Pass Your AHIMA Certification Exams

What are AHIMA Certifications?

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) certifications are prestigious credentials for health information management (HIM) professionals, medical coders, data analysts, privacy officers, and clinical documentation specialists. Founded in 1928, AHIMA is the premier professional organization for health information management with over 100,000 members globally. AHIMA certifications validate expertise in managing patient health information, medical coding, health data analytics, privacy and security compliance (HIPAA), electronic health records, revenue cycle management, and clinical documentation improvement. HIM professionals ensure healthcare data quality, accessibility, security, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

AHIMA offers certifications at multiple levels from entry-level coding and HIM credentials to advanced specialist certifications. Core certifications include RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator - bachelor's degree level), RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician - associate degree level), CCS (Certified Coding Specialist - hospital inpatient coding), and CCS-P (Certified Coding Specialist-Physician based - outpatient/physician coding). Specialty certifications include CDIP (Clinical Documentation Integrity Practitioner), CHDA (Certified Health Data Analyst), CHPS (Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security), CPHI (Certified Professional in Health Informatics), and CAHIMS (Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems).

AHIMA certifications are highly valued with strong salary benefits. RHIAs earn average salaries of $65,000-$95,000, with HIM directors earning $85,000-$120,000+. RHITs earn $45,000-$65,000. CCS-certified hospital coders earn $50,000-$72,000, significantly higher than entry-level coders. CDIP specialists earn $60,000-$85,000. CHDA professionals earn $65,000-$90,000. Healthcare organizations prioritize AHIMA-certified professionals for HIM departments, coding positions, compliance roles, and data analytics teams recognizing the rigorous knowledge and competency requirements for certification.

Key AHIMA Certification Paths

RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator)

RHIA is AHIMA's advanced professional credential requiring a bachelor's degree from a CAHIIM-accredited Health Information Management program. The exam contains 160 multiple-choice questions completed in 3.5 hours testing comprehensive HIM knowledge across six domains. RHIA professionals manage HIM departments, oversee coding and compliance, implement EHR systems, ensure data quality and security, and serve in senior healthcare administration roles. The credential validates expertise in healthcare data management, health informatics, information systems, coding and reimbursement, compliance, privacy and security, leadership, and management.

Content includes Data Content, Structure, and Standards (20% covering health record content, data quality, health informatics standards, clinical vocabularies, health data content standards), Information Protection (25% covering privacy regulations HIPAA, state laws, security management, access controls, breach management, release of information), Informatics, Analytics, and Data Use (20% covering health data analytics, research and decision support, data visualization, EHR optimization), Revenue Cycle Management (20% covering reimbursement methodologies Medicare/Medicaid, chargemaster management, compliance, coding management), and Compliance (10% covering regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, compliance auditing, corporate compliance programs), and Leadership (5% covering organizational management, strategic planning, human resources). Passing score is scaled with cut score around 70%. RHIAs work as HIM directors, compliance officers, data governance officers, informatics specialists, privacy officers, and consultants earning $60,000-$110,000, with directors at large health systems earning $95,000-$135,000.

RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician)

RHIT is AHIMA's technical credential requiring an associate degree from a CAHIIM-accredited HIM program. The exam contains 150 questions completed in 3.5 hours testing technical HIM competencies across similar domains as RHIA but at technical rather than managerial level. RHIT professionals work in HIM departments managing health records, coding supervision, data quality, release of information, cancer registry, birth certificate completion, and technical HIM functions. RHITs often supervise coding staff, manage ROI departments, coordinate chart completion, and ensure compliance with documentation requirements.

Content domains mirror RHIA but emphasize technical application: Data Content, Structure, and Standards (25%), Information Protection (25%), Informatics, Analytics, and Data Use (20%), Revenue Cycle Management (20%), and Compliance (10%). Questions test practical application of HIM principles including managing record completion, coding compliance, privacy request processing, data quality monitoring, and EHR documentation standards. Passing score is scaled around 70%. RHITs work as HIM coordinators, coding supervisors, cancer registrars, release of information specialists, and data quality analysts earning $42,000-$62,000, with experienced supervisors earning $52,000-$72,000.

CCS (Certified Coding Specialist)

CCS certification validates advanced hospital inpatient coding expertise using ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT codes. The exam contains 94 multiple-choice questions and 6 medical record coding exercises completed in 4 hours. Unlike AAPC's CPC which focuses on physician/outpatient coding, CCS emphasizes complex inpatient coding including MS-DRG assignment, inpatient procedures, complications and comorbidities, present on admission (POA) indicators, and sequencing for hospital reimbursement. CCS professionals must master ICD-10-PCS procedural coding (unique to inpatient settings) with extensive anatomy knowledge and surgical procedure comprehension.

Content includes medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology (15%), clinical classification systems (25% covering ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS), reimbursement methodologies (20% covering MS-DRG grouping, APCs, value-based payment), health records and data content (10%), compliance and regulatory requirements (15%), and information technologies and data analytics (5%). The 6 medical record exercises require assigning complete code sets to complex inpatient cases including operative reports, discharge summaries, and consultation notes. Passing score is scaled. CCS professionals work in hospital coding departments, coding companies, coding consulting firms, and remote inpatient coding positions earning $48,000-$70,000, with senior coders at academic medical centers earning $62,000-$82,000.

CDIP (Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner)

CDIP certification validates expertise in clinical documentation improvement (CDI) - ensuring physician documentation accurately reflects patient severity, clinical complexity, and services provided to support accurate coding, appropriate reimbursement, and quality measure reporting. The exam contains 115 questions completed in 2.5 hours testing clinical knowledge, coding guidelines, physician query development, documentation standards, and CDI program management. CDIP professionals (typically registered nurses, certified coders, or health information professionals) review inpatient records concurrently, identify documentation gaps, and work with physicians to improve documentation specificity.

Content includes clinical documentation improvement process (25% covering CDI workflows, documentation review, query development, physician engagement), healthcare record documentation (30% covering documentation standards, medical necessity, clinical indicators, regulatory requirements), coding and coding guidelines (25% covering ICD-10-CM/PCS coding principles, DRG impact, complication identification), healthcare reimbursement (15% covering MS-DRG methodology, quality reporting, risk adjustment), and data analytics and management (5% covering CDI metrics, dashboards, program evaluation). Applicants must possess clinical healthcare experience or coding certification. CDIP professionals work in hospital CDI departments, consulting firms, and remote CDI positions earning $58,000-$82,000, with CDI managers earning $75,000-$95,000.

CHDA (Certified Health Data Analyst)

CHDA certification validates expertise in health data analytics including data management, statistical analysis, data visualization, healthcare analytics applications, and data-driven decision support. The exam contains 115 questions completed in 2.5 hours testing data analytics competencies, statistical methods, database management, data governance, and healthcare analytics applications. CHDA professionals transform healthcare data into actionable insights supporting quality improvement, population health management, value-based care initiatives, and strategic decision-making.

Content includes data management (25% covering database design, data integration, data quality, data warehousing), data analytics (30% covering descriptive and inferential statistics, predictive analytics, data mining techniques), data visualization and reporting (20% covering dashboard development, data presentation, executive reporting), healthcare statistics and research (15% covering epidemiology, research design, biostatistics), and healthcare environment (10% covering healthcare delivery systems, regulations, quality measures). Applicants should have strong analytical skills and data management experience. CHDA professionals work as healthcare data analysts, business intelligence analysts, population health analysts, and analytics consultants earning $60,000-$88,000, with senior analysts earning $75,000-$100,000.

CHPS (Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security)

CHPS certification validates expertise in healthcare privacy regulations (HIPAA Privacy Rule), security requirements (HIPAA Security Rule), breach notification, patient rights, access controls, and privacy/security program management. The exam contains 115 questions completed in 2.5 hours testing comprehensive privacy and security knowledge. CHPS professionals serve as privacy officers, security officers, compliance specialists ensuring healthcare organizations protect patient health information, comply with HIPAA requirements, and maintain trust with patients regarding information handling.

Content includes healthcare privacy (40% covering HIPAA Privacy Rule, state privacy laws, patient rights, minimum necessary, disclosures, authorizations), healthcare security (30% covering HIPAA Security Rule, administrative/physical/technical safeguards, risk assessment, access controls, encryption), breach notification and incident response (15%), privacy and security program management (10%), and legal and regulatory environment (5%). CHPS professionals work as privacy officers, security officers, HIPAA compliance managers, and health information privacy consultants earning $58,000-$85,000, with chief privacy officers earning $90,000-$130,000.

Why Choose ExamBlaze for AHIMA Certifications

AHIMA exams are extremely challenging with pass rates varying by credential (RHIA 65-75%, RHIT 70-80%, CCS 50-60%, CDIP 70-75%). RHIA/RHIT require completion of accredited degree programs before eligibility. CCS exam's medical record coding exercises are particularly difficult requiring deep coding knowledge and clinical understanding. Adequate preparation requires 150-300+ hours of study using AHIMA exam prep materials, review courses ($300-$800), and practice exams. Exam fees range $229-$399 for AHIMA members ($329-$499 non-members), making failed attempts expensive.

ExamBlaze provides guaranteed passing scores for all AHIMA certifications. Our health information management experts hold multiple AHIMA credentials including RHIA, CCS, CDIP, and specialty certifications with extensive hospital HIM, coding, and CDI experience. We provide real-time assistance during your computer-based AHIMA exam using secure, undetectable methods that work with PSI testing platform. Our experts handle complex inpatient coding scenarios, documentation questions, and regulatory compliance content. Our pay-after-pass model eliminates financial risk - you only pay after receiving your official AHIMA certification. With 350+ successful AHIMA exam completions, we guarantee your certification success.