Contact Us & FAQs

A beta exam is a new version of a certification exam consisting of new questions that have not yet undergone psychometric analysis for validity and reliability. The purpose of beta testing is to evaluate new exam questions by having them answered by actual credential candidates.

A new exam goes through the beta process before the exam is launched for the first time. This is one of the last steps during an exam development process. Data gathered and analyzed during the beta period is used to select the best exam questions, and to eliminate questions that are vague, too difficult, or not useful in evaluating a candidate’s HIM knowledge.

During the beta period, you will not receive immediate results upon completion of your exam. There is a waiting period (typically up to 10 weeks from the start of the beta period) after which results are provided to test takers.

The exam eligibility period is 120 calendar days from the application approval date. The exam must be scheduled and taken within those 120 calendar days.

If a candidate applies for an exam and is deemed eligible but does not schedule a date to take the exam within the 120 calendar days, the exam application eligibility expires, and the candidate will need to reapply and pay all applicable fees.

You must apply for an extension 14 days prior to your scheduled exam date or 14 days prior to your eligibility end date.

You can apply for extensions in 30-day increments for up to 90 days. The cost for each 30-day increment is $50.

The retake waiting period for the CCA, CCS, RHIT, and RHIA certification exams are 30 days. The retake waiting periods for the CCS-P, CDIP, CHDA, and CHPS certification exams are 90 days.

Each certification has a Content Outline (CO) that includes the tasks and knowledge that candidates will be tested on related to that certification. This information provides guidance for candidates preparing to take the exam. The CO also details the number of questions contained in each Domain. Neither CCHIIM nor AHIMA certification staff require or endorse training, preparation, or resources for certification exam participation. Keep in mind, no two candidates have the same knowledge base – relevant experience and educational backgrounds vary.

Visit the Apply page for instructions on how to apply for a certification exam.

Additional information on applying for an exam:

• Exam purchases must be completed online.
• If you are registering for an RHIT® or RHIA® exam, you must submit your official transcripts for review before or after you register for an exam; preferably before you register. These types of exams will not be approved until official transcripts are received and approved.
• After the application is received and processed, candidates should receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter via email within five business days from Pearson VUE with instructions on how to schedule an exam date.
• Candidates who have taken and failed an examination must wait a minimum of 90 days before a new application is approved.

The total appointment time given to candidates for each exam has been established using the total number of exam questions including the pretest questions, signing the AHIMA Examination Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure, and Conduct Agreement, and reading the instructions.The clock will start once you are seated at your computer and your exam is launched by the Pearson VUE staff.

First, the agreement displays, and 5 minutes are provided to read through and confirm you have read the agreement. Next, the instructions are displayed, and the exam time begins, which includes reading through the instructions and answering the exam questions. The table below details the breakdown of time allotted for each exam.

There are no planned breaks while you are taking the exam. Candidates are allowed to take a break during the in-person exam; however, the clock on the exam will not be paused. Remotely proctored examinees (for the CDIP, CHDA, and CHPS) are not allowed to break and must NOT leave the camera view.

Candidates will receive their results immediately upon completion of their exam. After completing the examination, candidates will receive their score report. The score report provides more details and breaks down how a candidate performs in each domain of the Content Outline. The score report will not include performance on pretest questions, and these questions will not be used to determine passing or failing.

For additional security, all score reports will contain a registration and validation number. Candidates or their employers can visit the Pearson VUE authentication website to verify the score report is valid. To request a duplicate copy of your exam score report, contact Pearson VUE at (888) 524-4622.

In the event a new exam format is in a Beta testing period and the passing mark has not been pre-established, exam candidates will receive a test completion notice upon completion of their exam. Once the passing mark has been determined, exam results will be uploaded to your Pearson VUE account.

Effective April 1, 2018, virtual certificates have replaced hard copy certificates for newly credentialed individuals. Official virtual documents for all certifications, including a congratulatory letter and employer notification, are immediately available to print and save from your AHIMA CEU center upon the granting of a credential. The certificate valid-through date is automatically updated with the successful completion of each recertification cycle.

You can purchase a hard copy certificate—including reprints of existing certifications or an updated one to reflect a name change—and frame through AHIMA’s certificate partner. Please have your virtual certificate details available when purchasing your hard copy certificate to ensure the certificate data you enter is correct.

Your official transcripts must be received before the certificate number is issued, and the credential designations can be listed on your signature line. Please contact your school, if you have not done so already, and request an official transcript that includes your graduation date and degree issued.

Transcripts must be mailed directly from the school or forwarded in an unopened school envelope for processing to:

AHIMA
Attn: Certification Transcripts
35 W. Wacker Dr., 16th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601

Once mailed, please allow up to four weeks to process from the date they are received.

Official transcripts may also be sent electronically via a transcript service to certificationtranscripts@ahima.org. Emailed transcripts will not be accepted directly from the school or individual. They must be submitted from a designated transcript service.

If transcripts have already been submitted, please contact us if they may have been submitted be under a different last name.

For international degrees, transcripts must first be evaluated by a credential evaluation agency for US equivalency. Visit the World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for transcript evaluation. After your international degree(s) and transcripts are evaluated, please forward your completed evaluation along with transcripts to certificationtranscripts@ahima.org.

1. There will no longer be a difference in registration or the testing process for global candidates.
2. There is no longer a testing window, and exams can be taken throughout the year, as long as test centers are open.
3. When selecting a testing location, candidates can select any available/open Pearson VUE location.
4. All candidates will now follow the same policies and procedures stated in the Candidate Guide.

Visit the Updates & Announcements page to see more news about our certifications.

For verification of an individual’s certification status, visit the Credential Verification Portal. Please have the credential holder’s last name and either the credential number or AHIMA ID# ready to complete the online verification process.

AHIMA has joined with Credly, a Pearson Company, to develop a platform that issues digital badges to visually display your accomplishment(s) on social media sites, in your email signature, or on your electronic resume. AHIMA programs using the digital badge platform include the Triumph Awards, AHIMA Fellowships, AHIMA certifications, and HIM Faculty Achievement. 

As you achieve an accomplishment, an email will be sent providing instructions on how to access your digital badge and achieve the greatest benefit from the use of the digital badge. View step-by-step instructions on how to share your badge on varying platforms once claimed.

When the badge is clicked, it will show more information about the accomplishment and the necessary requirements you fulfilled to earn it.  People can click the link to get a better understanding of your significant achievement.

Yes, remote testing is available for some certification exams. Learn more by visiting our Remote Proctored Exams webpage. 

After meeting all eligibility requirements and passing the examination, individuals may use their credential in all correspondence and professional relations and on promotional materials, such as stationery, websites, business cards, etc. The mark or logo may be used only on business cards, stationery, letterhead, and similar documents on which the name of the individual certified is prominently displayed.

Individuals who have met the certification requirements are authorized to use RHIA, RHIT, CCA, CCS, CCS-P, CHDA, CHPS, or CDIP as applicable, following their name.

The guidelines below should be followed when using credentials:

• Academic degrees (for example, PhD, JD, and MBA) are listed closest to the last name
• General credentials (for example, RHIA and RHIT) follow the academic degree. If there is no academic degree listed, the certification credential follows the last name
• The RHIT credential will be superseded once a candidate passes the RHIA exam meaning it is no longer valid and no longer to be used
• Specialty credentials and coding credentials (for example, CHDA, CHP, CHS, CHPS, CCS, CCS-P, CCA, CDIP, and CHTS) follow the general credential
• The CCA credential will be superseded once a candidate passes the CCS or CCS-P exam meaning it is no longer valid and no longer to be used
• Fellowship credentials (for example, FAHIMA) follow the specialty credential

Early testing candidates are not authorized to use their credential until all requirements have been met and verified through AHIMA.

After receiving official notification of certification, the applicable credential may be used only as long as certification remains valid and in good standing. Individuals may not use the AHIMA credentials until they have received specific written notification that they have successfully completed all requirements, including passing the examination and documenting the specified requirements.

Certificants must comply with all recertification requirements to maintain use of the credential.

Except as permitted by this policy, any use or display of certification marks and/or logos without the prior written permission of the CCHIIM is prohibited. Any candidate or certificant who manufacturers, modifies, reproduces, distributes, or uses a fraudulent or otherwise unauthorized certificate, designation or other credential may be subject to disciplinary action, including denial or revocation of eligibility or certification. Any individual who engages in such behavior also may be subject to legal action.

Please see the Disciplinary and Appeals Policy PDF document for complete details.