HIT Training Frequently Asked Questions | ASHIM

  1. Am I qualified to take the test?
  2. What does the test cover?
  3. How much does the test cost?
  4. Can I get a refund if I am not satisfied with the course?
  5. What is the format of the exam?
  6. Where and when is the test given?
  7. How do I schedule my exam?
  8. What should I bring to the exam?
  9. What if I need to reschedule or cancel my exam appointment?
  10. I need special accommodations for testing. Who should I contact?
  11. How do I earn and maintain the CHISP® Credential
  12. How do I verify someone’s CHISP credential?

Am I qualified to take the test?

To earn the Certified Health Informatics Systems Professional (CHISP®) certification, you must sit for and successfully pass ASHIM’s rigorous health IT certification exam. To qualify to sit for the CHISP® exam, you must either successfully complete the ASHIM Health IT Professional online training program or have 3 years working IT experience.

ASHIM’s Health IT Professional online training program provides the education and practice to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain certification and become a competent health IT professional. The training includes instruction in computer science, the US healthcare system, medical information systems, and practical lab simulations. ASHIM’s Health IT training programs cover today’s most relevant health IT content to jump start students into high-demand health care IT jobs with the skills and knowledge employers need now. Upon successful completion of the ASHIM health IT training program, the ASHIM member is qualified to sit for the CHISP certification exam.

To qualify to sit for the CHISP® exam you must successfully complete ONE of the following:

Training

  • ASHIM Health IT Professional Training Program
  • Microsoft certification
  • Cisco Certification
  • Degree in Computer Science
  • Diploma from an approved post secondary program

OR

Have at least three years working IT experience which may be hardware, software, data, or clinical IT related. Unsure if you are qualified? Contact us to find out today at 877-263-1261 or support@ashim.com

What does the test cover?

The Certified Health Informatics Systems Professional (CHISP®) credential indicates that a professional has met a defined set of skills-based competencies needed by professionals in the HIT profession, regardless of the career path they choose. It is rooted in core competencies to reflect the nature of the field and the way one area of knowledge blends into another.

The CHISP® exam is a two and a half hour timed exam and there are 150 multiple choice questions. The CHISP® exam is designed to evaluate a health IT professional’s knowledge of the following concepts.

The ASHIM Heath IT Certification Exam Covers:

Heath IT

  • Enterprise architecture in health care and public health organizations
  • The use of enterprise master patient indices, record locator systems, clinical data repositories, HIE, and RHIO in healthcare
  • CPOE and e-Prescribing (eRx)
  • Types of clinical decision support, clinical remote monitoring and telehealth
  • Interoperability principles including vocabulary standards, content standards, and privacy and security standards
  • Concepts of CPT, ICD, SMOMED, LOINC, RXNorm and HL7
  • Principles of DICOM and PACs
  • RFID and of wireless concepts in healthcare
  • Requirements in ambulatory adoption of EMRs

Health Care Regulations

  • Requirements for government funding of EHRs
  • General knowledge of industry compliance requirements such as HIPAA, STARK, HITECH, and the OIG guidance for group physician practice

Computer Science

  • The basic terminology of computing
  • Computer architecture
  • Data organization, representation and structure
  • Structure of programming languages
  • Networking and data communication

Medical Insurance Billing

  • Basic billing and coding principles including insurance payment models

Information and Data Security

  • Data security including firewall, intrusion detection systems, secure network structures, access controls, and data encryption
  • Business continuity and disaster planning

Medical Terminology and Anatomy

  • A basic vocabulary and conversational familiarity with medical terms

Operational Principals in Healthcare

  • Techniques for effective communication with physicians,
  • EHR change management methods,
  • Understanding job expectations in the health care settings,
  • Recognizing various levels of healthcare providers, places of patient service, and the patient-care flow process

Data-mining, Reports and Queries

  • The ability to retrieve information from databases with SQL queries

Technology in Quality of Care

  • Major concepts of quality in healthcare and the technology that is used to assess patient quality of care, patient safety, and medical necessity in the provision of medical services

How much does the test cost?

Full Course

Health IT Professional
This comprehensive course contains all 4 modules and exam voucher. Upon purchase you have one year to take the exam.
Full Training Course | $1,200

Fast Track for Clinical Healthcare Professionals:
This course contains just 3 Modules and exam voucher. It is designed to be completed within 12 weeks at your own pace. The course excludes Module 2: The US Health Care System. Upon purchase you have one year to take the exam.
Clinical Pro Fast Track | $999

Fast Track for IT Professionals
This course contains just 3 Modules and exam voucher. It is designed to be completed within 12 weeks at your own pace. The course excludes Module 1: Information & Computer Science. Upon purchase you have one year to take the exam.
IT Pro Fast Track | $999

Can I get a refund if I am not satisfied with the course?

If you are not satisfied with any of the modules within 30 days of receiving your materials, you can request a refund by emailing support@ashim.com. No refunds will be given if the exam is taken. NO refund will be given after 30 days.

What is the format of the exam?

The CHISP exam is a 2.5 hour timed exam with 150 multiple choice questions.

Where and when is the test given?

CHISP exams are taken at a Pearson VUE testing center, which has locations across the United States and Canada. To find a testing center in your area, use Pearson VUE’s search tool or contact us at 877-263-1261. Candidates will receive information on how to set up a Pearson VUE account, as well as voucher codes, when you register for the course.

How do I schedule my exam?

The first step is to register at the Pearson Vue website. Once you have created an account, login, select the CHISP exam, select the testing center of your choice and then the date and time. At the checkout confirmation page, input the voucher (given to you when you purchased the course material) in the voucher box. There should be no cost to you when scheduling your exam.

What should I bring to the exam?

Admission Policy
Please arrive at the test center 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This will allow you enough time to complete the check-in procedures before beginning your exam. You will be required to show two (2) valid forms of personal identification. Both forms must contain your signature, must be current (not expired), and at least one form must contain your photo. If you arrive more than 15 minutes after your appointment time and are refused admission, the exam and delivery fees are not refundable.

You will not be allowed to take any personal items with you into the testing room. This includes all bags, books not authorized by the testing program, notes, cell phones, pagers, watches and wallets.

What if I need to reschedule or cancel my exam appointment?

Reschedule Policy To reschedule your exam appointment and receive a full refund, you must notify Pearson VUE at least one business day before your appointment. Please contact customer service if you have questions about this policy. Please call PV at: 888-473-1038.

Cancellation Policy To cancel your exam appointment, you must notify Pearson VUE at least one business day before your appointment. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a new exam voucher to reschedule. Your exam fee is also not refundable if you do not arrive at the test center for your scheduled appointment. (There is no liability for any fees if your exam is free.) Please contact customer service if you have questions about this policy. Please call PV at: 888-473-1038.

Additional Information In case of a failure to deliver the exam, Pearson VUE will not be held responsible for expenses you incur beyond the cost of the exam, including but not limited to travel expenses and lost wages on the day of the exam. Please call PV at: 888-473-1038.

I need special accommodations for testing. Who should I contact?

Special accommodations are available for qualified individuals, contact the exam department by email at support@ashim.com

How do I earn and maintain the CHISP® Credential

Your final pass/fail exam score will be revealed to you upon exam completion Your credential will remain valid for one year. To renew your credential, you must submit 12 IT Healthcare CE's every two years and pay the annual renewal fee ($85). CE's can be submitted through your ASHIM account by going to MY ACCOUNT and then CE CREDITS.

How do I verify someone’s CHISP credential?

You can verify the CHISP credentials of a prospective/existing employee, contractor or consultant with a member's CHISP ID# or email at the bottom of the ASHIM homepage.

Note to credentialed members: Please ensure you provide your last name and CHISP ID# as it is recorded in your account.