AHIMA Credentialing Competencies
The AHIMA Credentialing Competencies, recently updated in November 2026, define the knowledge and skills health information professionals need to succeed in today’s evolving healthcare environment.
Aligned with AHIMA’s certification exam content outlines, these competencies establish clear, measurable expectations that help educators prepare students for professional practice and certification.
They also provide a consistent framework connecting industry expectations, certification exams, and candidate preparation, and support:
- Validity: Keeping examination content connected to current professional practice and the purpose of the credential.
- Consistency: Giving item writers and reviewers a shared statement of the knowledge and cognitive demand to be assessed.
- Transparency: Helping candidates and educators understand the scope and relative emphasis of the examination.
- Separation of roles: Clarifying that certification determines whether an individual meets a credential standard, while education and accreditation determine how a program prepares and evaluates learners.
- Adaptability: Allowing examinations to evolve through disciplined exam-development processes without prescribing one curriculum, textbook, course sequence, or teaching method.
Associate Credentialing Competencies
Domain 1: Data Structure, Content, & Information Governance
Domain 2: Access, Disclosure, Privacy, and Security
Domain 3: Data Analytics and Use
Domain 4: Revenue Cycle Management
Domain 5: Compliance (RHIT only)
Domain 6: Leadership (RHIT only)
Baccalaureate Credentialing Competencies
Domain 1: Data and Information Governance
Domain 2: Compliance with Access, Use, and Disclosure of Health Information
Domain 3: Data Analytics and Informatics
Domain 4: Revenue Cycle Management
Domain 5: Management and Leadership (RHIA only)
Graduate Credentialing Competencies
Domain 1: Data and Information Governance
Domain 2: Compliance with Access, Use, and Disclosure of Health Information
Domain 3: Data Analytics and Informatics
Domain 4: Revenue Cycle Management
Domain 5: Management and Leadership (RHIA only)
Additional Resources Include -
- Credentialing Competencies Information Packet
- 2026 Credentialing Competencies Overview
- Associate Credentialing Competencies with Crosswalk
- Baccalaureate Credentialing Competencies with Crosswalk
- Graduate Credentialing Competencies with Crosswalk
Request one or more of these AHIMA resources - intended for current HI educators
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Join the Conversation: Educators' Town Hall
Mark your calendar for January 28, 2027, and join AHIMA for a special Educators' Town Hall. You'll get an overview of the new competencies, how they can support curriculum planning, and practical guidance on implementation.
FAQs
Why Bloom’s taxonomy and not Miller’s Pyramid?
Bloom’s revised taxonomy is the primary taxonomy because AHIMA credentialing competencies are exam-facing. It helps define the cognitive complexity that standardized examination items are intended to measure. Miller’s Pyramid addresses the progression from knowledge to demonstration and authentic performance. It remains valuable for curriculum and assessment design, but it is not a substitute for a cognitive taxonomy in exam blueprinting.
AHIMA supports transparent alignment and is exploring a crosswalk with the appropriate CAHIIM framework.
Will there be a cost for the Credentialing Competencies?
These resources are designed for educators, and there is no cost to access the credentialing competencies.
Will there be training for these credentialing competencies?
Yes. An AHIMA Educators' Town Hall will take place Jan. 28, 2027 to introduce the credentialing competencies to educators and provide guidance on their use. Reserve your spot today!
Is there a comment period for these competencies?
No, there is no open-comment period. The credentialing competencies were introduced through a six-month phased rollout, with an official launch date of November 1, 2026. Educators can continue to submit comments and questions online.
Need more information?
If you have additional questions regarding the AHIMA Credentialing Competencies, please use the link below and we will be happy to help.