For General Inquiries

Please contact us by submitting a customer support request or by calling our Customer Relations Team at (800) 335-5535.

Acquiring new or replacement certificates

Please fill out the Replacement Certificate Form and mail to the address indicated on the form

• If candidates do not receive their initial certificate, new certificates are free of charge only when requested within 9 months.
• Once 9 months has passed since the certification date, candidates must pay the $35 fee for the certificate

Applying for an extension

Please fill out the Eligibility Extension Request Form to apply for an extension

• Candidates may request one 45 day extension for $75
• Candidates may then request a second and final extension for $150 (valid for 30 additional days)

Mailing Addresses for Applications, Fees, or Transcripts

For submitting certification exam applications and fees:
AHIMA
Dept. 77-3081
Chicago, IL 60678-3081
Attn: Certification Examinations

For candidates submitting transcripts from CAHIIM-accredited programs (required as part of the RHIT or RHIA certification examination application process): 
AHIMA
233 N. Michigan Ave., 21st Fl. 
Chicago, IL 60601
Attn: Certification Transcripts

Credential Verification Request-- For Employers and Recruiters Only 

Appeals to CCHIIM by candidates or certificants are strictly limited to disputes regarding:

• Certification examination eligibility
• Certification exam performance
• Recertification (certification maintenance)

• Appeals Overview Flowchart/Timeline 
• CCHIIM Appeals Policy and Form 

COMPLAINTS - Code of Ethics / Professional Misconduct

The AHIMA Code of Ethics applies to AHIMA members and credentialed professionals who are not members.  If you believe an AHIMA member or credentialed professional has violated the Code of Ethics, you may file a complaint with AHIMA.

Specifically, potential ethics violations regarding misconduct that involve currently certified individuals (i.e., certificants), irrespective of AHIMA membership status, that are NOT related to certification examination eligibility, certification exam performance, and recertification (certification maintenance), must be submitted to the AHIMA Professional Ethics Committee. A separate AHIMA Professional Ethics Committee Policy and Procedures is used for potential ethics violations regarding misconduct, pursuant to the AHIMA Code of Ethics, which can be found in the Professional Ethics Committee Policies and Procedures.

COMPLAINTS - Customer-Service

All other inquiries, questions, and concerns regarding AHIMA credentials or their respective certification examinations are regarded as customer-service complaints and are managed accordingly through the AHIMA Certification Department complaint policy and procedures.

A certificant or candidate may submit a certification-specific customer-service complaint online, or by calling (800) 335-5535.

Your customer-service complaint will be logged and acknowledged within two (2) business days.

Exam Refund Policy

Candidates can request a refund for their exam application up to fourteen (14) business days prior to their scheduled test date or eligibility end date.

Requests can be submitted by creating a customer support request here, with the following information:

1. Candidate’s name
2. AHIMA ID# (optional)
3. Exam type

There is a $75 processing fee for all refund requests. The refunded will be credited in the same manner of the original payment. If the candidate purchased the exam with a credit card the refund will be credited to that same credit card. Please allow four to six weeks for processing.

All appointments must be canceled through Pearson Vue prior to the request for a refund (please see the exam cancellation policy below).

Exam Cancellation Policy

AHIMA's policies about changing a testing appointment are as follows:

1. Candidates may cancel and reschedule the examination up to 15 business days prior to the scheduled examination date at no charge.
2. Any candidate who cancels or reschedules his or her appointment between 14 days and 24 hours prior to the exam date will be charged a penalty of $30 by Pearson Vue. Rescheduling and payment must be completed using a valid credit card via www.Pearson Vue.com/ahima or by calling the Pearson Vue Call Center at (888) 524-4622.
3. Candidates may not reschedule the examination less than 24 hours prior to the examination appointment.
4. Candidates who do not arrive or who arrive late to their scheduled exam appointment time will be considered no-shows and will forfeit their application fee.
5. Candidates failing to appear for the scheduled appointment or who are over thirty (30) minutes late will not be allowed to test. A new application and the full application fee must be submitted in order to test.