The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is widely recognized for the value of its respective credentials due to their longevity, legacy, rigor and recognition of practitioner competence. Specifically, a recent AHIMA survey showed that employers in the health care field place high value on certification. In hiring, 68 percent of employers report choosing a credentialed candidate over one who is not, and 53 percent consider credentials when promoting employees over equally skilled and experienced workers. Credentialed employees are rewarded financially too, with 67 percent of respondents reporting they earn more than their non-credentialed peers.

AHIMA, in collaboration with the Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management (CCHIIM), assures the quality, validity, reliability and relevancy on a continuous basis. This commitment to excellence also optimizes the candidate experience, and a primary example of this is the availability of "on-demand" testing.

All AHIMA certification examinations are available "on-demand" in a computer-based testing format through Prometric Testing centers worldwide. The ability to test "on-demand" allows candidates to select the best date, time and location that works best with their respective preparation plan.

Applying for AHIMA certification exams can be done either through regular mail or online at: https://secure.ahima.org/certification/exams/

All candidates applying for an AHIMA certification exam must submit all required information, fees and documentation (transcripts, resume or other documentation) before their applications will be processed.

After applications are processed by AHIMA, Prometric will send the candidate an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter. The ATT letter contains an authorization number, the eligibility period start and end date for testing, identification requirements (described in further detail later in this article) and instructions for scheduling an appointment. Candidates may schedule their appointment at anytime within their eligibility window. All candidates receive a 4-month window of eligibility to schedule and take their respective exam.

Candidates schedule the date, time and location for their exam directly through Prometric. For more information on Prometric Test Centers, or to register for an exam, please visit: www.prometric.com/ahima

Candidates can also register for an exam by calling Prometric, toll-free, at: (800) 813-6779

Before Examination Day
Study, study, study! AHIMA exams are challenging, and inadequate preparation minimizes your chances for success. Please visit the AHIMA Web site and follow the links to certification for the recommended study and exam prep resources for your exam of interest.

For AHIMA coding exam candidates, please verify you have the CORRECT books! The AHIMA certified coding associate (CCA), certified coding specialist (CCS), and CCS-P (physician-based) coding certification exams allow candidates to bring their coding books with them to facilitate the testing experience. However, one of the most common mistakes candidates make is that they bring books that are expired or do not appear on the list of approved coding books. To confirm your books can be brought into the testing center, please visit: http://www.ahima.org/certification/index.asp

You can also talk to a representative of the AHIMA customer relations team by calling toll-free: (800) 335-5535

Finally, before you show up at the testing center, please make sure you have valid forms of your primary and secondary identification. Another common mistake made by candidates is they only bring one form of identification, or the identification they do bring is not an approved form of identification. Candidates without the appropriate forms of identification will not be allowed to test and will forfeit their application fee!

On Examination Day
Prometric staff adheres to all AHIMA's approved testing criteria and procedures. Please review the following information prior to the testing date to ensure familiarity with the procedures.

Plan to arrive at the test center AT LEAST 30 minutes before your scheduled exam appointment.

Candidates that arrive 30 minutes or more AFTER their scheduled exam appointment will NOT be allowed to test and will forfeit their testing fee.