AAHAM Certification Overview

Why earn an AAHAM certification? AAHAM certification is an investment in your personal growth and your professional future. For over forty years, AAHAM’s elite certification program has set the standard of excellence in patient financial services and the revenue cycle. It doesn’t matter whether you are new to the healthcare revenue cycle or are a seasoned veteran, our family of AAHAM certification examinations offer a complete career ladder beginning with the Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist and culminating with the Certified Revenue Cycle Executive. We have a certification that will help advance your career. Plus the learning doesn’t stop once you have obtained certification. Our certifications are maintained through a continuous education process. We are all responsible for our own career advancement, earning an AAHAM certification is an essential proactive step in maximizing your knowledge and earning potential in the healthcare revenue cycle industry. Taking the initiative to enhance your career has the potential for substantial benefits for years to come.

How does certification benefit an individual? Earning an AAHAM certification demonstrates a high level of achievement and distinguishes you as a leader and role model in the revenue cycle industry. The certification validates your proficiency and commitment to your profession and can play an integral role in your career strategy. In many instances certification may help you secure the promotion or the job you desire. Earning certification can help you by:  Improving your earning potential  Giving you a competitive advantage with current and prospective employers  Granting you the recognition you deserve        Providing access to the positions and promotions you seek and desire  Building a network of peers in the influential group that shares your certification designation  Continuing to expand your skills and expertise through continuing education

Free Exam Prep Webinars Starting in 2017, AAHAM is pleased to offer free exam preparation webinars for all certification levels, this is a great opportunity to be coached by AAHAM’s experienced certification experts. Specific dates and registration details will be posted at http://www.aaham.org/ as soon as they are available.

AAHAM Exams AAHAM certification exams are offered in March, July, and November of each year. Each exam cycle has a two week testing period which includes a Saturday. All exams are administered online and are proctored in order to protect the integrity of the exams. Our local chapters work with examinees locally to set them up with a proctor & coordinate convenient testing dates & locations with them.

AAHAM Certification Options Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist (CRCS) Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP) Certified Revenue Cycle Executive (CRCE)  Certified Revenue Integrity Professional (CRIP) Certified Compliance Technician (CCT)

Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist (CRCS) – Intended Audience The CRCS exam is intended for revenue cycle staff with responsibilities in patient access, billing, account resolution, denial management, collections, cash posting, customer service, and self-pay collections. The exam focuses on knowledge required in revenue cycle functional areas including registration (front desk), billing, and credit & collections.

Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist (CRCS) – Costs & Preparation The CRCS exam is very affordably priced at $100. A downloadable study outline is included in the CRCS exam fee. A study manual is also available for purchase for $99. The manual is designed to assist you in studying for the CRCS with material targeted and geared toward exam questions. It features knowledge checks (practice questions) to help gauge your progress. Training and coaching opportunities are offered by local AAHAM chapters.

Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist (CRCS) – Exam Format AAHAM offers two CRCS certifications; The CRCS-I is focused on the revenue cycle within an institutional (hospital, health system) environment, CRCS-P is focused on the revenue cycle in a professional (physician, clinic) environment. Both versions have three sections covering patient access, billing, and credit and collections. There are 120 multiple choice questions, there is a two hour time limit to complete the exam.

Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP) – Intended Audience The CRCP exam is intended for all supervisors and managers in the revenue cycle industry, to help equip you to effectively manage key aspects of the revenue cycle. This certification requires in-depth knowledge functional areas including registration (front desk), billing, credit & collections and revenue cycle management. CRCP exams are available to National AAHAM members.

Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP) – Costs & Preparation The CRCP exam fee is $199, a downloadable study outline is included in the CRCP exam fee. A study manual is also available for purchase for $199. The manual is designed to assist you in studying for the CRCP with material targeted and geared toward exam questions. It features knowledge checks (practice questions) to help gauge your progress. Training and coaching opportunities are offered by local AAHAM chapters.

Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP) – Exam Format AAHAM offers two CRCP certifications; The CRCP-I is focused on the revenue cycle within an institutional (hospital, health system) environment, CRCP-P is focused on the revenue cycle in a professional (physician, clinic) environment. Both versions have four sections covering patient access, billing, credit and collections, and revenue cycle management. There are 240 multiple choice questions, there is a four hour time limit to complete the exam.

Certified Revenue Cycle Executive (CRCE) – Intended Audience The CRCE exam is intended for all senior/executive leaders in the revenue cycle industry, to help equip you for strategic management of the business.  This certification possesses the highest level of difficulty combining content knowledge of the business with critical thinking and communication skills. The Executive Revenue Cycle Certification demonstrates a high level of achievement and distinguishes you as a leader and role model in the revenue cycle industry.

Certified Revenue Cycle Executive (CRCE) – Costs & Preparation The CRCE exam fee is $299, a downloadable study outline is included in the CRCE exam fee. A study manual is also available for purchase for $279. The manual is designed to assist you in studying for the CRCE with material targeted and geared toward exam questions. It features knowledge checks (practice questions) to help gauge your progress. Training and coaching opportunities are offered by local AAHAM chapters.

Certified Revenue Cycle Executive (CRCE) – Exam Format AAHAM offers two CRCE certifications; The CRCE-I is focused on the revenue cycle within an institutional (hospital, health system) environment, CRCE-P is focused on the revenue cycle in a professional (physician, clinic) environment. Both versions have four sections covering patient access, billing, credit and collections, and revenue cycle management. There are 180 questions in multiple-choice, fill in the blank, short answer, essay, and quantitative formats. There is an eight hour time limit to complete the exam.

Climbing the AAHAM Certification Ladder The CRCS, CRCP, & CRCE Exams are three distinct levels of certification, each level builds on the knowledge gained starting with CRCS and working ultimately to the CRCE certification for those interested in pursuing the next level in their career path.  Discounts are also offered as incentives to move up the certification ladder. Anyone that earns a certification is eligible for a $50 discount off the CRCE exam fee, and $50 off the CRCE study manual. The CRCP exam is $25 off and $25 off the CRCP study manual. These discounts are valid for one year of the original certification earned date.

AAHAM Dual Certifications Anyone who currently holds a CRCS, CRCP or CRCE certification is eligible to earn a dual certification. The dual certification designation certifies individuals on both the Institutional, (hospital, health system) & Professional, (physician, clinic) sides. The dual exams are both shorter & less expensive than the full exam. With the ever changing revenue cycle environment it is becoming increasingly the standard to be a revenue cycle leader in both the facility and physician landscapes. Having a dual certification demonstrates a well-rounded expertise in all aspects of the revenue cycle.

Certified Revenue Integrity Professional (CRIP) – Intended Audience The CRIP exam is intended for anyone in the revenue cycle industry to help ensure that facilities effectively manage their charge master, and bill and document appropriately for all services rendered to a patient. This certification requires an in-depth, working knowledge of various revenue cycle areas and proper skill sets needed to increase revenue and reimbursement for facilities. It also ensures that proper charging takes place within the insurance payer programs.

Certified Revenue Integrity Professional (CRIP) – Costs & Preparation The CRIP exam fee is $199, a downloadable study outline is included in the CRIP exam fee. A study manual is also available for purchase for $199. The manual is designed to assist you in studying for the CRIP with material targeted and geared toward exam questions. It features knowledge checks (practice questions) to help gauge your progress. Training and coaching opportunities are offered by local AAHAM chapters.

Certified Revenue Integrity Professional (CRIP) – Exam Format The CRIP exam has 4 sections; 1. Overall Review of Charge Capture 2. Ancillary Services 3. Surgical Services and Procedures 4. Recurring Outpatients and Clinical Services There are 240 multiple choice questions, there is a four hour time limit to complete the exam.

Certified Compliance Technician (CCT) – Intended Audience This exam is intended for all revenue cycle staff who must meet employers’ annual compliance training requirements. In today’s healthcare environment, compliance is of the utmost importance. Regardless of what role you have in the revenue cycle, understanding compliance is a necessity. You can use your CCT Certification towards satisfying Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), The Joint Commission (TJC) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Requirements

Certified Compliance Technician (CCT) – Costs & Preparation The CCT exam fee is $100, a downloadable study outline is included in the CCT exam fee. A study manual is also available for purchase for $99. The manual is designed to assist you in studying for the CCT with material targeted and geared toward exam questions. It features knowledge checks (practice questions) to help gauge your progress. Training and coaching opportunities are offered by local AAHAM chapters.

Certified Compliance Technician (CCT) – Exam Format The CCT exam has 4 sections; 1. The seven elements of a healthcare compliance plan 2. Agencies that oversee healthcare compliance 3. Knowledge of the Office of Inspector General compliance recommendations 4. Non-compliance penalties There are 80 multiple choice questions, there is a 90 minute time limit to complete the exam.

AAHAM Exam Calendar April 17, 2017 Registration deadline for July 2017 Exam Period July 10-21, 2017 July 2017 Exam Period August 15, 2017 Registration deadline for November 2017 Exam Period November 6-17, 2017 November 2017 Exam Period

Maintaining your Certification The CRCS & CCT certifications are valid for three years The CRCP, CRIP, & CRCE certifications are valid for two years Certifications can be maintained through earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in a variety of ways; attending meetings, webinars, trainings, etc. Membership in AAHAM is required to recertify using CEUs. The second option is to retest every 2-3 years, depending on your certification type.

Online CEU Reporting AAHAM is pleased to offer online CEU reporting, which streamlines the reporting process for individuals. Certified members can also check on the status of their CEUs anytime at http://www.aaham.org/

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