The development of health information careers plays an important role in modern society, and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is one of the professional organizations that establishes the required standards. AHIMA introduces several educational programs to enhance health care progress. There are eight certifications, with specific eligibility requirements and specifications:
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
- Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P)
- Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
- Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP)
- Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA)
- Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS).
Each certification has its peculiarities, and every applicant needs to be aware of them to make the correct choice and understand what is expected and what may be achieved with time.
After analyzing the information offered by the AHIMA on its official website, several evident similarities and differences of all qualifications may be revealed. First, all the applications should meet at least one of several eligibility requirements that differ on the types of certifications. For example, CCA, CDS, and CDS-P need at least six months of coding experience or completion of an AHIMA-approved program (“Certified coding associate,” n.d.; “Certified coding specialist,” n.d.; “Certified coding specialist – Physician-based,” n.d.). If a person wants to join RHIT or RHIA programs, they must be enrolled in their last term or have already completed the course (“Registered health information technician,” n.d.; “Registered health information administrator,” n.d.).
CDIP, CHDA, and CHPS have the highest standards because applications should hold a specific associate’s or high-level degree (“Certified documentation improvement practitioners,” n.d.; “Certified health data analyst,” n.d.; “Certified in healthcare privacy and security, n.d.). Member prices also depend on the type of accreditation, but all of them are within the limit between $299 and $329.
Another important characteristic of the chosen certification is the way of how exams are organized. On the one hand, all candidates, regardless of the program, should be ready for a computer-based exam that consists of professionally developed questions. On the other hand, each qualification has specific time limits and differs in the number of questions. The minimal amount of questions are for the CCA group, the members of which have two hours for completion (“Certified coding associate,” n.d.). Several groups (RGIT, CHDA, and CHPS) have 3.5 hours to answer from 130-1160 questions. CCS, CCS-P, and RHIA applicants are allowed to spend four hours, with the maximum number of questions – 200 (for RHIA). Although these differences may be insignificant, some students need to know their opportunities and get themselves prepared for the exam.
All specialty certifications have recommendations but hardly strict requirements, and a student may be trained through the chosen programs to improve their experience (e.g., additional years in clinical facilities or degrees in security management or healthcare privacy). CCA, CCS, and CCS-P certifications prove the development of skills in working with medical data, analyzing patient records, and integrating coding systems. People with CDIP, CHDA, and CHPS demonstrate competency in designing and implementing various programs to improve and protect privacy issues. RHIA and RHIT qualifications allow using classification systems to verify medical records.
Each qualification that AHIMA approves is a unique opportunity for a student to enhance knowledge and become a real expert in the field of health informatics. Differences in financial aspects and exam content cannot be ignored, but all certifications are organized in the same manner, and it is possible to predict complications or obligations for achieving the best results. New practices and contributions are the benefits of any program, and AHIMA succeeds at creating the best conditions for its applicants.
References
Certified coding associate. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.
Certified coding specialist. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.
Certified coding specialist – Physician-based. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.
Certified documentation improvement practitioners. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.
Certified health data analyst. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.
Certified in healthcare privacy and security. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.
Registered health information technician. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.
Registered health information administrator. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.