In collaboration with Credential As You Go
Expanding the Connection between Education and Workforce
AHIMA is pleased to announce that we have been invited to participate in Credential As You Go’s Expansion & Adoption Initiative supported by Walmart. As part of this initiative AHIMA will participate in use and testing of resources intended to accelerate growth and adoption of an incremental credentialing system to improve education and employment outcomes. Read the announcement from Credential As You Go.
The latest updates on our certifications, exams, and policies.
CCA, CCS, & CCS-P Code Book Release
2023 Code Books will go into effect on 05/01/2023
ALL EXAMS DELIVERED ON OR AFTER 05/01/2023 will be required to have the 2023 code books from the 2023 code book list below.
On test day, all candidates must bring the correct codebooks to the test center. Candidates who do not have the correct codebooks will not be allowed to test and will forfeit their exam fees.
The Mandatory Code Book lists can be found on each exam webpage
https://ahima.org/certification-careers/certification-exams/cca/
https://ahima.org/certification-careers/certification-exams/ccs/
https://ahima.org/certification-careers/certification-exams/ccs-p/
What is Changing?
- Removing “grace” as a certification status. A credential is either “active”, “inactive” or “revoked”.
- Aligning the 24-month recertification cycle with responsibility of payment before the 24-month cycle ends.
When does this go into effect?:
- January 1, 2021.
How does this impact credential holders?
- At the end of your 24-month certification cycle, if you have not met the recertification requirements your certification status will change to “inactive”.
- Recertification extensions will incur a $50 fee per credential, payable electronically via the CEU Center.
- If you continue to not meet all of the recertification requirements, your credential will remain in the “inactive” status for 180 days before changing to a “revoked”.
- There is NO change to the revocation period or procedures.
What is changing?
- Once a credential is in permanently revoked status, an individual will have 90 days to file an appeal and provide supporting documents of the basis of the appeal.
- Credential holders can only appeal a revoked credential 1 time in a 10-year period.
When does this go into effect?
- January 1, 2021
How does this impact credential holders?
- Individuals do not have unlimited time to file an appeal for a revoked credential.
- Individuals can only appeal a revoked credential 1 time in a 10-year period.
Voluntary Relinquished Certification
What is changing?
If credential holder has voluntarily relinquished their credential and then changes their mind at a-later-date, the individual will need to take the certification exam again.
When does this go into effect?
- January 1, 2021
How does this impact credential holders?
- Credential holders must seriously consider the impact of requesting to voluntarily relinquish their credential(s).
All requests must be done in writing and sent to certification@ahima.org
What is changing?
* Based on the voluntary request of a fully retired individual who is no longer working in the field of HIIM. The individual may retire and begin work in a field unrelated to HIIM so long as he or she no longer holds any HIIM responsibilities. The individual’s credential(s) must be active and in good standing at the time of the request. Retired requests must be done in writing. Requests can be submitted to Certification@ahima.org.
To re-activate a retired credential, the credential must be retired for at least 24 months and must take the current exam for each credential being un-retired. Re-activation requests can be submitted to Certification@ahima.org.
When does this go into effect?
* January 1, 2023
How does this impact credential holders?
* Credential holders must seriously consider the impact of requesting to retire their credentials.
All requests must be done in writing and sent to Certification@ahima.org
RHIT & RHIA Early Testing Applicants
Early tester applicants will have up to a year from the date the exam is passed to submit your official transcript. If official transcripts are not received within the one-year timeframe the exam results will nullified and the exam will have to be re-taken and passed if you choose to hold the RHIT or RHIA credential.
What is changing?
- Preemptive waivers will not be considered if received during the last 6 months of your recertification cycle as described below:
- For those on a two-year CALENDAR cycle, requests for temporary waives must be received after July 1st and on or before December 1st of your recertification end date.
Example: If your recertification cycle is January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2022, then your temporary waiver request must be received on or after July 1, 2022, and on or before December 1, 2022. - For those on a two-year ANNIVERSARY cycle, requests for temporary waivers must be received during the last 6 months of your recertification cycle end date. Example: If your recertification cycle is April 1, 2021 – March 30, 2023, then your temporary waiver request must be received on or after October 1, 2022, and on or before March 1, 2023
- For those on a two-year CALENDAR cycle, requests for temporary waives must be received after July 1st and on or before December 1st of your recertification end date.
* Credential must be in good standing when requesting a waiver.
When does this go into effect?
- January 1, 2023
How does this impact credential holders?
- Temporary waivers will not be granted if requested to soon
All requests must be done in writing and sent to certification@ahima.org