AHIMA ADVANTAGE
Learn More about the Certification Extension Waiver Process
CERTIFICATION UPDATE s
Sometimes life just happens. AHIMA and CCHIIM understand
there are sometimes situations that result in difficulty meeting
established rules for initial certification and recertification.
These rules are put in place to ensure that anyone holding an
AHIMA certification has demonstrated the knowledge, skills,
and abilities to both initially earn the credential and to stay
current on their knowledge through certification maintenance.
When unforeseeable circumstances arise, there are ways to reach
out to AHIMA and CCHIIM to ask for consideration of a unique
or extremely unusual circumstances.
It is important that certificants ask for these considerations prior
to revocation instead of afterwards, when there is little that can
be done to resolve a situation that has gone too far. Holding
an AHIMA certification is something to be proud of. As an
AHIMA-certified HIM professional, you are representing not
only yourself, but thousands of other HIM professionals, who,
like you, work hard to earn and maintain their credentials. It is
your responsibility to keep track of your recertification cycles.
There are both fees and requirements for specific numbers and
types of continuing education units. It is the responsibility of
certificants to know meet and these requirements.
The recertification process was put in place by the Commission
on Certification for Health Informatics and Information
Management (CCHIIM) to ensure that AHIMA-certified
professionals demonstrate ongoing competence in the domain
areas in which they are certified, through either maintenance or
enhancement activities. This process requires credential holders
to complete educational programs that provide updated training
and skills to allow continued competence in HIIM by earning
the required number of continuing education units (CEUs)
in any of the HIIM domains. While CCHIIM enforces these
standards for all credential holders to maintain their credentials,
CCHIIM understands that unforeseen circumstances may occur.
CCHIIM has a Waiver of CEU Requirements and Extension
process in place to assist credential holders in these instances.
Obtaining a Waiver of CEU Requirements
The Commission may for good cause waive or reduce the CEU
requirement, provided the certificant is in good standing when
the waiver is requested. Certificants may request a temporary
waiver by submitting a written request to the Commission
for consideration. A temporary waiver waives recertification
requirements for a temporary period due to extenuating
circumstances or hardships (for example, financial hardship,
illness, unforeseen circumstances, and natural catastrophes).
Applying for an Exam Eligibility Extension
Requests for an exam eligibility extension must be received
no later than 14 business days from your scheduled exam date
or eligibility end date. Please see the candidate guide for more
information on the Extension Policy.
Please complete the Eligibility Extension Request Form to
apply for an extension.
Candidates may request one 45-day extension for $75
Candidates may then request a second and final extension
for $150 (valid for 30 additional days)
Please note that no additional extensions will be authorized
and all extensions are non-refundable. All candidates requesting
extensions must read and follow the Eligibility Extension Fee
policy outlined in the Candidate Guide located under the
helpful resources heading and available on AHIMA’s website.
The Appeals Process
A final process (the appeals process) is available for individuals
that may have already lost their certification due to not meeting
recertification requirements. The appeals process is costly and
the outcome of the appeals process is unknown. When an appeal
request is denied, the only remaining recourse is to take and
pass the certification exam again. The AHIMA website and your
personal CEU center include valuable and detailed information
that can help ensure that you will never need to ask for a
certification appeal.
AHIMA is proud to be the professional home to over 77,000
HIM certification holders. Each of you are the face of the HIM
profession in your organizations. AHIMA is here to support you
in your efforts to make a difference every day and doing so in a
way that should make you proud of the important work you do. v
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