Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the exams?
There are 100 questions on the CPAR exam.
There are 50 questions on the CFC exam.

What is a passing score on the exams?
The CPAR passing score is 70 out of 100 questions.
The CFC passing score is 35 out of 50 questions.

How long are the exams?
You have 180 minutes to complete the CPAR exam.
You have 120 minutes to complete the CFC exam.

Do I have to be currently working in the health care industry to take the exams?
There are no pre-qualifiers for taking the CPAR or CFC exam. You do not have to work in health care. You do have to be a CPAR graduate to qualify to attend Advanced CPAR sessions to seek ACPAR status.

Will I be able to skip questions and then go back later to answer them?
Yes. The exam will present each question and allow you to save an answer or skip it until later. After viewing all of the exam questions once, you will be shown all of your questions and answers again for review. You can then choose to change an existing answer or enter an answer to a question you previously skipped before submitting your exam for scoring.

How long after taking the exam will I receive my result?
Immediately. Upon completing the exam, your results will be available for review in your student account under
My Account > Exam Results.

Is the online study material just a manual that you study on your own?
YES. These are self study certifications. Some years a CPAR Coaching Session is offered, but not every year.

How many pages are in the manual?
The CPAR manual has approximately 600 pages.
The CFC study guide has approximately 105 pages.
These manuals are available in a PDF print format after you have paid.

Can I purchase an exam manual separately?
No. Manuals and study guides are provided as part of your exam registration fee. They are not available at a separate price. When you purchase an exam, you will be able to download the associated manual in the Schedule Exams section once you have logged into your account. If you only want the manual then you can simply bypass scheduling the exam and download the manual.

Can I study the past year’s study information and pass the CPAR and CFC exam?
Study information is revised each year; therefore, studying an out-of-date manual could limit your success if you do not also study the current material when it is available. Remember, you have to pay to take the exam which includes the study information.

What part of the study information will be on the exams?
The CPAR exam questions will be taken from the entire CPAR Manual, not just the coaching material. The practice exams are meant to familiarize you with how questions are asked on the test and to help you determine if your study habits are working. A few practice exam questions may be on the actual exam. The CFC exam questions will be taken from the study guide. Since the volume of CFC study information is small, no coaching information or practice exams are available at this time.

How should I use the CPAR coaching study guide and practice exams?
CPAR Coaching study guides by chapter are available for downloading in your student account. You may also take the associated chapter practice exams at any time. You may take the practice exams up to 20 times each. Best practice has proven that you should study the entire manual, chapter by chapter, then test your learning by taking the practice exams. The practice exams show you how the CPAR exam questions are formatted.

If I only study the coaching information and take practice exams, will I pass the exam?
Since the coaching information and practice exams only address a minor portion of the study material, it would be extremely difficult to pass the exam without studying from the full study manual. Remember, the fee to take the exam also includes the study manual, so there is no real reason to NOT study from the full manual. You have to pay to take the exam anyway.

How long will it take me to study the material?
The CPAR material is extensive and covers the full range of revenue cycle operations, and will take several months of focused learning. The CFC material covers a focused subject and requires less time for learning.

Is it mandatory to take the CPAR coaching class before taking the exam?
NO - this is optional.

What should I bring to the exam?
A picture ID is the only requirement.

How early should I arrive before the exam?
20-30 minutes before your exam. Sign in is open one hour is advance of the exam start time. We start on time.

Can I take the CPAR or CFC re-test this year for $25 since I did not pass last year?
The re-test fee is only available for students who pay and take the exam in the current year. For example:
Scenario #1: You pay and take the exam in October, 2008, but you did not pass. In June, 2009, the new exam and study guide are available. You must pay the full fee in 2009 to take the exam and obtain the study information.
Scenario #2: You pay and take the exam in October, 2008, but you did not pass. You register to take a re-test in November, 2008. You can pay $25.00 for the re-test in November, 2008.

If my employer does not offer to pay for my exam, can I still register as an individual?
Absolutely. Individuals can register and pay themselves. In fact, this is what most students do.

What if my credit card is not accepted when I pay online?
On the payment page, the cardholder name and address must match with the card number.  The payment information is handled entirely separate from the registration information. (The student registration information can be different than the payment information.) If your transaction cannot be processed, it is most likely because the payment processor is not able to match the cardholder name, address, and card number that are submitted from the payment page.  All of the payment information must be consistent with the cardholder.

Where do I mail a check payment for my exam(s)?
The check mailing address is provided on your registration confirmation after you have gone through the payment process and selected pay by check. We would prefer that you pay for your exam using our secure online credit card payment system but if you would rather pay for your exam(s) by check then please mail checks written to:
Georgia HFMA
P.O. Box 1190
Lawrenceville, GA 30046

How long does it take to get administrative clearance on a check payment once it has cleared the bank?
Typically, check payments are marked paid within 72 hours of notification of deposit.

If I end up not taking the exam after I have paid, can I receive a refund or credit?
No refunds or credits will be given. The study material is provided as part of the fee along with the exam.

Will this certification be recognized outside of Georgia?
All healthcare facilities in Georgia recognize this certification, however, each organization does not recognize in the same manner. For example, some hospitals require this certification at time of hiring or within a certain time period. Because the Georgia HFMA certifications are so well known throughout the United States, especially the Southeast, organizations in other states may see this certification as valuable. However, this certification does not have any connection to other state's certification programs.

How long does my certification stay active?
CPAR and CFC are certifications that you will always have, without any additional testing or educational hours. To go past CPAR, there is the opportunity to obtain Advanced CPAR status. There is no ACPAR test, only education hours to achieve and maintain on an ongoing basis. There is currently no advanced certification for CFC graduates.

Can I get my certificate replaced?
Yes. Replacement Certificates for CPAR, CFC, and ACPAR can be purchased for $5.00. Send an email indicating your name, the type of certification, the year of your graduation, and the name of your employer at that time. This information helps us validate your certification. You will receive an email response as to where to send your check.

What if I lose my CPAR, CFC or ACPAR recognition pin?
You can purchase a replacement pin for $10.00. Send an email indicating your name, the type of pin, the year of your graduation, and the name of your employer at that time. This information helps us validate your certification. You will receive an email response as to where to send your check.

Still have questions?
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