Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)
CCSs are skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, generally in a hospital setting. These coding practitioners:
- Review patients’ records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure
- Possess expertise in the ICD-9-CM and CPT coding systems
- Are knowledgeable about medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology.
Different facilities and institutions make use of a CCSs' skills:
- Hospitals and medical providers take the coded data created by CCSs to insurance companies—or to the government in the case of Medicare and Medicaid recipients—for reimbursement of expenses
- Researchers and public health officials also use this data to monitor patterns and explore new interventions
Coding accuracy is highly important to healthcare organizations, and has an impact on revenues and describing health outcomes. In fact, certification has become an implicit industry standard. Accordingly, the CCS credential demonstrates a practitioner's tested data quality and integrity skills, and mastery of coding proficiency. Professionals experienced in coding inpatient and outpatient records should consider obtaining this certification.
Eligibility
CCS - Eligibility FAQ Document
Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
- By Credential: RHIA®, RHIT®, or CCS-P® OR
- By Education: Completion of a coding training program that includes anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic/procedural and CPT coding; OR
- By Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR
- By Credential with Experience: CCA® plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
- Other Coding credential from other certifying organization plus one (1) year coding experience directly applying codes.
Submitting an Application
Before submitting an application, carefully review the information contained in this 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 of their application, will receive a refund of the application fee minus a $75 processing fee.
Applicants may register online or by submitting a paper application.
Exam Fees
Member Price: $299
Non-member price: $399
Exam Application Checklist
- Read Candidate Guide
- Apply for exam
- Upon receipt of authorization to test (ATT), read it completely
- Schedule exam with Pearson Vue
- Verify what materials are needed at the testing center
- Verify what form(s) of Identification are needed at the testing center
- Verify time and date of exam
Eligibility Period
A candidate’s eligibility period is defined in the Authorization to Test letter (ATT) as a four-month window in which candidates are required to schedule their exam appointment. Candidates who fail to schedule an examination appointment within their eligibility period indicated in their ATT will forfeit their application fee. A complete application and examination fee are required to reapply for the examination.
Candidates arriving at the test center 15 minutes after the scheduled appointment will not be allowed to test and will forfeit the testing fee. A complete application and examination fee are required to reapply for the examination.
Exam Preparation Information
Exam Specifications
- Multiple Choice Section- The multiple choice section will consist of 81 single response multiple-choice items (63 "scored" and 18 "pre-test" items). Pre-test items are unscored items that are included in the examination to assess the item's performance prior to using it for operational use in a future examination. The pre-test items are scrambled randomly throughout the examination and do not count toward the candidate's score.
- Multiple Select Section- The multiple select section will consist of 8 multiple response items (6 "scored" and 2 "pre-test" items). Pre-test items are unscored items.
- Fill in the Blank Section (Medical Record Cases)- The fill in the blank section will consist of 12 medical record cases, which contains six outpatient records and six inpatient records.
- Inpatient diagnoses and procedures are to be coded with ICD-9-CM volumes 1-3; ambulatory care diagnoses are to be coded with ICD-9-CM volumes 1 and 2; and ambulatory care procedures with CPT.
- The total testing time for the exams is 4 hours
Exam Content Outline
A certification examination is based on an explicit set of competencies. These competencies were determined by job analysis surveys of hospital-based coders (for the CCS exam) . The competencies are divided into domains and tasks as shown in the PDF below. Examinations test only content pertaining to the following competencies.