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Apply to Take an Exam

Before submitting an application, carefully review the information contained in the Candidate Guide. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure eligibility before submitting the application. Applicants who are determined to be ineligible and submit an ineligible application or request withdrawal or cancellation of their application will receive a refund of the application fee minus a $75 processing fee.

All applications must be submitted online, and fees must be paid via credit card.

Pearson VUE is AHIMA’s contracted test vendor that administers all AHIMA certification examinations. All certification examinations are delivered in a Pearson VUE proctored test center by means of a computer-based delivery format.

Exam Application Process

Step 1

 Read Candidate Guide.

Step 2

All applications must be submitted online, and fees must be paid via credit card online.

Step 3

 Confirm the name used to register for the exam is an exact match to your identification card(s).

Step 4

 If eligible, apply for testing accommodations.

Step 5

 Once Authorization to Test (ATT) email arrives from Pearson Vue, verify the information is correct and read the email in its entirety. 

Step 6

 Schedule an exam with Pearson Vue within your 120-day eligibility window (window starts the day the ATT letter is created).

Pre-test Day Checklist

  1. Verify materials needed at the Pearson VUE testing centers (e.g., code books).
  2. Verify the name on the ATT letter matches your identification exactly.
  3. Confirm the form(s) of identification needed to enter the testing center.
  4. Confirm time and date of exam.
  5. Verify directions to the testing center.
  6. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your testing time with all of your required materials and form(s) of identification needed to take the exam. Expired identification will not be accepted.

Eligibility Period

The exam eligibility period is 120 calendar days from the application approval date. This means that 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.

 

Eligibility Extension Fees and Policy

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.

Accommodations

If an applicant has a documented disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) and requires test accommodations, the applicant must notify AHIMA in writing each time accommodation is required.

The applicant must personally submit a Request for Accommodation application form and documentation along with the AHIMA examination application to ADA@ahima.org. The materials must be received by the normal application closing date.

  • The application should indicate the nature of the disability and the specific test accommodations needed.
  • A qualified professional must provide documentation verifying the disability and explaining the test accommodations that are needed.
  • Requests made by a third party (such as an evaluator, employer, etc.) will not be considered.

Applicants will be notified in writing whether their accommodation request has been approved. For assistance or questions regarding the ADAAA process please contact ADA@ahima.org.

Exam Re-take Policy

Candidates who have taken and not passed an examination must wait a minimum of 90 days before their application is approved. To re-take an examination, a candidate must resubmit a new application with the appropriate examination fee. Transcripts are kept on file and do not need to be resubmitted. Candidates who are currently in their retest waiting period are not authorized to schedule until a new authorization to test letter has been issued. AHIMA is not authorized to waive retest periods due to test security policies

 

Exam Fees

Acronym Exam Name Non-member price Member price
CCA Certified Coding Associate $299 $199
CCS Certified Coding Specialist $399 $299
CCS-P Certified Coding Specialist - Physician Based $399 $299
RHIT Registered Health Information Technician $299 $229
RHIA Registered Health Information Administrator $299 $229
CDIP Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner $329 $259
CHDA Certified Health Data Analyst $329 $259
CHPS Certified Health Privacy Security $329 $259