The Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) Certification
The CPHIMS certification is the virtually the certification for healthcare information and management systems professionals. Many organizations require candidates have this certification and are encouraging existing employees to obtain the certification. The exam covers the following nine domains and three sections:
What are the benefits of becoming CPHIMS certified?
Professional certification can be found in almost every industry today and certification has found its way into almost every industry for a reason: It helps advance the profession. Certification helps employers evaluate potential new hires, analyze job performance, evaluate employees, select contractors, market services, and motivate employees to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Certification provides employers with evidence that the certificate holder has demonstrated a certain level of job-related knowledge, skills and abilities. It provides a documented level of assurance that employees are competent in work practices. CPHIMS provides concrete, public evidence that the organization is staffed with people who know what they are doing and is competitive in comparison of quality services.
Passing the CPHIMS examination demonstrates mastery of a well-defined body of knowledge considered important to competent practice in today's healthcare information and management systems field. You will know that you have met the highest standards of practice and are among the elite in a critical field of healthcare management. Upon passing the examination, HIMSS offers to contact your employer to make him/her aware of this prestigious accomplishment.
CPHIMS certification is fast becoming an industry standard by which individuals are assessed for new positions or promotion.
What does CPHIMS certification involve?
The CPHIMS certification program conducted by HIMSS has three components:
An individual who meets eligibility requirements and successfully completes the CPHIMS examination is awarded certification. Start the process by downloading the Candidate Handbook and Application from the HIMSS web site (www.himss.org/getcertified).
What is required to take the CPHIMS examination?
Eligibility requirements include a blend of education and healthcare information and management experience. Requirements are meant to profile the individual who is likely to be successful on the examination, not be a barrier to participation.
To be eligible for the CPHIMS examination, a candidate must fulfill one of the following requirements for education and work experience.
*Associated information and management systems experience includes experience in administration, management, clinical information systems, e-health, information systems, or management engineering.
What is tested on the CPHIMS examination?
The CPHIMS examination tests tasks that, through a job analysis, were identified as being performed regularly in practice and important to competent practice. The CPHIMS Content Outline groups tasks to be tested into major content categories, and provides the number of items dedicated to each category. The outline also contains the number of test items dedicated to testing recall or recognition of facts, comprehension or application of knowledge, and analysis or synthesis of information used to problem-solve. The CPHIMS examination consists of 115 multiple-choice test items, presented during a 2-hour test session. Fifteen of these items are "pretest" items that do not affect your score.
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How can I obtain a CPHIMS Candidate Handbook?
The CPHIMS Candidate Handbook is available by downloading a .PDF copy from the HIMSS web site, or by e-mailing certification@himss.org.
How do I study for the CPHIMS examination? Is a practice test available?
Successful candidates suggest that study should begin with review of the CPHIMS examination content outline to identify those tasks for which your knowledge level is not particularly strong.
The online Self-Assessment Examination (SAE), or practice test, is currently available for CPHIMS candidates. This practice test was developed by HIMSS to simulate the CPHIMS certification examination in content, cognitive level, difficulty and format. After taking the SAE, you will receive valuable, pragmatic feedback in detailed score reports. For information on how to purchase the CPHIMS SAE, visit www.himss.org/getcertified.
How often is the CPHIMS examination administered? Where is it administered?
The CPHIMS examination is administered continuously throughout the year at computer test sites throughout the world. Testing is scheduled twice daily, Monday through Saturday (except major holidays), so you are able to test where you wish and when you are prepared. Locations of test sites and directions to each site are available on the HIMSS web site.
On occasion, examinations are offered in a group setting either by laptop or paper-and-pencil format. For example, the Annual HIMSS Conference and Exhibition, AsiaPac Conference & Exhibition, or World of Health IT. Additionally, HIMSS Chapters, Corporate Members, Organizational Members or other associated partners, may sponsor special group administrations. Dates of scheduled special administrations and deadlines for receipt of applications are available from the HIMSS web site.
How do I apply for the CPHIMS examination? Can I apply online?
For computer tests at an assessment center, complete the application online by visiting www.goAMP.com. For special group administrations mentioned above, a special form is required. Contact certification@himss.org for information on applying for a special administration.
How long do I have to wait to find out whether I passed the CPHIMS examination?
If you test on computer, you receive a score report indicating your pass/fail status at the conclusion of the test session. If you take a paper-and-pencil examination, your score report is mailed approximately 6-8 weeks after the test date.
For those who pass the CPHIMS examination, HIMSS recognizes certified status with a certificate, a certification pin, an employer notification form, a sample press release and information on renewing and maintaining certified status.
What score do I need to pass the CPHIMS examination? How many individuals are certified?
The minimum passing score is the minimum number of correct answers (out of 100 scored test items) needed to pass the CPHIMS examination. The score report indicates a “Pass” or a “Fail.” The raw score or number of correct answers, on the total examination determines Pass/Fail status. Additional detail is provided in the form of raw scores by major content categories of the CPHIMS examination content outline.
Different editions of the CPHIMS examinations are equated to ensure that a candidate is not penalized by taking a slightly more difficult edition of the examination. Equated examinations may have different minimum passing scores, but the equating procedure ensures that the levels of candidate knowledge are equivalent across editions.
For information on the current pass rate, average scores and other statistics for the CPHIMS examination, please visit www.himss.org/getcertified.
What if I fail the CPHIMS examination? How often can I take it?
There is no limit to the number of times you may attempt the CPHIMS examination. Each attempt requires an application and full examination fee.
What is required to maintain my certification status?
Certification must be renewed every three years to maintain status. Renewal involves either retaking and passing the CPHIMS examination or participating in 45 contact hours of continuing professional education. Specific provisions related to renewal are contained in the Renewal Requirements documents, available from the HIMSS web site.
Thank you for your interest, which illustrates your commitment to your own professional development and to advancing the profession.
Be recognized for your knowledge and skills; apply to become a CPHIMS today!
