Certification Exam Process & Timelines
AHIMA regularly updates its blueprint (content outline) to be consistent with the Standards of Educational and Psychological Testing (AERA, APA, & NCME, 2014) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Listen to a recorded presentation that explains the entire exam development cycle.
Exam Development Cycle Completed
Certified Coding Associate (CCA):
- Job Task Analysis: Began Q4 2021
- Content Outline: Publicly available, March 2022
- Pilot/Beta Exam: May 2022
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS):
See an executive summary of the job task analysis with the content outline crosswalk.
- Job Task Analysis: Begins Q2 2023
- Content Outline: Publicly available, October 2023
- Pilot/Beta Exam: May 2024
Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P):
See an executive summary of the job task analysis with the content outline crosswalk.
- Job Task Analysis: Begins Q2 2023
- Content Outline: Publicly available, October 2023
- Pilot/Beta Exam: May 2024
Certified Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS):
- Job Task Analysis: Began Q4 2021
- Content Outline: Publicly available, May 2022
- Pilot/Beta Exam: September 2022
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT):
See an executive summary of the job task analysis with the content outline crosswalk.
- Job Task Analysis: Began Q4 2021
- Content Outline: Publicly available, May 2022
- Pilot/Beta Exam: October 2022
Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner (CDIP):
- Job Task Analysis: Began Q2 2022
- Content Outline: Publicly available, January 2023
- Pilot/Beta Exam: June 2023
Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA):
See an executive summary of the job task analysis with the content outline crosswalk.
- Job Task Analysis: Began Q4 2022
- Content Outline: Publicly available, May 2023
- Pilot/Beta Exam: October 2023
Certified Health Data Analysis (CHDA):
- Job Task Analysis: Begins Q1 2023
- Content Outline: Publicly available, Q3 2023
- Pilot/Beta Exam: Q1 2024
Exam development cycle
- Job Task Analysis
SMEs identify knowledge, skills, and tasks required for a job. Result of workshop is a survey. - Exam Specifications
SMEs review survey results and develop blueprint (content outline). - Item Writing/Review
SMEs write and review test questions to align with blueprint (content outline). - Exam Form(s) Review
SMEs review test questions on Beta form and review overall form to determine if there is any overlap - Pilot/ Beta Exams
Candidates begin testing on pilot/beta exam. - Standard Setting
SMES set the performance standard "minimum expectations" which serve as a guide to recommend a passing point. - Exam Administration
The exam is administered to qualified candidates in a live testing environment. - Exam Maintenance
Ongoing maintenance is performed ensuring the form performs as intended.