Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)

Applicants outside the U.S. should visit the  international exam tab.

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-10-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

Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• By Credential: RHIA®, RHIT®, or CCS-P® OR
• By Education: The following courses MUST be completed; 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.

International applicants, please make sure you submit the Global Exam application.

The CCS and CCA certifications are now included as one of the national certifications that may be submitted on the Demographic Information Form (DIF) as part of the data requirements for making application for Magnet Recognition Program® designation. You can view this information on the ANCC/Magnet Recognition Program page here (scroll down to "Selected Examples of National Certifications for Submission on the DIF" and click on the excel link).

Exam Fees

Premier Member Price: $284.05
Member Price: $299
Non-member price: $399

Exam Application Checklist

• Read Candidate Guide
• Apply for exam
  • Register Online
  • Exam Application
  • ADA Application
  • ADA Policy and Procedure
  • ADA Documentation Guidelines
• 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

• 2012 Job Analysis
• Certification Activity Exam Pass Rates
• Recommended Resources
• List of Allowable Code Books

Exam Specifications 

• Multiple Choice Section- The multiple choice section will consist of 97 single response multiple-choice items (79 "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.
• Medical Scenarios – The medical scenarios will consist of 8 scenarios (6 scored/ 2 pre-test); each scenario will have up to three separate questions. They will require candidates to pick from a range of codes/ list to answer each question.
• 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.

The CCS exam is only offered outside the U.S. at specific times during the year. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The exam dates for 2019 are:

• February 1, 2019 – February 28, 2019
• April 1, 2019 – April 30, 2019
• July 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019
• October 15,  2019 – November 30, 2019

Find a Test Center
Exam Preparation Recommended Resources

Directions for Applying for your CCS exam:

1. Applications will only be accepted via fax: 312-233-1500 or email certification@ahima.org
2. Candidates may only test in their country of residence.  For example: If you reside in India you will only be allowed to test at a Pearson VUE test center in India.   Candidates will not be permitted to sit for their exam if they schedule their exam outside of their country of residence and will forfeit their exam fees.
3. Candidates will be given a one year eligibility period due to the limited time given for each exam administration. If a candidate does not use the eligibility the exam fees will be forfeited.
4. Candidates will need to ensure they have the correct codebooks by reviewing the list of allowable codebooks.
5. Candidates must present the correct Primary and Secondary Identification at the time of testing. If the identification is not correct, all exam fees will be forfeited. 
6. Please allow 5 -7 business days for processing of all applications.

After you submit your exam application and your application fee is processed, you will receive an Authorization to Test letter with instruction on how to select your exam appointment. 

CCS Exam Question FAQ

Retest Policy (For testing outside the US only):
Candidates who have taken and failed the examination must wait a minimum of 165 days before your application will be processed. To retake the examination, candidates must resubmit a new application with appropriate exam application fee.