycle, plus active AAPC membership (AAPC).

Of the 36 CEUs, at least 24 (two-thirds) must come from core billing and coding topics. The remaining 12 can come from broader healthcare topics like practice management, healthcare technology, and regulatory updates.

CEUs come from AAPC workshops, local chapter meetings, approved online courses, webinars, and conferences. If you hold both the CPC and CPB, the same 36 CEUs satisfy both credentials. You don't need 72 total.

AAPC charges $50 for CEU deadline extensions. Excess CEUs from one cycle don't carry over. If you don't submit CEUs by your renewal date, your credential becomes inactive until you fulfill the requirement.

The CPB positions you for specialized billing roles that go beyond general coding. CPB holders work as billing managers, revenue cycle analysts, accounts receivable specialists, claims processing supervisors, and billing compliance officers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical records specialists (SOC 29-2072) earn a median annual salary of $50,250 as of May 2024 (BLS). The AAPC 2025 Salary Survey reports CPB holders earn a median of $56,981, and professionals holding both the CPC and CPB average $71,130 per year.

The CPB is especially relevant as healthcare billing grows more complex. Increasing payer requirements, prior authorization regulations, and the shift toward value-based reimbursement create strong demand for professionals who understand the full revenue cycle.