Veterans Frequently Asked Questions About HIMSS Certifications

CAHIMS (Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems) is a new HIMSS health IT certification designed for emerging professionals within the industry (five years or less of experience). This certification demonstrates knowledge of health IT and management systems, facilitating entry-level careers in health IT. It is designed to be a career pathway to the CPHIMS credential.  It offers students an introductory review of the many facets of health IT and information management systems.   CAHIMS was designed for:

• Veterans returning from active duty
• Individuals looking to work in a healthcare setting or professionals seeking career change
• Those who want to learn more about health IT, including clinicians
• Non-IT professionals, working in other departments, who work as an extension of the IT department
• Those enrolled in an academic program at the undergraduate or graduate level, i.e. healthcare informatics, CAHME-accredited program, Masters in Healthcare Administration, or others students

High School Diploma or equivalent.

CPHIMS (Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems) is an advanced HIMSS health IT certification designed for healthcare information and management systems professionals.

Eligibility for the CPHIMS Examination requires fulfilling one (1) of the following requirements:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university plus five (5) years of information and management systems experience*, three (3) of those years in a healthcare setting**.

OR

• Graduate degree or higher from an accredited college or university plus three (3) years of information and management systems experience*, two (2) of those years in a healthcare setting**.

*Information and management systems experience refers to work experience in systems analysis; design; selection, implementation, support, and maintenance; testing and evaluation; privacy and security; information systems; clinical informatics; management engineering.

**Includes experience with a provider of health services or products to a healthcare facility (e.g., hospital; healthcare consulting firm; vendor; federal, state, or local government office; academic institution; payer; public health, etc.).

These certifications provide an international standard of requisite knowledge.  They assist employers in assessing healthcare information and management systems professionals.  The CAHIMS and CPHIMS exams are a natural fit with many of the positions that veterans held in active duty or hold after duty. These certifications  arm health IT careerists with a valuable credential, qualifying them to facilitate and improve the quality of health IT and business management systems across the healthcare setting and may open doors to career advancement.

Yes. As of 1 March, 2014, veterans who are eligible for the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP), Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP) or Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) programs, can be reimbursed for the CAHIMS and the CPHIMS Exam. VA will pay for the cost of the tests, up to $2,000.00. They cannot issue reimbursement for other fees connected with obtaining a certification.

There is no limit to the number of tests you may take, or number of times you may take the same test. VA will pay for tests even if you fail them.

Students should complete an online application available at www.goAMP.com.  It requires credit card payment for exam.  For detailed information and paper application process, please see http://www.himss.org/health-it-certification/cahims?navItemNumber=13646 for additional contact information.

CAHIMS:

HIMSS Individual Organizational Affiliate Member:   $140 US

HIMSS Regular, Corporate or Student Member:   $175 US

Non-Member:   $225 US

CPHIMS:

HIMSS member:  $300 US

Non-Member:  $375 US

Payment is issued after you submit proof of payment to the VA.  To apply for reimbursement:   within one year of completing the CPHIMS Exam, veterans should send a copy of the test results to their assigned VA office along with a request for reimbursement, name and Social Security number, name of the test and date, the cost of the test and the following statement, "I authorize the release of my test information to VA."  For the Name and Address of the Organization issuing the certification, list the following: HIMSS, 33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60603-5616.  For more information on the reimbursement process, please review the following guidance:  http://www.gibill.va.gov/documents/pamphlets/lc_brochure.pdf