Taking the Examination

On The Day of the Examination

The staff at Prometric adheres to designated procedures to ensure the assessment center’s operation meets AHIMA’s criteria for standardized testing. Review the following information before your examination administration to become familiar with the procedures.

1. Plan to arrive at the testing center 30 minutes prior to your appointment time. If you arrive at the testing center 30 minutes after your scheduled appointment, you will not be admitted and you will forfeit your testing fee.
   
   
2. When you arrive at the testing center, you will present your Authorization To Test (ATT) and two forms of identification. You must present a current picture identification that includes your signature and a current second form of identification that includes your signature. (Please refer to the “Identification Requirements” section below for specific details.)
   
   
3. After your identification has been approved and check-in completed, you will be directed to the examination room and assigned to a testing station. You will have a digital photograph taken. Your photograph will be displayed on your computer during the administration and be printed on your score report.
   
   
4. The Test Center Administrator (TCA) will provide you with a pencil and scratch paper for use during the examination. This paper must be returned to the TCA at the completion of examination or you will not receive a score report.

Identification Requirements

The identification (ID) requirements to be admitted to the testing center consist of a primary form of ID that contains both your signature and a recent photograph of you, and a secondary form of ID that contains your signature. The printed name on both your primary and secondary forms of ID should be the same as the name that appears on your application. (please refer to the following for Acceptable ID Discrepancies)

Acceptable forms of primary ID include:

• Valid driver’s license with photograph and signature
• Valid state ID card with photograph and signature
• Valid government ID card with photograph and signature(e.g. Military ID Card)
• Valid passport with photograph and signature

Acceptable forms of secondary ID include:

• Valid credit card with printed name signature
• Student ID card with printed name signature
• Employee ID card with printed name signature

The following are examples of Unacceptable forms of ID:

• Expired Driver’s License or Passport
• Social Security Card
• Library Card
• Marriage Certificate
• Voter’s Registration Card
• Club Membership Cards
• Public Aid Card
• Temporary Drivers License
• Video Club Membership Cards
• Traffic Citation (Arrest Ticket)
• Fishing or Hunting License

If you do not have acceptable forms of ID, you will not be allowed to test. You will be able to reschedule your testing appointment within your eligibility period.

Security

AHIMA and Prometric maintain test administration and test security standards that are designed to ensure that all candidates are provided the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and to prevent any candidates from gaining an unfair advantage over others due to testing irregularities or misconduct. Testing Centers will be continuously monitored by audio and video surveillance equipment for security purposes.

Misconduct

Individuals who engage in any of the following conduct may be dismissed from the test administration and their scores will not be reported. Examples of misconduct are when a candidate:

• Uses electronic communications equipment such as PDAs, pagers, cellular phones;
• Gives or receives help during the examination or is suspected of doing so;
• Attempts to take the examination for someone else;
• Uses notes, books (excluding coding books required for the CCA examination), or other aids;
• Removes, or attempts to remove scratch paper or examination materials from the assessment center; or
• Creates a disturbance, is abusive, or otherwise uncooperative.

Testing Irregularities

Unlike cases of individual candidate misconduct, occasionally testing irregularities occur that affect a group of test takers. Such problems include, without limitation, administrative errors, defective equipment or materials, improper access to test content and/or the unauthorized general availability of test content, as well as, other disruptions of test administrations (e.g. natural disasters and other emergencies.) When testing irregularities occur, Prometric will conduct an investigation to provide information to AHIMA. Based on this information, AHIMA may direct either not to score the test or to cancel the test score. When it is appropriate to do so, AHIMA will arrange with Prometric to give affected test takers the opportunity to take the test again as soon as possible, without charge. Affected test takers will be notified of the reasons for the cancellation and their options for retaking the test. Any appeal process does not apply to testing irregularities.

Cancellation Due to Inclement Weather or Other Emergencies

In the event of bad weather, natural disasters, or other unforeseen emergencies on the day of the examination, AHIMA and Prometric will determine whether circumstances warrant the cancellation, and subsequent rescheduling, of an examination at a particular Testing Center. The examination will usually not be rescheduled if the TCA is able to open the Testing Center.

Every attempt will be made to administer all examinations as scheduled. However, should an examination be cancelled at an Testing Center, all scheduled candidates will be contacted about rescheduling their examinations.

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