Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
Exam Preparation Information
- Exam Specifications
- Exam Content Outline
- Cognitive Levels
- Sample Questions
- Exam Scoring/Passing Scores
- Recommended Resources
Exam Specifications
3.5 hour, 150 four-option, multiple-choice question examination consisting of 130 scored questions and 20 pretest questions.
A candidate's score is based on the number of scored questions on the examination. The pretest questions do not affect a candidate's score. Pretest questions are included in order to evaluate them for possible use as scored questions on future examinations. The pretest questions are placed throughout the examination and cannot be identified during the examination.
Exam Content Outline
A certification examination is based on an explicit set of competencies. These competencies have been determined through a job analysis study conducted of practitioners. The competencies are subdivided into domains, subdomains, and tasks as shown in the PDF below. Examinations test only content pertaining to the following competencies.
RHIT Resources
Every test question on AHIMA's certification examinations must be referenced to a valid, credible, and current resource. AHIMA's construction committee members and item writers most commonly use the following:
- Abdelhak, M., et.al. (2007). Health information: management of a strategic resource. St. Louis: Saunders/Elsevier.
- Amatayakul, M. (2004). Electronic health records: a practical guide for professionals and organizations. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Amatayakul, M. & Lazarus, S. (2005). Electronic health records: transforming your medical practice: Englewood: MGMA.
- Beaver, K. & Herold, R. (2004). The practical guide to HIPAA privacy and security compliance. Boca Raton: Auerbach.
- Bowman, S. (2004). Health information management compliance. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Brown, F. (2007). ICD-9-CM coding handbook. Chicago: AMA.
- Casto, A. & Layman, E. (2006). Principles of healthcare reimbursement. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Clark, J., ed. (2004). Documentation for acute care. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 45, Public Welfare, parts 160-164.
- CPT 2007. (2007). Chicago: AMA.
- DRG Expert (2004) 20th ed.
- Documentation and reimbursement for behavioral healthcare services. (2005). Chicago: AHIMA.
- Harman, L. (2006). Ethical challenges in the management of health information. Boston: Jones & Bartlett.
- Hartley, C. & Jones, E. (2004). HIPAA plain and simple. Chicago: AMA.
- HIPAA in practice: the health information manager's perspective. (2004). Chicago: AHIMA.
- Horton, M. (2007). Calculating and reporting healthcare statistics. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Ingenix ICD-9-CM for hospitals. (2007). Salt Lake City: Ingenix.
- James, E. (2004). Documentation and reimbursement for long-term care. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Johns, M. (2007). Health information management technology: an applied approach. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Kuehn, J. (2006). CPT/HCS Coding and reimbursement for physician services. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Nowak, T. & Handford, A. (2004). Pathophysiology: concepts and applications for the healthcare professional. Boston: MsGraw-Hill.
- Osborn, C. (2006). Statistical applications for health information management. Boston: Jones & Bartlett.
- Principles of CPT coding. (2005). Chicago. AHIMA.
- Roach, W., et.al. (2006). Medical records and the law. Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
- Schraffenberger, L. (2006). Basic ICD-9-CM Coding. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Schraffenberger, L. (2006). Effective management of coding services. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Shaw, P., et.al. (2003). Quality and performance improvement in healthcare. Chicago. AHIMA.
- Smith, G. (2006). Basic CPT/HCPCS coding. Chicago: AHIMA.
- Wager, K., et.al. (2005). Managing health care information systems. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.