Have you read the requirements for a coding position recently or an HIM Specialist only to discover the requirements include a minimum of a 2-year degree along with credentials and several years of experience? This can be discouraging to recent graduates with a HIM degree or to others simply looking to make a career change. Maybe your desired position is to work remotely or you’ve seen several job posts looking for an Inpatient Coder almost daily which has peaked your interest. In most cases, hospitals do require several years of experience, a degree, and a coding credential in order to meet eligibility requirements to obtain a job as a Medical Coder. Typically a coding assessment is required as a pre-hire screen as well.
If you’re considering becoming a Certified Coding Specialist or a Certified Coding Associate in order to obtain a Medical Coding position, looking at the credentials offered can help you determine how to achieve your next goal. There are several differences between the various credentials to consider. Below I have provided a short overview of just a few of the credentials provided by AHIMA. I also have provided a link below that will get you to AHIMA’s website for more information. Each credential has different eligibility requirements along with certain fees that you can learn more about on AHIMA’s website linked below. For several years the AHIMA credentials are some of the most highly sought after credentials among HIM professionals worldwide.
American Health Information Management Association Credentials
Registered Health Information Technician
The RHIT credential has a requirement of a 2-year degree from an accredited HIM program to be eligible for this exam. RHITs are highly skilled Health Information professionals that can work in various medical settings handling ROI, Medical Records, Coding, Auditing, and some management positions as well. Obtaining your 2-year degree by an accredited university is only the start of this exciting career path. The RHIT credential can open many opportunities in healthcare for entry level and for seasoned professionals that have recently changed careers or are looking to make a change. This is often the pathway to later obtaining a 4-year HIM degree to be eligible for the RHIA credential.
Registered Health Information Administrator
The RHIA credential requires a 4-year degree from an accredited university in a HIM program. RHIA’s are considered expert level HIM professionals with the ability to handle executive level management and oversight within various settings in the healthcare field. RHIAs are typically experts in managing all aspects of Health Information and Privacy with regards to patient medical records.
Certified Coding Associate
The CCA credential does not require a 2-year degree and it is an excellent entry level achievement to show proficiency and skill level in Medical Coding. There are some employers that will hire Medical Coders with a CCA credential and with a commitment of acquiring the CCS credential within an allotted time frame after hire. This allows the Medical Coder not only to begin working as a Coder but also to obtain on-the-job experience, which will provide experience when it is time for the CCS exam.
Certified Coding Specialist
The CCS credential is one of the most highly sought after by Health Information professionals and Coders. A 2-year degree is not required to obtain this credential however, if you are already an RHIT, RHIA or CCS-P you’re eligible to take this exam. The CCS exam is notoriously known as one of the hardest credentialing exams provided in the field of Medical Coding. Most experienced coders who sit for this exam admit that it is extremely difficult. I don’t recommend attempting this exam until you’ve have several years of coding experience. Most hospitals require a CCS credential and 2-5 years of experience to be eligible for an Inpatient Coding position.
Certified Coding Specialist- Physician Based
The CCS-P credential does not require a 2-year degree and you’re eligible for this exam if you currently hold a RHIT, RHIA or CCS credential. The CCS-P exam covers Physician based coding using ICD-10-CM and CPT rather than ICD-10-PCS. It is highly recommend to have two or more years of experience coding Physician based records before attempting this exam. There is a stark difference between PCS coding and CPT coding along with HCPCs and modifiers.
Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner
The CDIP credential requires a 2-year degree or hold a RHIT, RHIA, CCS, or CCS-P credential to be eligible for this exam. This exam is extremely difficult as well and it is recommended that you have at least 2 years of experience as a CDIS prior to attempting the exam. This requires extensive clinical documentation knowledge and how it relates to the integrity of the patient record.
There are additional credentials that you can obtain as well. I’ve provided a link below to the official website for AHIMA. I encourage you to check out all of the various options. AHIMA provides helpful career tools as well as a career search that provides job openings. I highly recommend checking out their entire site to learn about Health Information. The value of earning a HIM related credential from AHIMA can’t be overstated. Check out my “About Me” page to learn how AHIMA impacted my life and career.
For more information on certification visit AHIMA’s website linked below.
https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certification-exams/
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