AHIMA’s Standards for Initial Certification

1. Qualifications for Initial Certification – Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
   Qualifications for Initial Certification – Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
   Qualifications for Initial Certification – Certified Coding Specialist--Physician-based (CCS-P)
   Qualifications for Initial Certification—Registered Healthcare Administrator (RHIA)
   Qualifications for Initial Certification—Registered Healthcare Technician (RHIT)
   Qualifications for Initial Certification—Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS)
   
   
2. Application
   
   Application for certification shall be made on a form approved by the COC and the Board of Directors, and shall be accompanied by the examination fee established by the Board of Directors. Candidates may, on notice given to the Registrar 15 business days prior to the scheduled examination:
   
   1. Request permission to withdraw the application, in which event the application fee, less a processing fee established by the Board of Directors, shall be refunded.
      
      
3. Examinations
   
   
   1. Each candidate for certification must pass the examination provided by the COC and conducted as herein provided.
   2. Whenever a candidate is examined, a presiding examiner shall be provided in accordance with procedures approved by the COC.
   3. The COC shall provide a test for each announced examination in accordance with sound educational and testing methods, and shall provide for the proper grading of each examination.
   4. Any candidate who fails to pass the examination may, upon application and payment of the fee, be reexamined at any future regularly scheduled examination, provided that they meet the current standards of eligibility in effect the year of the exam.
   5. The number of times examinations are given each year and the dates and locations of such examinations shall be determined by the Registrar.
      
      
4. Administration
   
   
   1. A permanent registry of certified individuals shall be maintained in the AHIMA offices.
   2. The registrar shall be the Executive Director of the Association or the director’s designee, neither of whom shall be a member of the COC. The duties of the registrar shall be to:
      1. Receive all applications for certification, verify the eligibility of the candidates, and where any question of eligibility exists, to forward such applications to the COC for final decision.
      2. Notify the candidate of the result of the examination and issue a certificate of the appropriate certificate to the successful candidate.
5. Revocation
   
   The certificate of any person may be revoked according to Article IX, Section 3, of the Bylaws. Revocation based on failure to complete continuing education requirements shall be based on the procedure provided in the Standards for Maintenance of Certification.
   

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