The exams are open to grads of the six-month training programs
as well as working professionals with healthcare or IT experience.
Niederpruem notes that the exams do not lead to a certification.
“Passing the exam is different from a certification, a more extensive process that typically results in credentials being listed
after one’s name and involves ongoing maintenance and/or
renewal requirements,” Niederpruem says. “Certification also
typically requires or recommends relevant professional experience.
“In contrast, both newcomers and experienced professionals
can sit for the HIT Pro exams, and there are no ongoing mainte-
nance or renewal requirements.”
Baseline competency has not yet been determined. “We are
using actual exams completed to determine the level of compe-
tency,” Wong explains. “Once we have a sufficient sample size
for each exam, we’ll be able to calculate the pass/fail level.”
Expectations for Advancement
So far one of the biggest challenges for the exam program has
been generating awareness within the health IT community. In
an effort to jump-start the program and get experienced workers
into the field, ONC subsidized the HIT Pro exams in the months
following their launch, making them available to eligible candi-
dates at no cost.
AHA Coding Clinic Audio Conference Series
Presented by AHA Central Office — the official U.S. Clearinghouse on medical coding for the proper use of the ICD-9-CM classification
Join us for this upcoming live broadcast...
AHA Coding Clinic
2011 Review, Part 2
Friday, November 18, 2011
Delve deeper into key topic areas from
Third and Fourth Quarter 2011 Coding Clinic issues
Who Should Attend
• HIM Directors
• Coding Managers
• Coding Professionals
Presenters
• Nelly Leon-Chisen, RHIA
American Hospital Association
• Anita Rapier, RHIT, CCS
American Hospital Association
• Gretchen Young-Charles, RHIA
American Hospital Association
The only official clearinghouse for information on the
proper use of ICD-9-CM codes, level I HCPCS (CPT- 4 codes)
for hospital providers and certain level II HCPCS codes for
hospitals, physicians and other health professionals
www.ahacentraloffice.org
